2020 Toyota Tacoma Engine Problems

I am having same issue as the incident i found here 12/06/2025, LISTED UNDER COMPLAINTS-I live in Rio Rancho NM- Concern it involves the automatic transmission torque converter specifically torque-converter lock-up behavior, The issue presents as a vibration/shudder during steady -speed driving , we are driving around 30-40 miles per hour when it happens, The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection upon request. The vibration/shudder occurs during steady cruising at moderate speeds which affects vehicle smoothness and driver confidence, while no accident has occurred yet, the behavior is unexpected and distracting and could impact safe vehicle operation, particularly during highway driving or when maintaining steady speed in traffic, I Took it to my Toyota dealer a few months ago they said they could not find any issues, I am taking it again tomorrow and now I CAN SHOW THEM THAT I FOUND THE SAME ISSUE UNDER COMPLAINTS, I NEED TO TOYOTA TO FIX MY ISSUE ASAP,

NHTSA ID

11716242

Incident

Dec 10, 2025

Toyota has a manufacturing defect going on with their v6 in Gen 3Tacoma's. I have a 2020 Limited with 48,200 miles that needs a new cylinder head. It threw a check engine light on me, and luckily enough I took it to the dealership within about 30 miles, otherwise my engine could have exploded. I have videos from the dealership inspection that I cannot attach here. I have since found via the error code a history of these issues on newer trucks. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] I believe that this issue could pose serious safety issues for someone who is not as immediate on stopping driving, as it was just a check engine light. If you were to drive on this light down the highway, and have catastrophic failure, the Tacoma becomes a completely unpowered hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11712671

Incident

Jan 17, 2026

Vehicle accelerated on its own at highway speed, had to hit the brake in order for it to stop accelerating. Other more common issue is that vehicle RPMs go up when trying to accelerate but vehicle does not accelerate, just RPMs go up. This happened about 5 times over the past year and a half. Most noticeable time was where I couldn’t accelerate after at all until I pulled over and put it in park. Then back to drive again and worked fine. This car has been brought over to Lia Toyota of rockland numerous times with this second issue and they can never duplicate nor fix the problem

NHTSA ID

11708785

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

The timing chain cover is leaking oil which will render the vehicle inoperable which is a safety concern. The diagnosis was done at Toyota and I am being told to repair the truck already at 84,000 miles. The cost of the repair is astronomical ($6,666). The problem appears to be a gasket which to reach for repair requires dropping the engine. It is not fair that consumers bear this burden for faulty design linked directly to a safety concern (engine will stop working because of oil leak).

NHTSA ID

11659961

Incident

May 1, 2025

vehicle fuel pump went out without any notice and fuel gauge and cluster not showing any data on the instrument cluster. vehicle loss power and would not go over 40mph on the freeway take over 5 minutes to reach 60 mph per hour. Always serviced at the Toyota dealer and they won't help to fix the problem since its over 49K. they won't even look at emissions problem even it under warranty for 8 year/ 80K per emission warranty for ecu.

NHTSA ID

11631021

Incident

Dec 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled temporarily. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred for a second time while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that no issues were found; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11449864

Incident

Apr 2, 2021

Mileage

5,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving up a hill and whenever the accelerator pedal was released, the vehicle started to roll backward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Upon picking up the vehicle, the contact stated that the failure recurred while driving up a hill. The contact then took the vehicle back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with the engine not getting enough oil causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 7,800.

NHTSA ID

11419695

Incident

May 17, 2021

Mileage

7,800 mi

2020 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD SPORT, TRANSMISSION LURKS FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL A LITTLE HARDER THAN NORMAL TO KEEP FROM LURKING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO LOOSE POWER WHEN DOWN SHIFTING WHILE ACCELERATING (GOING AROUND A CORNER). THE TRUCK ALSO SEEMS LIKE ITS HUNTING FOR A GEAR AROUND THE 35MPH OR 43 MPH, ON FLAT SURFACE, GOING DOWN HILL, OR GOING UP HILL. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE GOING 65-70MPH, WHICH WOULD BE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THIS FEELS LIKE ITS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT ALSO COULD BE AN ENGINE MISFIRE OF A SPARK PLUG OR SOMETHING. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, PURCHASE DATE OF 9.11.2020.

NHTSA ID

11405425

Incident

Mar 29, 2021

Mileage

5,200 mi

VEHICLE HAD A FRONT/RIGHT COLLISION WITH THE TREES ON A ROAD DURING THE RAINY EVENING. VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY OUR CAR INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTER. THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED THEREFORE THERE WERE SERIOUS INJURIES AND FRACTURES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. WHY DID THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY? WAS THERE A BREAKS OR OTHER SAFETY MALFUNCTIONING?

NHTSA ID

11394568

Incident

Dec 31, 2020

Mileage

2,527 mi

2020 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD OFF ROAD HAS SEVERE HESITATION ISSUES DURING WARM STARTUP. TRUCK CRANKS OVER FINE BUT DRAGS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE FIRING. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SOMETIMES THE STARTER SEEMS TO STICK AND MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. OTHER TIMES THERE IS AN AUDIBLE SINGLE CLICK/POP NOISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUSHING THE START BUTTON BUT THE TRUCK STILL STARTS. AFTER THE TRUCK IS STARTED IT WILL OCCASIONALLY IDLE ROUGH AND THE TACHOMETER WILL DIP LOW AND THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE SLIGHTLY AS IF THE TRUCK IS GOING TO STALL. TOYOTA CONTINUES TO DENY ANYTHING IS AMISS DESPITE ME PROVIDING VIDEO EVIDENCE AND DUPLICATING THE ISSUE IN FRONT OF THEM MYSELF. THEY CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO DO ANY REASONABLE AMOUNT OF WORK TO FIX MY VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. HERE IS A LINK TO VIDEOS OF THE ISSUE FOR REFERENCE OF THE SEVERITY: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/Z-W-FD8GZIU

NHTSA ID

11375605

Incident

Nov 20, 2020

Mileage

5,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 77 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE SOUND CEASED. THE SOUND RETURNED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ALONG WITH THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD POPPED UP ABOUT AN INCH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET PARKED ON THE SHOULDER AFTER WHICH THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EHRLICH TOYOTA LOCATED AT 4732 W 26TH ST, GREELEY, CO 80634, (970) 339-3900, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,200.*DT*DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOYOTA WAS FIXED ON NOV 4TH BUT HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE LEAKING FLUIDS AND AN OIL LEAK. THAT DEFECT WAS FIXED AS WELL ON NOV 20TH. *TR

NHTSA ID

11372998

Incident

Sep 25, 2020

Mileage

1,200 mi

I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2020 TACOMA SR5, AND IT HAS VERY POOR ACCELERATION WHEN PASSING OTHER VEHICLES. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DEAD SPOT WHEN ACCELERATING. IT SEAMS TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION DELAYED SHIFTING RESPONSE TIME WHEN DRIVING. I CONSIDER THIS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW VEHICLE. IT RUNS WORSE THAN MY OLD CAR. IT RUNS LIKE ALL THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE DIRTY. ALSO, A FEW DAYS AGO, I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE THAT HAD A BIT OF AN INCLINE FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES, AND WHEN I PULLED OUT AND PLACED MY GEAR IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BADLY AND WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN. I ONLY KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VEHICLES, BUT I KNOW THIS NEW 2020 V6 SR5 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT I JUST BOUGHT IS NOT RIGHT. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SOON TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS.I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL OR IN PART COMING FROM A POOR FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE NEW 2020 TACOMA'S ARE NOT PART OF THE FUEL PUMP RECALL. I FEAR THIS VEHICLES POOR PERFORMANCE WILL PLACE ME AT AN INCREASE RISK OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION OR THE LIKE. I HOPE YOU (THE READER) PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS VEHICLE SAFE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11365482

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

Mileage

157 mi

WHEN IN REVERSE AND BACKING UP, ENGINE WILL SURGE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IN A TIGHT SPACE TRUCK IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323329

Incident

Mar 11, 2020

Mileage

525 mi

RE: 2020 TOYOTA TACOMA, ENGINE FAILURE ON 12/20/19 CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE ON HIGHWAY, TOWED TO DEALER. ENGINE SEIZED WITH 1400 MILES. NO VEHICLE ACCESS, NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CORRESPONDENCE NOR ANSWER FROM TOYOTA FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH

NHTSA ID

11299632

Incident

Dec 20, 2019

Mileage

1,427 mi