Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 80 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, most frequently naming the driver assistance, powertrain (other) and engine categories. 165 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2021 | 2 | 2 |
| Mar 2021 | 3 | 5 |
| Apr 2021 | 3 | 8 |
| Jun 2021 | 1 | 9 |
| Jul 2021 | 2 | 11 |
| Aug 2021 | 4 | 15 |
| Sep 2021 | 2 | 17 |
| Nov 2021 | 2 | 19 |
| Dec 2021 | 1 | 20 |
| Jan 2022 | 1 | 21 |
| Mar 2022 | 3 | 24 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 25 |
| Jun 2022 | 2 | 27 |
| Jul 2022 | 2 | 29 |
| Dec 2022 | 2 | 31 |
| Jan 2023 | 2 | 33 |
| Feb 2023 | 1 | 34 |
| Mar 2023 | 2 | 36 |
| Apr 2023 | 1 | 37 |
| Aug 2023 | 1 | 38 |
| Nov 2023 | 1 | 39 |
| Dec 2023 | 3 | 42 |
| Jan 2024 | 2 | 44 |
| Feb 2024 | 1 | 45 |
| Mar 2024 | 1 | 46 |
| May 2024 | 2 | 48 |
| Jul 2024 | 2 | 50 |
| Aug 2024 | 2 | 52 |
| Oct 2024 | 1 | 53 |
| Dec 2024 | 1 | 54 |
| Feb 2025 | 2 | 56 |
| Mar 2025 | 1 | 57 |
| Apr 2025 | 1 | 58 |
| Aug 2025 | 1 | 59 |
| Sep 2025 | 2 | 61 |
| Nov 2025 | 4 | 65 |
| Dec 2025 | 3 | 68 |
| Feb 2026 | 2 | 70 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | 71 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 72 |
| May 2026 | 1 | 73 |
| Jun 2026 | 3 | 76 |
| Jul 2026 | 1 | 77 |
| Aug 2026 | 2 | 79 |
| Sep 2026 | 1 | 80 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Driving in town 30 to 40mph, (while in drive) the vehicle rev’d up like it was in neutral then went back to normal. That is concerning because it will cause transmission problems & pulling onto a road the truck could shift to (neutral) causing it to not go.
The cabin air pressure vents behind the back seat are leaking letting water into the vehicle. The seals have dried up. It's causing a moldy smell in the vehicle.
Having two issues major issues that’s causing me a $10,000 bill. The timing cover is leaking and there is a coolant bypass hose that is leaking. I have spend a lot of maintenance on this truck on maintaining it to have to remove the engine. As for the forward collision warning ive had it go off multiple times witout a vehicle there. While in cruise control ive had it unexpectedly break on me when there was no visible vehicle infront or next to me.
Brake master cylinder is leaking in the interior of truck on driver side floor mat. Oil is come from brake master cylinder seal.
The Multi-Information Display (MID) on the instrument cluster (combination meter) has failed completely. The display shows full-width horizontal RGB scan lines across the entire screen with no readable information. The analog gauges (speedometer and tachometer) remain functional but all digital display information is unavailable including speed, warnings, fuel economy data, and safety system status indicators. This failure occurred suddenly with no prior warning. Vehicle has approximately 50,000 miles. I am aware that Toyota issued Safety Recall 25V595 in September 2025 covering the identical combination meter failure on 2023-2025 model year Tacomas and other Toyota vehicles. The root cause identified in that recall — accelerated deterioration of the memory device inside the combination meter due to improper programming — appears to be the same failure mechanism present in my 2021 model year vehicle. I am filing this complaint to formally document that this known defect extends to 2021 model year Tacoma vehicles and to request that NHTSA investigate expanding recall 25V595 to include earlier model years. Toyota should be required to repair or replace the combination meter on affected 2021 vehicles at no cost to owners, consistent with the remedy already established for 2023-2025 vehicles. A Toyota case has been opened with the Brand Engagement Center at [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Digital instrument panel speedometer screen has gone blank. No longer displays speed. This occurred while driving the vehicle.
About a month ago the Blind spot monitoring system failed, dealer said $2500.00 to repair, about 10 days ago, backup sonar parking system failed, dealer cost to repair $2200.00
The plastic coolant crossover valve or pipe failed at 66,000 miles and 5 years of usage. This led to the radiator cracking. After researching online, I read about thousands of Tacoma 3rd generation users with the same issue. Also, the same issue was recalled for several other models of Toyotas but not the Tacoma.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Toyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames, front inner fenders as can been seen with the hood open, and on the A-pillars on certain Tacoma vehicles with 040 Super White paint color. Although the vehicle paint is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for three years, or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the conditions described above.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Toyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames, front inner fenders as can been seen with the hood open, and on the A-pillars on certain Tacoma vehicles with 040 Super White paint color. Although the vehicle paint is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for three years, or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the conditions described above.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Customer Support Program 23TE08 Paint Repair Process Job Aid
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 98 | 5 | 0 | 59.7 |
| 2024 | 149 | 5 | 0 | 55.5 |
| 2023 | 54 | 4 | 0 | 60.7 |
| 2022 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 60.2 |
| 2021Viewing | 80 | 0 | 0 | 49.2 |
| 2020 | 87 | 1 | 0 | 46.7 |
| 2019 | 218 | 4 | 1 | 57.3 |
| 2018 | 206 | 3 | 1 | 56.8 |
| 2017 | 239 | 5 | 1 | 60.2 |
| 2016 | 323 | 4 | 1 | 53.8 |
| 2015 | 101 | 4 | 1 | 65.8 |
| 2014 | 93 | 4 | 1 | 59.8 |
| 2013 | 125 | 6 | 1 | 64.7 |
| 2012 | 295 | 7 | 1 | 55.3 |
| 2011 | 186 | 9 | 0 | 56.4 |
| 2010 | 294 | 13 | 0 | 54.9 |
| 2009 | 519 | 13 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 2008 | 446 | 11 | 0 | 56.7 |
| 2007 | 541 | 10 | 1 | 61.8 |
| 2006 | 782 | 11 | 1 | 58.7 |
| 2005 | 707 | 10 | 0 | 52.0 |
| 2004 | 414 | 5 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2003 | 359 | 5 | 0 | 53.7 |
| 2002 | 333 | 5 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2001 | 396 | 6 | 0 | 55.8 |
| 2000 | 210 | 5 | 0 | 57.4 |
| 1999 | 249 | 5 | 0 | 56.6 |
| 1998 | 300 | 5 | 0 | 56.2 |
| 1997 | 131 | 4 | 0 | 54.4 |
| 1996 | 253 | 6 | 1 | 56.5 |
| 1995 | 177 | 6 | 1 | 61.0 |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.