2006 Toyota Tacoma Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2006 Toyota Tacoma has 782 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 90, making it the third-worst year of 21 model years, with a rank of Avoid. Structure & Body issues lead at 31% of complaints, alongside 11 recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 90/100
- #3 of 21 Tacoma years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 782
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 66
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 7
- Injuries
- 31
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 16 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 31 / 0
Top 2006 Toyota Tacoma problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body245 (31%)
- Engine188 (24%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires181 (23%)
- Airbags76 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain56 (7%)
- Other55 (7%)
- Brakes51 (7%)
- Steering40 (5%)
- Electrical System29 (4%)
- Fuel System16 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the throttle sticking while pressing the accelerator, causing RPMs to climb and not drop back down.
- Owners describe unintended acceleration when applying the brakes, sometimes resulting in the vehicle striking another car.
- Some drivers report the transmission stalling repeatedly in first gear around 15 mph, along with a clunking noise when shifting and trouble engaging reverse.
- Owners report fuel system fires, including one where the vehicle was reportedly destroyed while traveling at highway speed.
- A cigarette lighter reportedly popped out of its receptacle and started a fire that damaged a large portion of the interior.
- Some owners report airbags failing to deploy during a rollover crash after swerving to avoid a collision.
2006 Toyota Tacoma recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Structure & Body7,749 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
- NHTSA 14V743000Nov 19, 2014Structure & Body3,233 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
- NHTSA 14V604000Sep 29, 2014Suspension, Wheels & Tires710,711 vehicles
Suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner and 4x4 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, to October 11, 2010. In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs may fracture due to stress or corrosion. While being driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components including the fuel tank, possibly puncturing the tank and causing a fuel leak.
Risk: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
2006 Toyota Tacoma fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 18 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 782 complaints and a complaint index of 90 for the 2006 Tacoma, the third-highest among 21 model years, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Tacoma years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Tacoma?
- Structure & Body complaints make up 31% of all complaints, followed by Engine issues at 24% and Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 23%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2006 Tacoma have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2006 Tacoma, covering areas including Structure & Body, Suspension, Seat Belts, Airbags, and Engine components.
- How does the 2006 Tacoma compare to other years?
- The 2006 Tacoma's complaint index of 90 is higher than most other years; only 2024 (100) and 2009 (95) score worse, while years like 2013 and 2014 scored 5 and 0 and rank as Best.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Tacoma?
- The 2006 Tacoma is EPA-rated at 18 mpg combined (16 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600.