2026 Toyota Tacoma

The windshield wiper motor on my 2026 Toyota Tacoma emits an excessive low-pitched groaning noise during operation. The noise begins immediately of activating the wipers and becomes progressively louder the longer the wipes run. It is clearly audible inside the cabin, at speed, and over the radio. The sound is mechanical in nature and emanates from the wiper motor assembly (part 85110-AK010) at the base of the windshield. The wipers otherwise function, but the noise is not normal motor operation. The noise is loud and persistent enough to distract the driver during rain - exactly the conditions in which the driver attention is most important and visibility is most compromised. The sustained groan diverts my attention and focus from the road and masks other auditory sounds while driving in rainy weather conditions. This is clearly a driver distraction safety concern. I reported the condition to my authorized Toyota dealer, Hendricks Toyota North Charleston, on [XXX]. The dealer refused to diagnose or repair the condition, stating the noise was "normal" and not a safety hazard. Toyota corporate was contained [XXX] by phone at 1-800-331-4331, case no. [XXX] and subsequently likewise declined to repair. The condition remains unrepaired. Other 4th Generation (2024+) Tacoma owners have reported the identical groaning wiper noise on owner forums (e.g. [XXX]) and Toyota has reportedly acknowledged a related noisy wiper condition on the sixth generation 4Runner, with owner reports of a planned motor replacement covering both vehicles. No TSB or recall has been issued to my knowledge. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11775395

Incident

Oct 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle lost braking functionality, and the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was safely coasted to a stop. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer failed to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was released back to the contact. The failure mileage was 1,600.

NHTSA ID

11773205

Incident

Oct 5, 2026

Mileage

1,600 mi

Driving home from work on the I-95 South, I experienced sudden rpm revving and acceleration issues. I immediately notified the dealership and told them I was going to drop the vehicle off. Within 1-2 miles of that conversation the vehicle entirely stopped accelerating at approx 6 pm during heavy rush out traffic going 70 plus mph. I barely made it off to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. I then restarted the vehicle and had 0 forward propulsion. Reverse still worked. I then had the vehicle towed via Toyota road side assistance

NHTSA ID

11772845

Incident

Oct 21, 2026

Vehicle: 2026 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter Hybrid I-Force Max, approx. 900 miles Component: Digital rearview mirror (rearview camera mirror) Dealer: Toyota of [XXX], two separate visits now. I purchased this vehicle new approximately six weeks ago. The digital rearview mirror was a primary reason for the purchase, because it gives a clearer and wider view to the rear than a standard mirror. Since purchase, the digital mirror display has repeatedly gone black while driving, leaving me without a rear view. This happens frequently and without warning, and most often when I use the turn signal stalk. That is exactly when a driver is most likely to check the mirror before changing lanes or turning, which makes the failure a direct safety risk. The owner’s manual identifies a black display as a fault condition, so this is not normal operation. I reported the problem to the dealer and to Toyota and provided photos of the failure as it happened. The dealer said they could not reproduce it during a short test drive, and Toyota has offered no repair or remedy. An intermittent fault not appearing on a brief test drive does not mean it isn’t occurring; it continues to happen during my regular driving. I have also found multiple owner reports on online forums describing the same failure in the same model, which suggests this is not limited to my vehicle. I am asking NHTSA to review this issue. A rearview mirror that blacks out during lane changes and turns creates a real risk of a crash. Attached below is a link of the forum with others as well. This was provided to Toyota to show its validity. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11772515

Incident

Sep 9, 2026

Abnormal vibration from drive line at 22-24 MPH. Dealership service manager rode in the truck and validated the abnormal vibration. He checked for Tech Service Bulletin for this and found none. He drove four similar Tacomas on their lot and said they all have the same vibration at that speed. He called Toyota engineering and they validated the vibration but said it is "normal." Dealer and Toyota corp refuse to repair. Toyota Brand Engagement Center (800-331-4331) opened a case for this and recommended I also file a case here.

NHTSA ID

11771442

Incident

Oct 13, 2026

2026 Toyota Tacoma (i-FORCE 2.4L turbo, 8-speed automatic), purchased new, 2,051 miles. On the morning of XXX, I noticed a delay when the transmission shifted gears and shortly after while driving on the highway at approximately 55–57 mph, multiple warnings appeared at once: Check Engine, "Drive-Start Control Malfunction," "System Malfunction" (pre-collision and lane assist), and "Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction." Shortly after, the transmission stopped engaging. When I pressed the accelerator, engine RPM rose but the vehicle did not accelerate, a loss of drive power at highway speed with traffic around me. This created a serious crash risk. The collision-avoidance systems were disabled at the same time. Photos of the warning messages are attached. The vehicle is being taken to a Toyota dealer in [XXX] by AAA for diagnosis. Similar reports from other 2024–2026 Tacoma owners suggest this may not be an isolated issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11770389

Incident

Oct 11, 2026

Tacoma interior door handle will not open driver’s door. I was sitting in truck reading, engine off. I actuated the start button a couple of times to enable window lowering and lowered the windows. I actuated the start button again a couple of times so as to not drain battery. Suddenly the car alarm went off. I involuntarily startled and pulled door handle. I turned the alarm off and closed the door. The interior driver’s door handle would not allow me to open the door. I tried all available electric and manual unlock options. Nothing worked. I was, essentially, trapped in the truck. I then called emergency services button on truck. She suggested I see if the passenger door would open. It did. Then she suggested rolling down the driver’s window and trying to open driver’s door using outside handle. It worked. I closed the door. When I subsequently tried to get out of the truck, the driver side door would not open using the interior handle. 4 times it failed. Drove to dealer to have them fix it. If you drive this vehicle with the driver side interior door handle inoperative, this is a dangerous condition. If a serious accident occurs you may not be able to exit quickly in order to save your life. If you drove into a lake/canal/river, you may not be able to exit the vehicle quickly. It endangers human life. Toyota needs to make this malfunction impossible to occur. I understand now, after an internet search of a Tacoma Forum, that if you open up your 2024-2026 Tacoma door while the alarm goes off it will unhook the cable to your interior door handle. Apparently, it's what that writer called a “Dead Lock Safety Device” that Toyota put in there to keep a thief from stealing your truck and then him not being able to get out of the truck. This is an unacceptable feature of this truck and should be recalled to remove it. In an attempt to slow down car thieves, Toyota has endangered Tacoma drivers and essentially trapped them in their own vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11770285

Incident

Oct 9, 2026

On [XXX], my 2026 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter experienced an abrupt loss of power while passing a semi-truck on [XXX] in northern British Columbia, Canada. It was raining sufficiently to require windshield wipers but not at full speed. As I accelerated to pass a semi-truck in rain and road spray, the dash gauge indicated turbo boost increased, and then abruptly my truck suddenly lost power and entered what appeared to be a reduced-power or “limp” mode with many dash lights. It started slowing down immediately with no throttle response. I could no longer maintain highway speed and had to pull over immediately. This created an immediate collision risk while passing a large truck in highway traffic. After stopping, I inspected the air filter and intake. The filter was not visibly wet, but I found water droplets inside the intake near the sensor. I have a photograph documenting these droplets. I was approximately a couple hundred kilometers from the nearest Toyota dealer, so I drove at reduced power (max speed limited to approximately 40 mph) to the closest mechanic, who restored normal operation. I do not have the diagnostic fault codes. I suspect rainwater or road spray entered through the factory snorkel during a turbo boost event causing the sensor to detect water and the subsequent loss of power, but the underlying cause has not been confirmed. My primary safety concern is the sudden inability to maintain speed or accelerate during a highway passing maneuver, and the possibility of recurrence during driving in rain and road spray. I request that NHTSA investigate this potential safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11769743

Incident

Sep 25, 2026

Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in individual Service Bulletins. This bulletin details the Global Techstream+ (GTS+) ECU flash reprogramming procedures and outlines use of the Technical Information System (TIS) and the Calibration Update Wizard+ (CUW+). To ensure the correct ECU software is installed, ECUs will require a Security Signature before the ECU will initialize the flash reprogramming sequence. This bulletin also details the process for acquiring a Security Signature from TIS during the GTS+ ECU flash reprogramming process.

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.

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.

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.

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.