Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8,155 owner complaints analyzed
56 distinct recall campaigns
68,381 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,299 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,236 of 8,155 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1,261 | 15.5% |
| Steering behavior | 588 | 7.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 546 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 281 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 188 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 170 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 1236 |
| Suspension | 1204 |
| Unknown Or Other | 715 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 671 |
| Power Train | 654 |
| Steering | 430 |
| Engine | 428 |
| Air Bags | 398 |
Structure:Body: 1,236; Suspension: 1,204; Unknown Or Other: 715; Vehicle Speed Control: 671; Power Train: 654; Steering: 430; Engine: 428; Air Bags: 398
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1402 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 681 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 723 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 638 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 989 |
| 150,000 and above | 866 |
Under 25,000: 1,402; 25,000 to 49,999: 681; 50,000 to 74,999: 723; 75,000 to 99,999: 638; 100,000 to 149,999: 989; 150,000 and above: 866
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,402). 2,856 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 169 |
| 2001 | 111 |
| 2002 | 83 |
| 2003 | 85 |
| 2004 | 73 |
| 2005 | 140 |
| 2006 | 128 |
| 2007 | 215 |
| 2008 | 249 |
| 2009 | 252 |
| 2010 | 559 |
| 2011 | 247 |
| 2012 | 244 |
| 2013 | 387 |
| 2014 | 588 |
| 2015 | 630 |
| 2016 | 724 |
| 2017 | 630 |
| 2018 | 403 |
| 2019 | 367 |
| 2020 | 407 |
| 2021 | 283 |
| 2022 | 182 |
| 2023 | 214 |
| 2024 | 242 |
| 2025 | 276 |
| 2026 | 247 |
1995: 5; 1996: 15; 2000: 169; 2001: 111; 2002: 83; 2003: 85; 2004: 73; 2005: 140; 2006: 128; 2007: 215; 2008: 249; 2009: 252; 2010: 559; 2011: 247; 2012: 244; 2013: 387; 2014: 588; 2015: 630; 2016: 724; 2017: 630; 2018: 403; 2019: 367; 2020: 407; 2021: 283; 2022: 182; 2023: 214; 2024: 242; 2025: 276; 2026: 247
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1,261 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 588 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 546 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 10525717 · 2013-07-19 (July 19, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD A KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST FOR INSPECTION AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT FRAME, WHICH WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE SPECIALIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 174,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 601111 · 1995-12-12 (December 12, 1995)
EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 601111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011542 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
A BOLT FELL FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPINS FREELY. *JB DEALER TIGHTENED LOOSE STEERING WHEEL NUT. THIS ALSO ENABLED THE AIR BAG SENSOR HARNESS AND HORN. CONSUMER DECLINED TO HAVE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT REPLACED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 141,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028901 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTANTLY, THEN THEY STOPPED WORKING AT ALL. I AM AN ELECTRICIAN, AND I STARTED DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, FINDING NO GROUND TO THE HEADLIGHTS. FOLLOWING THE WIRING DIAGRAM, THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH PORTION OF THE COMBINATION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAD FAILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE BLACK/WHITE GROUND WIRE FOR THAT SWITCH ON THE WIRING HARNESS SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE DASH WAS BLACKENED FROM EXCESS HEAT. ALSO THE TERMINAL INSIDE THE CONNECTOR WAS ALMOST MELTED. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 113,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802972 · 1996-09-30 (September 30, 1996)
THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION STICK SHIFT WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721537 · 2000-04-16 (April 16, 2000)
I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT BOTH OF MY REAR #2 LEAF SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN HALF AND HAD SHIFTED OUT OF PLACE. IN TRYING TO FIGUREE OUT WHERE THE CHEAPEST PLACE TO GET THE LEAF SPRINGS WOULD BE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THE TACOMA. ONE PERSON EVEN KNEW THE PROLEM BEFORE I COULD EVEN TELL HIM ABOUT IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018549 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
MIDDLE LEAF IN BOTH REAR SPRINGS ON 1995 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 STD CAB WERE FOUND BROKEN IN TWO. BREAK IS JUST IN FRONT (TOWARDS ENGINE) OF AXLE U-BOLTS. DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BROKEN PIECE HAD ROTATED INWARD TOWARDS 18 GALLON GAS TANK (WITHIN TWO INCHES) AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BROKEN PIECE HAD ROTATED INWARD AND HIT AND DENTED SHOCK CASING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 205,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126742 · 2005-06-27 (June 27, 2005)
1. TRUCK PRIMARILY USED AS A PASSENGER VEHICLE. ONLY INFREQUENT USE TRULY AS A TRUCK. 2. WHILE CARRYING A MODERATE LOAD ON THE HIGHWAY, A GRATING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING. THE LOWER LONG LEAF (2 LEAF + HELPER) HAD BROKEN OFF FORWARD OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AND DISLODGED ITSELF FROM THE ASSEMBLY SUCH THAT IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST GAS TANK SEAM. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING WAS ALSO BROKEN BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY DISLODGED. BOTH HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME SIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 232,065 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040029 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
VEHICLE WHEN REACHING HIGH TEMPERATURE WOULD MISFIRE AND STALL, AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO RESTART. DEALER STATED CALLED NHTSA.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722522 · 2000-05-10 (May 10, 2000)
OCCASIONAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN DECELERATING OFF HIGHWAY (ON EXIT RAMP). TOYOTA FACTORY REP, KEN STOKES, COULD NOT DUPLICATE DURING BRIEF ROAD TEST AND REFUSED TO IMPLEMENT ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204679 · 2007-10-02 (October 2, 2007)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING HEADLIGHTS: THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY,FLASHING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH THEN OFF AND BACK ON. I AM AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, AND I STARTED DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, FINDING NO GROUND TO THE HEADLIGHTS. FOLLOWING THE WIRING DIAGRAM, THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH PORTION OF THE COMBINATION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAD FAILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE BLACK/WHITE GROUND WIRE FOR THAT SWITCH ON THE WIRING HARNESS SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE DASH WAS BLACKENED FROM EXCESS HEAT. ALSO TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 174,993 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204679 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 0 |
2010: 13; 2011: 9; 2012: 7; 2013: 6; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 4; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 0; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 5; 2025: 5; 2026: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 124 | 2 | Not available |
| 1996 | 171 | 1 | -1 |
| 1997 | 101 | 0 | -1 |
| 1998 | 228 | 1 | +1 |
| 1999 | 230 | 0 | -1 |
| 2000 | 210 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 396 | 4 | +4 |
| 2002 | 333 | 3 | -1 |
| 2003 | 359 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 414 | 3 | 0 |
| 2005 | 707 | 10 | +7 |
| 2006 | 782 | 11 | +1 |
| 2007 | 540 | 10 | -1 |
| 2008 | 445 | 11 | +1 |
| 2009 | 519 | 13 | +2 |
| 2010 | 293 | 13 | 0 |
| 2011 | 186 | 9 | -4 |
| 2012 | 295 | 7 | -2 |
| 2013 | 125 | 6 | -1 |
| 2014 | 93 | 4 | -2 |
| 2015 | 101 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 323 | 4 | 0 |
| 2017 | 239 | 5 | +1 |
| 2018 | 203 | 3 | -2 |
| 2019 | 218 | 4 | +1 |
| 2020 | 87 | 1 | -3 |
| 2021 | 80 | 0 | -1 |
| 2022 | 57 | 3 | +3 |
| 2023 | 53 | 4 | +1 |
| 2024 | 145 | 5 | +1 |
| 2025 | 92 | 5 | 0 |
| 2026 | 6 | 0 | -5 |