YearToAvoid

2021 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

53/100

#8 most-complained of 16 Tacoma years

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has a Complaint Index of 53 and ranks 8th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine complaints lead at 19% of reports, with no recalls filed for this year.

Complaints
80
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
9 / 0
Injuries / deaths
15 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
18.5 city / 22 hwy

Top 2021 Toyota Tacoma problems

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

  1. Engine15 (19%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain14 (18%)
  3. Brakes12 (15%)
  4. Other12 (15%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras10 (13%)
  6. Electrical System9 (11%)
  7. Fuel System9 (11%)
  8. Structure & Body9 (11%)
  9. Airbags7 (9%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (8%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in multiple frontal and side-impact crashes, in some cases despite occupants being properly belted.
  • Some drivers report the pre-collision safety system failed to warn or brake in time to prevent a front-end collision.
  • Owners describe brakes suddenly failing or leaking fluid, forcing use of the parking brake to stop.
  • Several complaints describe brakes pulling hard or tugging strongly during light braking.
  • One owner reported the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly while shifting into park before hitting a tree.
  • Seat belts and driver seats reportedly failed or collapsed during rollover and rear-impact crashes.
2021 Toyota Tacoma complaints: complaints filed per month8Feb 2021Sep 2021Jun 2022Apr 2023Mar 2024Feb 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026
113 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2021 (8).

2021 Toyota Tacoma recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 Toyota Tacoma fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 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.

2021 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
2019Caution73218420
2020Best787120
2021Caution5380020
2022Good4759320
2023Good2754420

All Toyota Tacoma years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2021 Tacoma a Complaint Index of 53, ranking it 8th worst out of 16 model years, with a Caution verdict compared to other Tacoma years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
Engine complaints make up 19% of reports, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 18% and Brakes at 15%, according to NHTSA complaint data.
Does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma.
Are there airbag issues with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA received 7 airbag-related complaints for the 2021 Tacoma, including 5 crash cases, with owners describing non-deployment during frontal and side impacts.
How does the 2021 Tacoma compare to other years?
The 2021 Tacoma's Complaint Index of 53 is worse than years like 2020 (7) and 2013 (20), but better than 2024 (100) and 2010 (87).

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.