Toyota Tacoma Years to Avoid · Best Years · Problems · Recalls

Toyota Tacoma warranty extensions

We list three Toyota warranty extensions on the Tacoma model years, and each card says whether it still applies. Eligibility depends on the VIN, so ask a Toyota dealer to check the car before you buy it.

• Frame corrosion Open for newer years

  12 years, no mileage limit

  Years

  2011–2017

  Source

  ZKA

• High-pressure fuel pump Open

  10 years, no mileage limit

  Years

  2016–2022 with the 2GR V6

  Source

  23TE01

  For this program Toyota counts 10 years from each truck’s own first use, so the oldest ones run out first.

• Propeller shaft universal joints Ended by age

  12 years, no mileage limit

  Years

  2005–2011

  Source

  ZH2

Each truck’s term runs from its own in-service date.

Sources: Toyota warranty enhancement ZKA, September 5, 2019, letter of May 18, 2023. Toyota warranty enhancement 23TE01, April 5, 2023. Toyota warranty enhancement ZH2, October 30, 2017.

Toyota Tacoma crash tests and investigations

NHTSA gives the Toyota Tacoma an overall 4 of 5 for the 2011–2023 and 2025 model years. The frontal score is 4 for the 2016–2023, 3 for the 2011–2012 and 2024–2025, and 3 or 4 depending on the version for the 2013–2015. The 2024 has no overall rating. NHTSA started its current 5-star test system with the 2011 model year, so older ratings are not comparable and we do not show them.

Separately, NHTSA’s defect office has had 1 probe on Tacoma model years, and it is closed. NHTSA also handled a petition about sudden and uncontrolled acceleration (DP08001), closed Aug 27, 2008. The 2024 frontal and side ratings are for the Crew Cab. NHTSA did not rate the Extended Cab.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA defect investigations

Source: NHTSA safety ratings, read Oct 31, 2026, and the NHTSA defect investigations file of Oct 30, 2026

Toyota Tacoma model years compared

Each score from 1 to 5 compares one Toyota Tacoma model year with the other Toyota Tacoma model years only. It is not a reliability rating, and it says nothing about how the Toyota Tacoma compares with another car. A 5 means that year scores highest among the Toyota Tacoma model years, a 1 means it scores lowest. The 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 are too new to judge and carry no score.

Best counts model years from 2011 on, so an older year can score 4 here and still not be listed in the Best years.

How the score is built: each year is compared with the typical Toyota Tacoma year over its first five years on the road, using complaints (40%), serious complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or death (40%), recalls (15%) and open NHTSA probes (5%). A 4 is better than most other years and sits in a Next best tier under the Best years when fewer than five years from 2011 on score 5. A year with a recall that tells owners not to drive it scores 1.

Years under five years old get no score. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, federal file of Aug 25, 2026, and NHTSA recall campaigns, read Oct 31, 2026. The open probes come from the NHTSA defect investigations file of Oct 30, 2026. The counts in the “Model years compared” table are for those first five years. The complaint and recall totals on each year card cover all years on file, so they are larger.

Toyota Tacoma recalls by year

The 2009 and 2010 Toyota Tacoma tie with 13 recall campaigns each, most often for equipment, and the 2006 and 2008 follow with 11 each. Every other year has 0–10, most often for equipment (11 of the 21 other years with a recall).

By federal law a carmaker must repair a recalled car for free unless it was first bought more than 15 calendar years before the maker sent the recall notice or NHTSA ordered the recall, whichever came first. Many makers fix older cars anyway, so ask a Toyota dealer with your VIN. Your VIN shows which campaigns are still open on a car.

Look up your own car by VIN before anything else on this page.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns by model year, read Oct 31, 2026

Toyota Tacoma complaints by year

The table lists every Tacoma model year in NHTSA’s file, 2000–2025, with its complaint count and the system owners named most. The 2006 leads with 782 complaints, most about the body structure, and the 2005 follows with 707, most about the body structure.

The verdict for each year uses the same scores as the cards at the top of the page. This table counts every complaint on file for each year, while the Model years compared table scores each year on its first five years only.

One complaint can name more than one problem, so the counts can add up to more than the year’s total. Entries NHTSA marks as unknown or other are left out.