YearToAvoid

2017 Toyota Tacoma Brakes Problems

NHTSA has logged 33 brake complaints for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma, 14% of its 239 total complaints, with median failure mileage of 18,300. A related recall (18V211000) covers a brake booster vacuum pump issue on this model year.

Brakes complaints
33
14% of 239
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
18,300 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report intermittent loss of braking power, sometimes with a dashboard message claiming brake and accelerator were pressed at the same time even though they were not.
  • Several drivers describe brake fluid or an oily substance leaking from the master cylinder or brake booster area behind the pedal onto the floor mat.
  • Some report a spongy brake pedal that slowly sinks to the floor when held down.
  • A few describe the rear brakes locking up a wheel after using the parking brake, especially after rain or snow.
  • Some owners noticed front brake pads wearing down to unsafe thickness at low mileage, well before they expected replacement.
  • One complaint describes a stalling or thrusting sensation when decelerating around 20 mph, accompanied by a feeling of losing engine power.

When 2017 Toyota Tacoma brake complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 12, 2017, latest Aug 23, 2026.

2017 Toyota Tacoma brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2017Apr 2018Jan 2019May 2020Jan 2021Dec 2023May 2024Jun 2026
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2023 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma

  1. 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.

Brakes complaints by Tacoma model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201023 (8%)
  2. 201113 (7%)
  3. 201234 (12%)
  4. 201323 (18%)
  5. 201420 (22%)
  6. 201513 (13%)
  7. 201621 (7%)
  8. 201733 (14%)
  9. 201848 (23%)
  10. 201956 (26%)
  11. 202013 (15%)
  12. 202112 (15%)
  13. 20226 (10%)
  14. 20236 (11%)
  15. 202433 (22%)
  16. 20255 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are brake complaints on the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA lists 33 brake-related complaints for the 2017 Tacoma, which is 14% of all 239 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes. Recall 18V211000 covers a brake booster vacuum pump defect affecting the 2017 Tacoma along with several other Toyota and Lexus models; dealers replace the pump free of charge.
At what mileage do brake problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 18,300 miles.
Have brake issues caused crashes or injuries on the 2017 Tacoma?
NHTSA records 2 crashes and 1 injury among the brake complaints filed for this model year, with no fires reported.

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.