Which Tacoma years should I avoid?

NHTSA data points to 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2024 and 2025 as the Tacoma's Avoid years, with complaint indexes from 80 to 100 and top complaints about structure/body and suspension issues.

Which Ranger years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2008, 2011, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as Avoid years for the Ranger, driven mainly by airbag and transmission/powertrain complaints, with complaint indexes from 75 to 100.

Does the Ranger have a Good or Best year?

No Ranger model year reaches Good or Best; NHTSA lists 58 total recall campaigns across the years, and several years carry Do Not Drive recalls or high recall counts that cap the verdict at Caution.

Which truck has more complaints overall?

The Tacoma has more total complaints (5,602 vs 2,405) and more per model year (267 vs 141), but the Ranger has more total recall campaigns (58 vs 48). Sales volumes differ, so these totals are not normalized.

How do fuel costs compare?

Average combined MPG is close: 19.3 for the Tacoma and 19.4 for the Ranger. Annual fuel costs vary by year, ranging from $3,600 for early Tacomas to $2,950 for some newer Rangers.

Toyota Tacoma vs Ford Ranger: Which Years to Avoid

Toyota Tacoma owners filed 5,602 NHTSA complaints across 21 model years (267 per year, 48 recalls); avoid 2006-2009 and 2024-2025. Ford Ranger owners filed 2,405 complaints across 17 years (141 per year, 58 recalls); avoid 2008, 2011, 2019, 2021 and 2022, and no Ranger year earns a Good or Best verdict.

Head to head

Toyota Tacoma

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 5,602
Per model year: 267
Recall campaigns: 48
Years to avoid: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2024, 2025
Best years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2023
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 19.3
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.0 ★

Ford Ranger

Model years: 2005–2025 (17)
NHTSA complaints: 2,405
Per model year: 141
Recall campaigns: 58
Years to avoid: 2008, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022
Best years: —
Top problem area: Airbags
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 19.4
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 3.3 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Tacoma				Ranger
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Caution	707	10	18	Caution	289	9	17.5
2006	Avoid	782	11	18	Caution	271	12	17
2007	Avoid	541	10	18	Caution	270	5	17
2008	Avoid	446	11	18	Avoid	326	5	17
2009	Avoid	519	13	18	Caution	169	7	17.5
2010	Caution	294	13	18	Caution	156	8	17.5
2011	Caution	186	9	18.5	Avoid	235	5	17.5
2012	Caution	295	7	19	—	—	—	—
2013	Best	125	6	19	—	—	—	—
2014	Best	93	4	19	No verdict	1	0	—
2015	Best	101	4	19	—	—	—	—
2016	Caution	323	4	20	No verdict	1	0	—
2017	Good	239	5	20	No verdict	1	0	—
2018	Good	206	3	20	—	—	—	—
2019	Caution	218	4	20	Avoid	267	11	22
2020	Best	87	1	20	Caution	127	7	22
2021	Good	80	0	20	Avoid	114	6	20.5
2022	Good	59	3	20	Avoid	37	5	22
2023	Best	54	4	20	Caution	18	4	22
2024	Avoid	149	5	21.5	Caution	83	13	21
2025	Avoid	98	5	21.5	Caution	40	13	21

Complaint Index by year

Toyota Tacoma

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Ford Ranger

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Tacoma years should I avoid?: NHTSA data points to 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2024 and 2025 as the Tacoma's Avoid years, with complaint indexes from 80 to 100 and top complaints about structure/body and suspension issues.
Which Ranger years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2008, 2011, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as Avoid years for the Ranger, driven mainly by airbag and transmission/powertrain complaints, with complaint indexes from 75 to 100.
Does the Ranger have a Good or Best year?: No Ranger model year reaches Good or Best; NHTSA lists 58 total recall campaigns across the years, and several years carry Do Not Drive recalls or high recall counts that cap the verdict at Caution.
Which truck has more complaints overall?: The Tacoma has more total complaints (5,602 vs 2,405) and more per model year (267 vs 141), but the Ranger has more total recall campaigns (58 vs 48). Sales volumes differ, so these totals are not normalized.
How do fuel costs compare?: Average combined MPG is close: 19.3 for the Tacoma and 19.4 for the Ranger. Annual fuel costs vary by year, ranging from $3,600 for early Tacomas to $2,950 for some newer Rangers.