2018 Toyota Tacoma Problems

Truck has strong smell of fuel in the cab

The fuel pump as stopped working the vehicle will not start and the 4x4 is showing that it is not working. The vehicle is available for inspection. Thankfully this happened while the vehicle was sitting over night but we had driven it the evening before it just stopped running. the Fuel system could have failed while we were driving anywhere. It has not been inspected by anyone else. it is sitting in our driveway and my husband has done a lot of trouble shooting as to what could be wrong and all arrows point to the fuel pump. there have been no check engine light or nothing this came out of nowhere.

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the brake pedal was spongy while depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure persisted, and the contact discovered oil on the bottom of his shoe before discovering oil in the driver’s side footwell. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that oil was leaking from the engine firewall onto the brake pedal. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was initially informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V888000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

The vacuum pump. This vehicle was inspected by Dunn Tire. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. The safety issue that occurs is the loss of power assist to your brake system, and if not repaired, can impact the camshaft or the oiling system. (Please see attachment).

The master cylinder is leaking brake fluid into the cab and is dripping behind the brake pedal. There is brake fluid in the wiring harness that goes to the brake switch as well. This is a known fire hazard from other vehicle manufacturers.

yes has been inspected by the manufacturer and they fixed it but I want to file a claim.

I HAVE HAD BELOW ISSUE AT 57000 MILES ON MY TACOMA. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I AM NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND COPORATE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY TRUCK BY SEARCH VIN, BUT ITS CLEAR IM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS BELOW AND SEEING OTHER VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, SO ITS CLEAR THIS TRUCK WAS BUILT WITH THE SAME DEFECTS. The Plano, Texas-based manufacturer sent a safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stating they will recall 6,046 2018 Toyota Camry, 2018 Toyota Highlander, 2017 Toyota Sienna, 2017 Toyota Tacoma, and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles built between Oct. 2 and Nov. 3, 2017. Toyota stated in the report the affected vehicles contain brake booster vacuum pump assemblies with improperly machined oil galleys. The vacuum pump is supplied oil from the engine to seal and lubricate the pump vane’s movement. The defect can cause oil to not properly circulate through the system, eventually breaking the pump vane and causing potentially dangerous braking assist loss.

When I go to accelerate at low speed my vehicle shudders shakes and vibrates, no engine lights or codes have popped up, the issue is somewhere from transmission to the rear end. Im guessing transmission or torque converter. With my vehicle only having 136,000 miles and is well taken care of this is ridiculous, I have checked drive line and tires and everything seems to be working as it should so it has to be something internal

The engine in my 2018 Toyota Tacoma failed at 39000 miles and Toyota is refusing to cover the repair costs. I have records of all regularly scheduled maintenance performed and I have never done anything that would put additional stress on the engine such as off-roading or towing. This engine is defective and should be recalled. There are numerous reports online of the same issue.

While driving I can here a ticking sound coming from the motor and it gets worse while I pick up speed

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that upon retrieving the Carfax report after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy, and the vehicle seller was not the title holder. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 32,000, and the contact later discovered that the mileage was over 200,000 through the Carfax report.

The master cylinder is leaking brake fluid into the cab and is dripping behind the brake pedal. There is brake fluid in the wiring harness that goes to the brake switch as well. This is a known fire hazard from other vehicle manufacturers.

The cab vents failed causing water to soak the carpet and pad from the back wall to the front of the cab. Mold was growing through out the the cab. Carpet & pad had to be removed. This is a known problem by dealerships and owners of Toyota Tacoma. Because the water was under the seats, trim and weather mats it went undetected exposing us to mold. Problem was reported to Toyota dealership and Toyota Corporation. A case was logged 07/10/2026 as Case # 260710001840. The resolution offered was ordering and replacing parts. All parts required for repair and on backorder. Hundreds of orders for these parts in their system. Carpet and under mat had been replaced 05/02/2025 due to a Toyota recall campaign 21TD03.

WHAT FAILED: The clear coat finish on the exterior paint of my 2018 Toyota Tacoma has failed (cracking) in two separate locations on the same vehicle, indicating a manufacturing defect rather than normal wear. In late 2024, I discovered clear coat cracking on the roof and hood. I reported this to Toyota (Toyota case #241028000714) and paid approximately $2,000 out of pocket to have an independent body shop repaint the affected panels, as Toyota corporate declined to assist after the repair had already been performed. The clear coat is now cracking again at approximately 48,925 miles, this time on the cab in the pillar/trim area between the tops of the doors and the roofline. The vehicle and affected areas are available for inspection upon request. SAFETY IMPACT: This is a cosmetic exterior paint/clear coat defect. I have not identified any impact on vehicle operation, structural integrity, or visibility, and I am not aware of any safety risk to myself or others resulting from this issue to date. I am reporting it to document a recurring defect pattern on this vehicle. REPRODUCED/CONFIRMED BY A DEALER OR SERVICE CENTER: The 2024 occurrence was inspected and repaired by an independent body shop (not a Toyota dealer). The current occurrence has been reported to Toyota corporate (Toyota Brand Engagement Center) along with photographs, but has not been physically inspected by a Toyota dealer. INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER, POLICE, OR INSURANCE: Toyota corporate reviewed photographic evidence of the current issue through my correspondence with the Toyota Brand Engagement Center, which I have asked to be linked to prior case #241028000714. Toyota has not physically inspected the vehicle. This is not a crash-related issue, so no police or insurance inspection has occurred. WARNING LAMPS OR PRIOR SYMPTOMS: Not applicable. This is a cosmetic paint/clear coat defect rather than a mechanical or electronic system issue, so there were no dashboard warning lamps or system messages

After a couple of years of owning my truck, the paint started on my hood and roof started to turn white and fade. I don’t understand why Toyota uses this type of paint that’s going to get messed up after a couple of years. Also after 4 years of owning the truck, the suspension is all messed up (never took the truck off road or driven it anywhere else but the streets and now they make noises like crazy

When I go to accelerate at low speed my vehicle shudders shakes and vibrates, no engine lights or codes have popped up, the issue is somewhere from transmission to the rear end. Im guessing transmission or torque converter. With my vehicle only having 136,000 miles and is well taken care of this is ridiculous, I have checked drive line and tires and everything seems to be working as it should so it has to be something internal

am filing this complaint regarding a power steering rack leak on my [2018] Toyota Tacoma with [83,000] miles, which I purchased used three months ago from Fred Anderson Toyota of Greer in South Carolina. The dealer represented the vehicle as having passed a 160-point inspection and implied CPO-level standards, but it was not actually Certified Pre-Owned. The steering rack is now leaking power steering fluid, with visible accumulation in the boots, despite stable fluid levels in the reservoir during my ownership. This issue appeared very shortly after purchase, raising concerns that it was a pre-existing defect. Power steering leaks can lead to loss of assist and increase crash risk if they worsen. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this represents a safety defect affecting Toyota Tacomas, as similar complaints appear common in owner forums

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the rack and pinion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was unknown 35,000.

I was traveling southbound on I-25 when the flatbed truck in front of me came to a sudden stop. I was unable to stop in time to avoid rear-ending the truck. The airbags did not deploy upon impact.

I got in a car accident another car hit me T-bone right between the driver a d passenger door sideairbags weren’t deployed at all the incident cause me to jump into de sidewalk run over a sign and neither of the frontbags were deployed either the hit cause me to hit my head to the side window reason I got a concussion and been having headeaches since the day of the accident October 13th 2021 the car that hit me run a red light and must have been over 25 miles per hour cause the other car end it up been flipped over

The mechanical design of Toyota's plastic visor assemblies that are installed in my Tacoma truck is disgustingly worthless and every last one of them will ultimately fail unless they are left securely fastened in the end visor holding clamp, permanently, and at all times while driving. That means not rotating them to shade a glaring sun through a door window glass. Toyota needs to redesign and replace all of their defective visor assemblies. The problem is with the rod holding design on the back side of the visor mounting plate. It is supposed to securely hold the plastic rotating arm from falling out of the mounting plate. It is wholly inadequate and will not safely support even the meager weight of the visor leaf itself. The only safe option is to leave the visor arm snapped into the end stabilizing/holding clamp. Mine dropped out of the mounting plate, twisting and dangling from the power cord wiring at a vulnerable time in moving traffic. It not only restricted my view, I was struggling to grasp the swinging visor to remove it from obstructing my view. All the while, steering with my other hand and merging into freeway speed traffic. It was a very serious problem at an inopportune and critical time. Since I was merging into freeway lanes from an on-ramp, there was no exit opportunity and stopping was not an option; all I could do was fight to avoid colliding with other vehicles. The hazard was compounded by a glaring sun that I was trying to mitigate by using the visor to shield the bright glare coming through the driver's door window. I was left purely with luck and good fortune; no guarantees at all. Compounding the problem was that it occurred during semi-rush hour traffic. It had significant potential of becoming a very serious life-threatening accident. I took the truck to my dealership for repairs but the only option was to purchase a duplicate assembly in excess of $400 U.S. Dollars, installed. Toyota needs to do the right thing and warranty all of them.

THE HOOD BULGE ON THE TRD HAS SEVERE GLARE WHEN THE SUN IS RAISING OR SETTING. MANY TIMES I HAVE ROUNDED A CORNER AND THE SUN REFLECTS OFF THE HOOD BULGE AND BLINDED ME. TODAY I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY.

Third break light has started to leak inside the cab of vehicle. Causing a wet musty smell, possibly mold, and staining.

AS WE WERE TRAVELING ON 441 SOUTH TO ATHENS GEORGIA TO DOCTOR MY 2018 TOYOTA TOCOMA WITH VIN# ON FILE LOST POWER AT THE SPEED OF 65 MPH AND IF I HAD NOT BEEN A FORMER SHERIFF DEPUTY AND A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR AND HAD NOT BEEN TRAIN IN HOW TO HANDEL A VEHICLE IN STRESS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGICALLY DEVASTATED FOR MY WIFE AND MYSELF THIS REMEDY THAT'S UNDER RECALL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ASAP OR OWNERS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED OR GIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH REPORTED!!! MY CONTACT 407 577 5262 OR [email protected]

VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 10-30MPH AND BRAKING BETWEEN 10-30MPH. THIS IS A NEW 2018 TACOMA ACCESS CAB WITH ONLY 4000 MILES. TSB 0171 AND 0023 ADDRESS THE SAME PROBLEM????

TOYOTA HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THERE SERVICE TECHNITIANS, DEALERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NHTSA MANDATED SEAT BELT INDICATORS AND OPTIONAL INDICATORS. I HAVE REPORTED AN ISSUE WHERE THE SEAT WILL NOT SLIDE CORRECTLY AND THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR AND OPTIONAL ALERT SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THE OPTIONAL SEAT BELT INDICATOR MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES A PROLONGED AUDIO DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER THAT INTERFERES WITH THE ROLL THAT OTHER SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS REVERSE SENSORS, ETC. CANNOT BE DISTINGUISHED. TOYOTA ALLOWS THE DEALER TO TURN OFF THE DISTRACTING OPTIONAL CHIMES, BUT THE DISCRETION IS LEFT TO THE DEALER AND NOT THE DRIVER WHICH POSES RISK TO PEDESTRIANS, DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THAT THE FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MANDATORY ALERT SYSTEM AND THE OPTIONAL ALERT SYSTEM MEANS THAT DEALERS ARE IGNORING CUSTOMER REQUESTS TO MUTE THE OPTIONAL ALARM INCREASING THE RISK OF DISTRACTION TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL.

Rear driver seatbelt retracts but won’t reel back up. After replacing it, shop recognized the ineffective nature of the other side. Safety of my children at risk. Inspected by independent shop and dealer. No warning lights. Symptoms include less effective

TOYOTA HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THERE SERVICE TECHNITIANS, DEALERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NHTSA MANDATED SEAT BELT INDICATORS AND OPTIONAL INDICATORS. I HAVE REPORTED AN ISSUE WHERE THE SEAT WILL NOT SLIDE CORRECTLY AND THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR AND OPTIONAL ALERT SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THE OPTIONAL SEAT BELT INDICATOR MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES A PROLONGED AUDIO DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER THAT INTERFERES WITH THE ROLL THAT OTHER SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS REVERSE SENSORS, ETC. CANNOT BE DISTINGUISHED. TOYOTA ALLOWS THE DEALER TO TURN OFF THE DISTRACTING OPTIONAL CHIMES, BUT THE DISCRETION IS LEFT TO THE DEALER AND NOT THE DRIVER WHICH POSES RISK TO PEDESTRIANS, DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THAT THE FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MANDATORY ALERT SYSTEM AND THE OPTIONAL ALERT SYSTEM MEANS THAT DEALERS ARE IGNORING CUSTOMER REQUESTS TO MUTE THE OPTIONAL ALARM INCREASING THE RISK OF DISTRACTION TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL.