2021 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
80 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
9,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 80 complaints (17.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 26.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 8.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
Power Train: 14; Service Brakes: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Engine: 11; Electrical System: 8; Air Bags: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Structure:Body: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 62 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2021: 20; 2022: 11; 2023: 11; 2024: 12; 2025: 14; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11397696 · 2021-02-24 (February 24, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA TAKOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN COMING TO A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS AWAY, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN IN SPEED THEN BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKES DUE TO A TRUCK NEARBY SUDDENLY COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND COLLISION PREVENTION SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED TOTALED AS OF YET. THE CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403765 · 2021-03-18 (March 18, 2021)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH A PRE COLLISION SAFETY SYSTEM. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ACCIDENT (DAUGHTER AT FAULT). THE SYSTEM DID NOT DO WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO, WHICH WAS WARN HER AND HELP HER APPLY THE BRAKE. AT THE REPAIR CENTER, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE PRE COLLISION SAFETY SYSTEM. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BERT OGDEN TOYOTA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME THE SYSTEM WAS PROBABLY OFF OR NOT SET SENSITIVE ENOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11428823 · 2021-08-12 (August 12, 2021)
My 2021 Toyota Tacoma is experiencing these exact conditions as discussed in this TSB. T12he only difference between the vehicle in this TSB and mine is I have a 2 wheel drive Tacoma and this TSB is for the 4 wheel drive model. 2021 Toyota Tacoma power train TSB (Bulletin T-SB-0124-20) Bulletin Date:Dec. 15, 2020 Component:Power train. Bulletin Summary:TSB: some 2016 ? 2021 model year tacoma vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission may exhibit a vibration under deceleration (coasting or braking) between 30 ? 10 mph. This vibration is fe…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11428823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11458694 · 2022-03-28 (March 28, 2022)
PCS malfunction, VSC malfunctions, Data transmitter for codes to dealership doesn't work, Transmisson jerk/lost in gears, from stop to go would jerk into gear, hot air comes out of steering wheel (video proof), air coming through window controls. when the Pre-collision system had its malfunction the truck took complete control which gave me no access to breaks or gas, when PCS system kicked off truck jerked really hard & started accelerating on its own causing very high RPMs then just stopped accelerating. Transmission would occasionally seem …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11458694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11398320 · 2021-03-01 (March 1, 2021)
WHITE SMOKE AND STRONG GAS SMELL OUT OF EXHAUST UPON START UP.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11560532 · 2023-12-17 (December 17, 2023)
High-pressure and low pressure fuel pumps. Yes it is available for inspection. The truck cannot maintain posted, speed limit, causing a potential rear end collision. I reported the problem they replaced the high-pressure fuel pump for free and then said the low pressure fuel pump needs replaced the truck only has 40,000 miles. I think there’s a defect in this part that could cause lots of accidents. Check engine light is flashing and the ATC light comes on, the engine starts to sputter and cannot maintain speed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11560532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11440670 · 2021-11-16 (November 16, 2021)
My tires have only 5600 miles on them...Nitto 265/65R17's. I have my 5,000 mile service. They rotated the tires. A couple of days later I noticed my steering wheel shaking. I took it back to the dealership. They said my tires have High Road Force..only the two that were from the rear. They contacted Nitto, they will not replace the tires because they only cover the first 1/32 of the tires and Im at 2/32. There has to be something wrong with these tires to be so new and yet have this problem. My tires cannot be rotated because the two wit…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11440670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11408651 · 2021-04-18 (April 18, 2021)
UPON ACCELERATION VEHICLE WILL HAVE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, UP TO AND INCLUDING A NEAR STALL OR STUTTERING. HAS LED TO SEVERAL NEAR MISSES (X2). THE TSS SYSTEM TAKES OVER AND DOES IT'S THING VERSUS ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR THE CONDITIONS. EXAMPLE WOULD BE AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF BRAKES DUE TO DEER IN ROAD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL ON AN ICY ROAD WAY. DRIVER RELEASED GAS PEDAL AND WAS COASTING AS DEER WAS CROSSING. DUE TO BRAKES BEING AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE, DEER BECAME SPOOKED AND STOPPED CROSSING, VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11513414 · 2023-03-23 (March 23, 2023)
My vehicle stalls (won't accelerate and rough idle) forcing you to roll off the highway without warning. This has happened multiple times while in cruise control going up steep hills. It shows engine misfire and check engine. I took it to the dealer multiple times and it was determined to be bad gas. I and my insurance company paid for this dealer (Hatch Toyota Show Low AZ) for complete clean and replacement of the entire fuel system. Now 5 months later it is doing it again. The safety issue is the stalling in the middle of the highway where th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11513414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11574484 · 2024-02-28 (February 28, 2024)
Driving at approximately 55 mph and dash lights started flickering, radio went off, reset to 530 (am radio). Vehicle started sputtering and slowing down in traffic and completely shut down. Lost all power and coasted to side of road. I had no or little control of vehicle. I have "connected services" that was to warn me about mechanical and electrical failures and no warning of this happening. This enrollment was to give me "services designed to help keep you safe, secure and in control of your Tacoma from almost anywhere". "brand engagement c…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11574484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11589079 · 2024-05-16 (May 16, 2024)
The cabin vent system appears to have a design defect, specifically the passenger-side vent located in the back of the cabin. This component is available for inspection upon request. The dealership, Santa Cruz Toyota, has declined to replace the part despite acknowledging the issue. The concern lies in the vent's design, as it allows water to enter the cabin instead of just expelling air. The water intrusion caused by this malfunction poses a safety risk in two ways. First, the presence of water on the floor increases the chance of an electrica…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11589079 at NHTSA ↗