The best Tacoma years to buy are 2020 and 2021. Be careful with the 2016: the first year of the current generation drew about twice the Tacoma's usual complaints, from transmission behavior, a rear differential recall and peeling white paint.
Best years: 20202021 Years to avoid: 2016
Every Tacoma year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Tacoma problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 155 | - | 5 | Transmission and drivetrain | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 54 | - | 4 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 59 | 25 | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2021 | 81 | 32 | 0 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good buy |
| 2020 | 90 | 38 | 1 | Fuel System | Good buy |
| 2019 | 219 | 88 | 4 | Fuel System | Average |
| 2018 | 210 | 85 | 3 | Fuel System | Average |
| 2017 | 244 | 123 | 5 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2016 | 324 | 169 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
| 2015 | 102 | 57 | 4 | Other | Good year |
| 2014 | 93 | 60 | 4 | Structure | Good year |
| 2013 | 125 | 78 | 6 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2012 | 295 | 209 | 7 | Engine | Watch out |
About the Tacoma
The Tacoma holds its value because it rarely breaks, and the data agrees: its complaint rate is among the lowest of any truck. The 2016 redesign had the most teething problems. Later years of the same generation are excellent.
- 2012-2015: Second generation. Watch for secondary air injection pump failures that cause limp mode, and frame rust on older trucks.
- 2016-2023: Third generation. 2016-2017 have the most complaints; 2020-2022 are very low.
- 2024 on: Fourth generation with a turbo four. Too new to judge.
Tacoma warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Toyota files with NHTSA. 1,131 Tacoma bulletins are on file in total.
Technical instructions for warranty enhancement program zka certain 2016 through 2017 model year Tacoma
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Tacoma
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA19001 · 2012–2019 · opened Apr 2019, closed Sep 2024 · led to recall 20V024
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
Tacoma vs rivals
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldChevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldFord Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldHonda Ridgeline vs Toyota Tacoma
Which years drew fewer problems per car sold
Questions
What is the best year for the Toyota Tacoma?
2020 and 2021. The best Tacoma years to buy are 2020 and 2021. Be careful with the 2016: the first year of the current generation drew about twice the Tacoma's usual complaints, from transmission behavior, a rear differential recall and peeling white paint.
Which Toyota Tacoma years should I avoid?
2016. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Toyota Tacoma average.
Based on 2,051 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.