2017 Toyota Tacoma Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Tacoma, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)6723.8%
- Engine3612.8%
- Brakes3111.0%
- Body & structure269.3%
- Fuel system258.9%
- Electrical227.8%
- Airbags134.6%
- Driver assistance113.9%
- Visibility93.2%
- Interior & seats93.2%
- Exterior lighting82.8%
- Other / unspecified82.8%
- Suspension62.1%
- Tires & wheels31.1%
- Seat belts31.1%
- Steering20.7%
- Heating & air conditioning20.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
There is a leak the rear differential. There is a recall on this issue
I was driving on the highway when my vehicle suddenly lost power. The engine light and traction control light came on, and I lost power, and the engine started sputtering. I had to pull off to the side and put on hazards. My Tacoma would only drive about 25 MPH after this happened. Based on a quick search, this is a very common problem in 3rd-generation Tacomas!
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Truck has 116k miles, started losing power and acceleration diminished. CEL and Trac Off light came on. Pulled over twice after experiencing same issue. Took to mechanic and diagnostic code P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). Replaced 6 spark plugs to be safe, and replaced broken coil in cylinder 1. Drove less than a mile and CEL came back on. Brought to dealership this time and they found a leak in the head gasket and noticed warping in cylinder 1, along with code P0301 still present. They reported back to me stating it needed a machinist to resurface the the cylinder head, that the repair is mechanical. Even outside of warranty this fix should not be costing $13,000. The truck has been properly maintained for the past 9 years, all oil services and replacing any wear and tear items. Mechanical (warping) is manufacturing issues.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the engine revved lightly. Over time the vehicle began to lunge forward, and the revving had become more intense. The RPM increased and revved. While reversing, the vehicle lunged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the map sensor and throttle body. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Common issue reported amongst 2016-2019 Toyota Tacoma owners. Noticed brake fluid dripping from under driver's side dash directly under brake pedal onto floor mat. Upon inspection, found brake fluid dripping down from what appears to be brake booster. Leaking brake booster should be a safety recall with replacement covered by Toyota.
Hydraulic, power assist:vacuum
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Clear coat and paint began to oxidize and fade after 4 years of ownership even when maintaining with wax
Water leak from cabin pressure vents behind rear seats. Water leaks directly into carpet causing unknown mold growth. This mold growth is a safety issue due to the cognitive and respiratory problems associated.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Truck has 116k miles, started losing power and acceleration diminished. CEL and Trac Off light came on. Pulled over twice after experiencing same issue. Took to mechanic and diagnostic code P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). Replaced 6 spark plugs to be safe, and replaced broken coil in cylinder 1. Drove less than a mile and CEL came back on. Brought to dealership this time and they found a leak in the head gasket and noticed warping in cylinder 1, along with code P0301 still present. They reported back to me stating it needed a machinist to resurface the the cylinder head, that the repair is mechanical. Even outside of warranty this fix should not be costing $13,000. The truck has been properly maintained for the past 9 years, all oil services and replacing any wear and tear items. Mechanical (warping) is manufacturing issues.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the engine revved lightly. Over time the vehicle began to lunge forward, and the revving had become more intense. The RPM increased and revved. While reversing, the vehicle lunged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the map sensor and throttle body. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Product identification: Brand: Dasaita Model: HA2161H3 ASIN: B0CQNWQR8D Purchased: September 4, 2025, via Amazon Aftermarket Android head unit installed in a 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport caused electrical interference with the vehicle's brake stop switch circuit (DTC C1425), resulting in autonomous braking without driver input, simultaneous ABS and Traction Control warning lights, and a dashboard warning indicating simultaneous accelerator and brake input. Two independent repair facilities confirmed the head unit as the probable cause. Symptoms resolved upon removal of the head unit and reinstallation of the factory OEM unit. The product is currently listed as unavailable on Amazon. Injury or accident: None, but describe it as a near-safety incident since the vehicle was braking itself while in motion.
Clock spring has failed. I've lost all steering wheel button controls as well as cruise control. Air bag light has now come on. I am afraid that if I get into a wreck, the airbag will not deploy. This seems to be a common issue with this select year for this Tacoma.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
Clock spring has failed. I've lost all steering wheel button controls as well as cruise control. Air bag light has now come on. I am afraid that if I get into a wreck, the airbag will not deploy. This seems to be a common issue with this select year for this Tacoma.
Unit 1 vehicle ran a red light at approximately 45mph and impacted the passenger side door of the Tacoma (unit 2) pushing the Tacoma into a stop vehicle (unit 3) in the turning lane. Unit 1 and unit 3 air bags deployed but none of the air bags in the Tacoma deployed. One of the pictures taken show the front driver side air bag sensor in the wreck frame.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Master cylinder or some part near brake pedal inside the cab is leaking oil or a oil like substance on to floor mats and floor.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that, upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. After which, upon attempting to apply the brakes and with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to stop, prompting the contact to switch off the ignition. As a result of the unintended acceleration and brake failures, the contact collided with the rear quarter panel of another passenger vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure, informing the contact that the event data recorder showed the accelerator pedal had been depressed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH 90,000 MILES ON IT. THE WIND SHIELD IS NOT VERY RESISTANT TO ABRASION, AS THE WINDOW HAS NOW BECOME CLOUDY DUE TO THE ABRASIVENESS OF ROAD DUST, ETC., ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SUN IS AT A LOW ANGLE. SEE THE ATTACHED PICTURE. I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BUT I THINK A BETTER QUALITY WIND SHIELD IS NEEDED TO HELP PREVENT THIS PITTING AND CHIPPING. IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ANYTHING THAT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING, WHEN THE SUN GLARE SHINES AGAINST THE PITS AND CHIPS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON ANY VEHICLE UNDER A FEW YEARS OLD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM, THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. AT SUNRISE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FRACTURE ALONG THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE DEFROSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN STRUCK BY DEBRIS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Water leak from cabin pressure vents behind rear seats. Water leaks directly into carpet causing unknown mold growth. This mold growth is a safety issue due to the cognitive and respiratory problems associated.
2017 Tacoma TRD Pro Water has been leaking through the rear air-pressure vents for quite some time. I have had a moldy/musty smell in the truck after a good rain for at least 6 months. Then I started noticing mold coming up on the driver's side kick plate. We went through all the diagnostic steps with Toyota dealership, who kept telling us it was the windshield leaking. We had the windshield removed and reset. The windshield people told us it was the cowl under the windshield allowing water to come in through the air filter behind the glovebox. We took it back to Toyota dealer and they could not find the problem. I paid them $165 to "not" diagnose my truck. They also handed me an estimate for $11,000 to remediate the mold. When we got the truck home, we started looking up the problem on Tacoma forums and YouTube and finally discovered it was the air vents behind the rear seat. I pulled the plastic molding back and there was tons on mold. I took it back to the dealership for repair. The dealership has now said they will replace the air vents but will not remediate the mold. I have had sinus trouble for more than a year and did not know why. I believe this is the reason.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 I was looking for something in my rear seat and noticed the seat was damp. I couldn't figure out the cause so I goggled it and found out that Toyota had a limited service campaign called LSC21TD03 on my 2017 Tacoma because of the third brake light having a gasket issue causing water to enter the vehicle. I called a local Toyota dealer and was told that the fix for my vehicle had expired in 2025. This water intrusion from the high third brake light can cause mold, interior damage, or electrical issues. This is an issue that Toyota previously acknowledged but has now stopped covering it. I called Toyota Corporate and was again told yes the repair fix was expired. I asked why wasn't I notified and was told that Toyota sent out letters. I told the representative that I never received a letter and was told the mailing was done by an outside company. I asked what could Toyota do to help me and was told to go back to the dealer and maybe they "would give me a discount or reduced price on the fix". The dealer offered nothing. Upon further research I found that several Toyota Tacoma owners state they were not aware of the service campaign and ended up changing the light themselves or paying out of pocket to have it repaired. I feel that this is an issue that Toyota is aware of and they should take care of it. This should have been a recall issue rather than just a service campaign that the public was not fully aware of. I still don't know the extent of damage to my vehicle because the dealer gave me a quote of $690 to repair. I questioned why so much to change a light and gasket and was told they have to take the panels down and clean the vehicle to make sure no mold was there. The quote was given without even examining the vehicle. I'm asking you to please look into this situation.
Water leaked through the third brake light gasket at the rear, top of the cabin. There is a service campaign, I believe, for 2016-2018 Double Cab Tacomas. However, this issue is present in my Access Cab Tacoma. I have water leaking through onto the rear windshield.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE LOOSES TRACKTION WHEN MAKING TURNS ON A CURVE. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND TIRES ARE STILL WITHIN LIFECYCLE. THE TIRES CURRENTLY ARE FROM ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF NEW TACOMA. ALSO, THE RECALL FOR PROBLEM WITH FUEL PROPULSION SYSTEM HAS BEEN ONGOING AND NO REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE. THIS IS PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE, WHICH FAILED TO RELEASE THE BRAKES. STEVINSON TOYOTA WEST (780 DENVER WEST COLORADO MILLS BLVD, LAKEWOOD, CO (720) 259-2544) WAS CONTACTED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT TEMPERATURES OF 35 DEGREES OR COLDER DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE SHOES GETTING STUCK TO THE REAR DRUMS. *DL
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
Mileage 64000: Vehicle went in for oil change and the mechanic noticed an issue with the differential mounts. The right bolt was corroded and broken leaving that side unsecured. The other bolt was heavily corroded also but still "intact". I had the support bolts, nuts and washers replaced on both sides for safety. These bolts were in a bad condition in relationship to a everything else under the vehicle. I want to make sure there isn't an issue with the bolts failing this early.
TWO MAJOR ISSUES ON MY TRUCK: 1) THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN SQUEAKING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR NOT. 2) THE RADIO UNIT REBOOTS ITSELF RANDOMLY AND MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A SHORT DRIVE RENDERING THE BACKUP CAMERA USELESS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
Purchased 4 new Firestone Destination LE3 P245/75/R16 tires. I immediately noticed my truck vibrating a lot. The higher rhe speed , the bigger vibration. I took it back twice. The service tech. Indicated that he balanced them, so i took them to another service station. Two front tires wrre determined to be egg-shaped and could not be balanced. They were also noticably a different color than the back two tires as well. I am taking them back to the original seller and having them replaced under the warranty.
We purchased a set of these tires at the end of June and have only about 15,000mi on them now. The embossed tire wear indicators show more than the 80% tread life left. About two weeks or so ago, I noticed a blister on the tire. Looking at it, there were a few tread blocks separating from the carcass. Yes, separation like what caused issues with Firestone and Ford Explorers a while ago! Pictures attached. I tried reaching out directly to Nokian and received no reply. I then tried to contact the seller (Budget Center) and Amazon. Initially, Amazon was helpful and the seller told me to go check at a local store. Now, Amazon says there is nothing that they will do and I have to go through Nokian on my own. Note that I was not asking for a refund, only help contacting Nokian. We have purchased several sets of tires from Amazon and will never again if this is how they handle warrantable defects. Shameful! The consumer was able to get in contact with the manufacture and the new tire is now installed.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
2017 Tacoma TRD Pro Water has been leaking through the rear air-pressure vents for quite some time. I have had a moldy/musty smell in the truck after a good rain for at least 6 months. Then I started noticing mold coming up on the driver's side kick plate. We went through all the diagnostic steps with Toyota dealership, who kept telling us it was the windshield leaking. We had the windshield removed and reset. The windshield people told us it was the cowl under the windshield allowing water to come in through the air filter behind the glovebox. We took it back to Toyota dealer and they could not find the problem. I paid them $165 to "not" diagnose my truck. They also handed me an estimate for $11,000 to remediate the mold. When we got the truck home, we started looking up the problem on Tacoma forums and YouTube and finally discovered it was the air vents behind the rear seat. I pulled the plastic molding back and there was tons on mold. I took it back to the dealership for repair. The dealership has now said they will replace the air vents but will not remediate the mold. I have had sinus trouble for more than a year and did not know why. I believe this is the reason.
The rear seatbelts metal ends are disintegrating with extreme corrosion. Discovered just before 25,000mile service. No corrosion in any other part of the vehicle.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
IT DOESN'T TRACK STRAIGHT AT 45+MPH , UNDER POWERED, CRUISE IS LOST SHIFTS ERRATIC AN. 16-18MPG RUNNING 91OCT....ETC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RETRACT NO MATTER HOW THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF ESCONDIDO (231 LINCOLN PARKWAY, ESCONDIDO, CA 92026) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 650.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, it was discovered that the front driver’s side heated seat was inoperable, and the seat was not heated while the switch for the heated seat was activated. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the electrical wire connector and wiring harness had melted and was destroyed and that the heating components inoperable. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure and informed the contact of a Technical Service Bulletin regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving or idled, the front driver’s side seat heater failed to operate. The contact then stated that he smelled a burning odor and upon inspecting the seat, he noticed burned and charred marks on the amp and wiring harness. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an electrical diagnostic was performed. The contact was informed by the dealer that the front driver’s side heated seat amp assembly and the wiring harness had melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle is out of warranty, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .