2026 Toyota Tacoma

Right rear head rest RATTLES!!! After checking other similar models on the lot, the Dealer said it was a characteristic of the vehicle and there was No Fix!

NHTSA ID

11756904

Incident

Aug 13, 2026

The rear bumper of my recently purchased vehicle is physically misaligned and structurally deformed. Dealership service personnel initially acknowledged the defect and ordered repair parts, but later refused to fix it, claiming it is 'within factory specification.' This structural misalignment directly impacts the orientation of the vehicle's rear safety sensors, blind-spot monitors, and cross-traffic radar systems. A misaligned bumper housing can cause these driver-assistance systems to miscalculate distances, fail to detect hazards, or trigger false emergency braking, creating an immediate collision and safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11745176

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

While attempting to cross 3 lanes of oncoming traffic from a standstill the vehicle lost all power and barely moved 2 feet, irrespective my efforts of stabbing at the throttle, and almost got us killed. Fortunately I slammed on the brakes and barely missed being hit head on. No warning lamps or codes popped up. This is now the 3rd such incident in the 2 months we have owned this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11737961

Incident

May 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 TOYOTA Tacoma. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the AC went out. The vehicle was driven to a dealer where it was diagnosed to have a rock damage at the AC condenser. The contact stated that it is located in front of the grill which has no protection or cover on the condenser, allowing the issue to occurred again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000.

NHTSA ID

11737808

Incident

May 13, 2026

Mileage

12,000 mi

I have a 2026 Toyota Tacoma 850 miles on it. I had a problem at about 200 miles that the transmition started to shutter or vibrate as it was slowing down around 26 miles an hour to 10 not exactly that every time but close and as it slowed down it had this distinct vibration or shutter under 5 miles an hour it shifted and it smoothed out. I took it Toyota to my dealer their response was that it was a" normal characteristic of the vehicle" my issue is I don't think a normal characteristic of the vehicle is necessarily an intended way the transmission was supposed to work. I would like to know if The manufacture intended this to operate like that or is it a defect If it's a defect then it could cause at lease major repairs or even an accident.

NHTSA ID

11729067

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

My 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro (VIN [XXX] , delivered 02/28/2026, purchased from Delaney Toyota, DuBois PA) has exhibited a recurring Smart Key and door lock malfunction beginning at approximately 250 miles and continuing through at least 1,814 miles as of March 18, 2026. Symptoms observed: Doors locking autonomously without any input while occupants are entering or exiting the vehicle System falsely detecting the key fob as being inside the vehicle when it is in the owner's pocket outside, causing the truck to refuse to lock Touch-lock refusal at the door handle Random single beeps while the vehicle is parked and locked with no corresponding lock movement Dashboard warning "Key Not Detected" with audible alert while vehicle was in motion (March 18, 2026, approximately 11:06 AM) Dashboard warning "Key Not Detected" with audible alert while attempting to start the vehicle (March 18, 2026, approximately 2:30 PM) Safety concern: On March 18, 2026, a Toyota Brand Engagement Center case manager (case #XXX) confirmed on a recorded call that if the vehicle loses key fob detection while driving and is subsequently shut off, there is a possibility it will not restart even if the owner holds the fob directly to the start button. This creates a real stranding risk on public roads. Additional facts: This defect has never generated a diagnostic trouble code across multiple service visits A full-day diagnostic on March 9, 2026 (RO #XXX) produced no fault codes Immediately after that diagnostic, the vehicle autonomously locked out two Delaney Toyota employees on dealership property — witnessed by the dealership's General Sales Manager and a Product Specialist The identical defect appeared on a prior vehicle, a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro (VIN [XXX] ), which was traded in February 2026 with the defect unresolved after three service visits Toyota Corporate case #XXX is currently open INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11725340

Incident

Mar 4, 2026

2026 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure the floor mat in the correct position. In addition, some models may also utilize retainers for passenger side and rear seat floor mats. During Pre-Delivery Service (PDS), follow the appropriate Installation Procedure to attach the driver side, and if applicable, the passenger side and rear seatfloor mats to the vehicle carpet using the floor mat retainers.

During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce conditions such as pulling or drifting. If the wheels are replaced or refinished before vehicle delivery, it is important that the tires remain on the vehicle in the same location and in the same direction of rotation.

Long-term or off-site storage requires special care to maintain vehicle condition. The following guidelines should be performed to minimize vehicle component/part degradation due to extendedvehicle storage conditions. Long-term storage can affect a vehicle’s systems and components. Any problems that are found should be corrected immediately.

A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life. These conditions include storage period, temperature, parasitic drain, and battery load. Because of these factors, battery inspection and maintenance are required in order to ensure proper operation and optimal battery life.

Pre-Delivery Service (PDS) is a critical step in satisfying our new car customers. Customer feedback indicates the following areas deserve special attention when performing PDS: • Careful inspection for paint chips/scratches and body dents/dings. • Proper operation of electrical accessories (including interior light, clock, and radio reset). • Interior cleanliness. • Proper function of mechanical systems. The PDS process helps identify potential vehicle concerns before customer delivery. After completing the PDS process, maintain accurate PDS records by ensuring the required documents listed below are completed and recorded in accordance with Toyota Warranty Policy. • GTS+ Health Check • Completed PDS Check Sheet • Battery Charge Test Print Out • GTS+ Tire Pressure Information Customer retention and proper maintenance of vehicles are, and have always been, a major focus for Toyota. To help remind customers that regular service is essential to the proper maintenance of the vehicle, dealers are required to install a service reminder sticker before delivery. By doing this, customers will be reminded to return to your dealership for service. Your current service reminder sticker may be used. (See PDS Check Sheet item 7 of “Final Inspection and Cleaning.”) This bulletin contains the PDS procedures that apply specifically to 2026 model year Tacoma and Tacoma Hybrid vehicles.

The condition is for vehicles equipped with an accessory Power Port or Tire Inflator. During the installation process of the Power Port or Tire Inflator, the pre-wire connector is removed from the dummy cap (which is attached to the harness) and is left attached when power is connected. The purpose of the dummy cap is to prevent connector water intrusion/corrosion when the accessory is not installed.