Toyota Tacoma Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
Toyota Tacoma years to avoid are 2006-2009 and 2024-2025, with complaint indexes from 75 to 100. Best years are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2023, all with complaint indexes of 20 or lower.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2006Avoid 2007Avoid 2008Avoid 2009Avoid 2024Avoid 2025Best 2013Best 2014Best 2015Best 2020Best 2023
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 5,602
- Recall campaigns
- 48
- Crashes reported
- 395
- Fires reported
- 81
- Top problem area
- Engine
Tacoma Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Toyota Tacoma problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caution | 70 | 707 | 47 | 4 | 10 | Structure & Body | 18 | — |
| 2006 | Avoid | 90 | 782 | 66 | 7 | 11 | Structure & Body | 18 | — |
| 2007 | Avoid | 85 | 541 | 65 | 9 | 10 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | — |
| 2008 | Avoid | 80 | 446 | 48 | 6 | 11 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | — |
| 2009 | Avoid | 95 | 519 | 25 | 18 | 13 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | — |
| 2010 | Caution | 65 | 294 | 10 | 7 | 13 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18 | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 35 | 186 | 8 | 6 | 9 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 18.5 | 4★ |
| 2012 | Caution | 55 | 295 | 16 | 0 | 7 | Engine | 19 | 4★ |
| 2013 | Best | 5 | 125 | 11 | 6 | 6 | Brakes | 19 | 4★ |
| 2014 | Best | 0 | 93 | 10 | 1 | 4 | Structure & Body | 19 | 4★ |
| 2015 | Best | 10 | 101 | 15 | 2 | 4 | Engine | 19 | 4★ |
| 2016 | Caution | 50 | 323 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Transmission & Powertrain | 20 | 4★ |
| 2017 | Good | 45 | 239 | 12 | 6 | 5 | Transmission & Powertrain | 20 | 4★ |
| 2018 | Good | 25 | 206 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Fuel System | 20 | 4★ |
| 2019 | Caution | 60 | 218 | 11 | 1 | 4 | Fuel System | 20 | 4★ |
| 2020 | Best | 20 | 87 | 6 | 0 | 1 | Fuel System | 20 | 4★ |
| 2021 | Good | 40 | 80 | 9 | 0 | 0 | Engine | 20 | 4★ |
| 2022 | Good | 30 | 59 | 11 | 0 | 3 | Transmission & Powertrain | 20 | 4★ |
| 2023 | Best | 15 | 54 | 5 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | 20 | 4★ |
| 2024 | Avoid | 100 | 149 | 5 | 1 | 5 | Transmission & Powertrain | 21.5 | — |
| 2025 | Avoid | 75 | 98 | 4 | 2 | 5 | Structure & Body | 21.5 | 4★ |
Tacoma years to avoid: what went wrong
2024 Toyota Tacoma Index 100 · 149 complaints · 5 recalls
2024 has the worst complaint index of any Tacoma year at 100. Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 36% of reports, with a median failure mileage of just 2,421.5. Owners described brake pedals that failed to respond during recall-related repairs, leading to crashes, along with airbags that did not deploy in collisions. Brakes account for 22% of complaints, reported near 18,000 miles. Five recall campaigns cover this year, including a shock absorber corrosion recall and an electrical software update.
2024 transmission & powertrain problems →2024 brakes problems →2024 electrical system problems →
2009 Toyota Tacoma Index 95 · 519 complaints · 13 recalls
2009 scores a complaint index of 95, the second worst year overall. Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints lead at 24%, with a median failure mileage of 77,350, closely followed by Electrical System issues also at 24%, reported near 41,500 miles. Owners described unintended acceleration during braking, radio and dash light malfunctions, and airbags that failed to deploy or deployed without warning. Transmission & Powertrain complaints occurred at very low mileage, near 1,750. Thirteen recall campaigns apply to this year.
2009 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2009 electrical system problems →2009 transmission & powertrain problems →
2006 Toyota Tacoma Index 90 · 782 complaints · 11 recalls
NHTSA gives 2006 a complaint index of 90, the third worst of all 21 model years. Structure & Body issues lead at 31% of complaints, with a median failure mileage around 92,000. Engine complaints follow at 24%, often reported near 39,000 miles, and Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints at 23% near 85,000 miles. Owners described stuck throttles, unwanted acceleration when braking, and shifter or clunking issues. Eleven recall campaigns cover this year, including seat heater and leaf spring assembly fixes.
2006 structure & body problems →2006 engine problems →2006 suspension, wheels & tires problems →
2007 Toyota Tacoma Index 85 · 541 complaints · 10 recalls
The 2007 Tacoma carries a complaint index of 85. Suspension, Wheels & Tires problems make up 24% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 94,000, and Engine issues are also 24%, typically near 29,140 miles. Owners reported the vehicle surging forward unexpectedly while braking, in some cases leading to crashes. Structure & Body complaints account for 20% of reports. Ten recall campaigns apply to this year, including the leaf spring assembly recall.
2007 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2007 engine problems →2007 structure & body problems →
2008 Toyota Tacoma Index 80 · 446 complaints · 11 recalls
2008 has a complaint index of 80. Suspension, Wheels & Tires problems dominate at 30% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 79,000. Owners described sudden, uncontrolled acceleration while braking or parking, in several cases at very low mileage. Engine complaints follow at 22%, reported near 19,000 miles. Structure & Body issues make up 17%. Eleven recall campaigns cover this model year, including the same leaf spring assembly fix as neighboring years.
2008 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2008 engine problems →2008 structure & body problems →
2025 Toyota Tacoma Index 75 · 98 complaints · 5 recalls
2025 has a complaint index of 75. Structure & Body complaints dominate at 42% of reports, with a median failure mileage of 5,238. Transmission & Powertrain issues follow at 20%. Owners described lane-keeping assist systems that steered the vehicle toward guard rails or across lanes without warning, airbags that failed to deploy in a highway collision, and an electrical fire from a window switch panel. Five recall campaigns apply, including one for a front driveshaft CV joint that may deform and break.
2025 structure & body problems →2025 transmission & powertrain problems →
Most common Toyota Tacoma problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Engine1,089 (19%)
- Structure & Body1,059 (19%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1,054 (19%)
- Transmission & Powertrain787 (14%)
- Other564 (10%)
- Brakes548 (10%)
- Electrical System547 (10%)
- Fuel System361 (6%)
- Steering361 (6%)
- Airbags334 (6%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What Toyota Tacoma years should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2024, and 2025 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100, the highest among all 21 Tacoma model years covered.
- What are the best Toyota Tacoma years?
- 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2023 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 20 or lower and among the fewest recall campaigns in the lineup.
- Why is the 2009 Tacoma rated Avoid?
- The 2009 Tacoma has a complaint index of 95 out of the range seen across Tacoma years, with Suspension, Wheels & Tires and Electrical System complaints each making up 24% of reports, plus 13 recall campaigns.
- Is the 2011 Tacoma reliable?
- The 2011 Tacoma has a relatively low complaint index of 35, but NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit, which caps its verdict at Caution instead of a higher rating.
- What problems does the 2024 Tacoma have?
- The 2024 Tacoma has the highest complaint index of any year at 100, dominated by Transmission & Powertrain complaints (36% of reports) with a median failure mileage of only 2,421.5, plus 5 recall campaigns.