2020 Toyota Tacoma Brakes Problems

Brake fluid leaking into cab from master cylinder

NHTSA ID

11697744

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

My brake master cylinder is leaking brake fluid under the steering column and dripping inside. This seems to have a recall but they only did it for trucks up to 2019 and my 2020 has the same exact issue.

NHTSA ID

11660258

Incident

May 11, 2025

The other day I was slowing down on an off-ramp and all the sudden had no brakes, or at least no power brakes for maybe 30 feet and then all of the sudden power assist came back and slammed hard on the brakes. If there would have been a car at the stop sign I would have rear ended them. Pavement was dry, No ABS light, no codes, everything has been normal since then. I have noticed that the electronic brake booster on this truck "cycles" every few brake applications resulting in inconsistent braking power, which is especially noticeable at low speeds. I have been told this is normal for these trucks. Has not been inspected by anyone as I cannot replicate the issue.

NHTSA ID

11593291

Incident

Jun 3, 2024

The rear brake pads are locking.I had to towed the truck to the dealer this week.I’m afraid that while driving on the highway the brakes lock.yes, but the problem has not been resolved yet.no it hasn’t been checked by the manufacturer No warning lights has come on the brakes are locking up while the truck is parked in my garage.

NHTSA ID

11558701

Incident

Sep 12, 2021

The contact leased a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that after driving the vehicle off the dealer parking lot, the brakes would pulsate upon depression without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on four separate occasions and had the brake drums replaced each time; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified, and the contact was informed that a service representative would contact him. The contact had not yet heard from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 1. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11436808

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

Mileage

1 mi

DURING CERTAIN CONDITIONS LIKE HARD BRAKING OR REGULAR BRAKING IN INCUMBENT WEATHER THE REAR WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP. TOOK TO THE DEALER 9/2020 THEY REPLACE THE REAR DRUMS, AND THE ISSUE CAME BACK SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIRS. I TOOK IT BACK 12/03/2020 THEY REPLACED MORE INTERNAL FINAL DRIVE PARTS LIKE AXLE SHAFTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS SHOES, AND DRUMS AGAIN. THE LOCK UP WOULD DISENGAGE AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDDLE IS RELEASED. ON 2/9/21 WITH 6K MILES MY TACOMA NOW LOCKED UP AFTER TWO PRIOR ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER TO RESOLVE MY ISSUE. THE TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN THIRD TIME SAME ISSUES

NHTSA ID

11395723

Incident

Feb 8, 2021

Mileage

6,000 mi

WHEN I START VEHICLE A HISSING OR ELECTRIC SHOCK RATTLES AND SEEMS AS I START TO DRIVE THERE IS NO POWER AND 4 WD IS ON WHEN I BRAKE IT SKIPS MAKING TIRES JUMP.

NHTSA ID

11389547

Incident

Sep 30, 2020

Mileage

4,312 mi

THE PRE COLISION SYSTEM IS FAULTED OUT DUE TO THE SENSOR BEHIND THE WINDSHILD

NHTSA ID

11384611

Incident

Apr 16, 2020

Mileage

10,000 mi

APROX MILEAGE MARCH 7K ,MILEAGE NOW 12K NOV 8. ON THE VEHICLE. 1ST INCIDENT. MARCH 2020.COLORADO MOUNTAINS GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY OFF RAMP WITH A .5PERCENT GRADE DOWNHILL AND 800 LB TRAILER. NO BRAKES AT 60MPH CLEAR SKYS 8PM DRY PAVEMENT.PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED HARDER AND HARDER TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP YET WOULDNT STOP UNTILL I USED EMERGENCY BRAKE. ALMOST LOST CONTROL DUE TO HAVING TO CORRECT WHICH DIRECTION I HAD TO GO SO I WOULDN'T HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME ON THE OFF RAMP. DEALER INSPECTION SAYS NOTHING IT WRONG. 2ND INCIDENT WAS TURNING ON ROUND ABOUT FLAT DRY PAVEMENT 25 MPH. HAD TO USE E BRAKE AGAIN TO AVOID COLLISION DUE TO SOFT PEDAL. BETWEEN 1/3AND 2/3 OF THE DISTANCE TO THE FLOOR THE PEDAL SEEMED NON EXISTANT AGAIN. 3RED 4TH 5TH 6TH AND 7TH INCIDENT. MAY-NOV 2020 BRAKE EMERGENCY WARNING COMES ON DASH SOME TIMES WITH OR WITHOUT BREAK ASSIST ACTIVATED. OFTEN WHEN BRAKING SEMI HARD VEHICLE WILL BRAKE AS IF THERE IS OIL ON THE BRAKES STOPPING DISTANCE BECOMES 20%-50% LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED EVEN WITH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I DO NOT TRUST THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE AND WE HAD BEEN TOLD BOTH TIMES IT WAS THERE THAT WE ARE "USING THE BREAK PEDAL THE WRONG WAY". THIS IS GETTING TO BE SCARY FOR US TO DRIVE SO WE USE THE OTHER CAR TO TAKE THE CHILD PLACES. AT RANDOM THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE PEDAL EXTREMELY HARD AND OR TO THE FLOOR HOPING THE TRUCK WILL STOP. REGUARDLESS OF WEATHER, LOAD OR PAVEMENT CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

11373677

Incident

Apr 20, 2020

Mileage

7,500 mi

I OWN A 2020 TACOMA WITH 14K MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND I WENT TO HIT MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GET PARTIAL BRAKES BY PUMPING THEM UP LIKE WHEN YOU ARE BLEEDING NEW BRAKES. TOOK TRUCK TO TOYOTA AND THEY HAD IT FOR 10 DAYS. THERE WAS A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. IF THIS SCENARIO WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE HIGHWAY THE END RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND THEY HAD ENGINEERS HAVE THEM RUN TESTS ON THE PART WHILE ON MY TRUCK SO THEY COULD FIND OUT WHY IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11364292

Incident

Sep 3, 2020

Mileage

14,000 mi

MY 2020 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK I FOUND THAT ,WHEN SITING AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH MODERATE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SLOWLY GO TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE TRUCK TO CHECKERED FLAG TOYOTA, 5301 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD THAT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR WAS 'NORMAL' FOR THIS TRUCK. SHOP FOREMAN SAID THAT THE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR WAS 'NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK'. I ASKED TO TALK TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE REGION BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND NOT NORMAL. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOYOTA SERVICE REP BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE WAY WE DO THINGS. A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT KEEP PRESSURE AND GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED CANNOT BE 'NORMAL'.

NHTSA ID

11343859

Incident

Aug 7, 2020

Mileage

2,200 mi

TOYOTA TACOMA 2020 TRD OFF ROAD 4X4 VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE BOOSTER WHICH USE THE ABS SYSTEM TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IT ROLLS BACK ON A HILL DOES NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON TOYOTA TACOMA OFF ROAD 4X4 VEHICLE. IT CAN NOT STOP VEHICLE AS REQUIRED. IT IS DEADLY DANGERS IN MOUNTAINS STEEP SLIPPERY AND NARROW ROADS. AT THIS CONDITION THE VEHICLE CONTROL IS IN QUESTION. I PERSONALLY FACED IT, BARELY AVOIDED ACCIDENT. SOME OTHER TACOMA DO HAVE DIFFERENT BOOSTER WHICH WORKING PROPERLY. OBVIOUSLY, THAT THIS CAR DOES HAVE DESIGN FLOW. I DID SPEAK WITH TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I DID BUY THE CAR AS WELL AS WITH TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE. THEY DID ADMIT THAT THIS CAR IS NOT WORKING AS OTHERS BUT DID CLAIM THAT IT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. I DO THINK THAT YOU DO HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO PRESS TOYOTA TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT BOOSTER ON TACOMA OFF ROAD 4X4 VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325187

Incident

Jan 20, 2020

Mileage

3,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT PULSATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. DAYTONA TOYOTA (51 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114 (386) 222-6757) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800.

NHTSA ID

11299272

Incident

Dec 14, 2019

Mileage

1,800 mi