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U.S. public vehicle records

2018 Toyota TACOMA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

203 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

14,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 91 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 203 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5225.6%
Fuel system concerns2713.3%
Engine operation2612.8%
Transmission and shifting2110.3%
Steering behavior73.4%
Electrical and battery issues52.5%

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.

Service Brakes
44
Fuel/Propulsion System
41
Power Train
29
Engine
25
Unknown Or Other
25
Fuel System, Gasoline
23
Vehicle Speed Control
18
Structure:Body
13
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes44
Fuel/Propulsion System41
Power Train29
Engine25
Unknown Or Other25
Fuel System, Gasoline23
Vehicle Speed Control18
Structure:Body13

Service Brakes: 44; Fuel/Propulsion System: 41; Power Train: 29; Engine: 25; Unknown Or Other: 25; Fuel System, Gasoline: 23; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Structure:Body: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
66
25,000 to 49,999
14
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00066
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 66; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (66). 112 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.

2018
19
2019
38
2020
65
2021
15
2022
17
2023
8
2024
8
2025
19
2026
14
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201819
201938
202065
202115
202217
20238
20248
202519
202614

2018: 19; 2019: 38; 2020: 65; 2021: 15; 2022: 17; 2023: 8; 2024: 8; 2025: 19; 2026: 14

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 27 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 26 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11078250 · 2018-03-08 (March 8, 2018)

A MONTH AFTER I LEASE THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AFTER WORK.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078250 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11091524 · 2018-05-03 (May 3, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS FAILED TO REMAIN IN PLACE AND WOULD INDEPENDENTLY TURN INWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CONICELLI TOYOTA OF SPRINGFIELD (860 BALTIMORE PIKE, SPRINGFIELD, PA 19064, [phone removed]), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091524 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11104866 · 2018-06-30 (June 30, 2018)

AROUND 12:30PM ON 6/28 MY TOYOTA TACOMA 2018 VIN# [XXX] STARTED TO BLINK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT WAS FOLLOW BY THE ENGINE SHAKING AND NOT TAKING GEARS UP THEREFORE VERY SLOWLY ACCELERATING UP TO THE 40MPH. SEEING ALL THIS I DECIDED TO HEAD TO THE DEALERSHIP BIG HORN IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO AT ABOUT 1:00PM FROM MY HOUSE IN BASALT, CO. BUT AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED I HAD TO STOP IN EL JEBEL, CO AND CALL BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO RECEIVE SERVICE FROM BOB ADAMS TRUCKING RESULTED IN A TWO HOUR WASTE OF …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11104866 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11110480 · 2018-07-10 (July 10, 2018)

BOUGHT TRUCK BRAND NEW. WITHIN A COUPLES OF WEEKS NOTICED RANDOM SHUDDERING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOT AROUND 35-45 MPH. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT IMITATE THE ISSUE. SHUDDERING IS WORSE AND CONSISTENT AROUND 35-50 MPH. CURRENTLY AROUND 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPT WITH TOYOTA THIS WEEK.

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110480 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11112959 · 2018-07-23 (July 23, 2018)

THE 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS A PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM THAT DOES NOTHING MORE THAN BEEP LOUDLY AT THE DRIVER WHEN IT "THINKS" I NEED TO BRAKE. IT IS OVERLY SENSITIVE AND SERVES AS A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHENEVER I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AS AN EXAMPLE, ON TIGHT CITY ROADS WITH CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES IT DETECTS THE CARS ON BOTH SIDES AND CONSTANTLY GOES OFF. IT DETECTS GUARDRAILS AND SIGNAGE ON CURVES. I WAS TOLD BEFORE I BOUGHT IT THAT IT CAN BE SHUT OFF, BUT THAT WAS NOT REALLY TRUE. IT CAN ONLY BE TURNED OFF FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112959 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11124349 · 2018-09-04 (September 4, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOLAND TOYOTA (170 US 22, SPRINGFIELD, NJ 07081), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124349 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11128061 · 2018-09-07 (September 7, 2018)

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS RECALLED BY TOYOTA. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND CONTINUES TO PUT THESE VEHICLES OUT IN PUBLIC WITH NO DISCLOSURE TO THE CONSUMER.

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128061 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11129173 · 2018-09-12 (September 12, 2018)

I WAS DRIVING WITH ALL TSS (TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE) SYSTEMS ENABLED (AS IS THE ONLY DEFAULT SETTING ON THIS TRUCK) WITH THREE PASSENGERS (MY YOUNG FAMILY) AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON A SOMEWHAT CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD. THE TRUCK'S PCS (PRE COLLISION SYSTEM) SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES ERRONEOUSLY WHEN A CAR (NOT IN MY PATH OR LANE) ON A CURVE WAS SLOWING TO TURN OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE TRUCK DROPPED SPEED RAPIDLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY UNTIL I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HARD, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE BEEN FOLLOWING ME. THE TOYOTA P…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129173 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

18V888000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder

Reported: 2018-12-13 (December 13, 2018)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma vehicles. Improper machining of the brake master cylinder may result in internal damage of one of the seals, affecting brake performance.

Consequence: Reduced brake performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began January 28, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J16/J06.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V012000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Reported: 2020-01-13 (January 13, 2020)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Reported: 2020-11-04 (November 4, 2020)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

NHTSA campaign record ↗