YearToAvoid

2017 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 Tacoma years

The 2017 Toyota Tacoma has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues lead complaints at 28%, with median failure mileage at 15,501 miles overall.

Complaints
239
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
12 / 6
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
19 city / 22 hwy

Top 2017 Toyota Tacoma problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain68 (28%)
  2. Engine46 (19%)
  3. Other36 (15%)
  4. Structure & Body34 (14%)
  5. Brakes33 (14%)
  6. Electrical System28 (12%)
  7. Fuel System25 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (7%)
  9. Airbags13 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers8 (3%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles reportedly rolled out of the garage on their own after being parked with the push-button ignition and left in what the driver believed was park.
  • Engine fires were reported both while driving and while parked, including one incident where a block heater plugged in during cold weather was followed by an engine-bay explosion and fire.
  • Heated seat wiring reportedly burned or melted under the front seats, with owners noticing a burning smell before the seat caught fire.
  • Owners described the transmission shifting erratically, losing power, and not tracking straight at highway speeds around 45 mph and above.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in crashes, including a side impact at about 45 mph and a collision with elk at 50 mph, despite significant vehicle damage.
2017 Toyota Tacoma complaints: complaints filed per quarter262016 Q32017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q3
313 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q1 (26).

2017 Toyota Tacoma recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V682000Nov 4, 2020Fuel System1,525,742 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 18V211000Apr 3, 2018Brakes6,046 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.

    Risk: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. 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 J0K/JLD.

  3. NHTSA 17V831000Dec 20, 2017Other649 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

See all 5 recalls for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma →

2017 Toyota Tacoma fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
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.

2017 compared with other Tacoma years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Best13101419
2016Caution67323420
2017Caution60239520
2018Good33206320
2019Caution73218420

All Toyota Tacoma years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
NHTSA lists a Complaint Index of 60 for the 2017 Tacoma, ranking 7th worst among 16 model years, which earns it a Caution verdict relative to other Tacoma years.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 28% of reports (68 complaints), followed by Engine issues at 19% (46 complaints) and Structure & Body issues at 14% (34 complaints).
Does the 2017 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2017 Tacoma, covering the fuel system, brakes, engine crank position sensor, rear differential oil leakage, and labeling issues. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2017 Tacoma compare to other years?
The 2017 model's Complaint Index of 60 is worse than 2013-2015, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023, which all rate Good or Best, but better than 2010, 2012, 2024 and 2025, which are rated Avoid.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA lists 239 complaints for the 2017 Tacoma, including 12 crashes, 6 fires, and 9 injuries, with no reported deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.