Toyota Tacoma Years to Avoid

Why 2009 made the avoid list

2009 Toyota Tacoma

AvoidTop issue: powertrain · 27% of complaints · median 1,000 miles

Owners describe daytime running light lenses melting or cracking inside the headlights, and transmissions hesitating before a sudden lurch when pulling out of turns or stops. Some also report the truck surging or racing unexpectedly while stopping or on cruise control, with dealers often finding nothing wrong.

Full 2009 report ›

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints on NHTSA's site and checked against them; the counts and mileages come from our data.

Best Toyota Tacoma years to buy

2014 Toyota Tacoma

Best betTop issue: brakes · 28% of complaints · median 8,000 miles

Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Tacoma in its first five years, about 28 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. 28% of them involve the brakes, at a median of 8,000 miles.

Full 2014 report ›

2020 Toyota Tacoma

Best betTop issue: air bags · 5% of complaints

Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Tacoma in its first five years, about 25 for every 100,000 sold: 0.5× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. 5% of them involve the air bags.

Full 2020 report ›

2021 Toyota Tacoma

Best betTop issue: air bags · 10% of complaints

Owners filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Tacoma in its first five years, about 25 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. 10% of them involve the air bags.

Full 2021 report ›

2022 Toyota Tacoma

Best betTop issue: air bags · 14% of complaints

Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Tacoma in its first five years, about 25 for every 100,000 sold: 0.6× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. 14% of them involve the air bags.

Full 2022 report ›

A best bet drew 0.6× the complaint rate of a typical Tacoma year or less in its first five years on the road. How we rate

1. Powertrain25% of complaints · 511 complaints · median 1,000–14,000 miles by year · worst years: 2009, 2016 and 2017
2. Brakes14% of complaints · 286 complaints · median 3,000–28,000 miles by year · worst years: 2009, 2018 and 2019
3. Speed control12% of complaints · 241 complaints · median 3,000–22,000 miles by year · worst years: 2008, 2009 and 2010
4. Fuel and propulsion10% of complaints · 210 complaints · median 4,000–32,000 miles by year · worst years: 2017, 2018 and 2019
5. Engine10% of complaints · 206 complaints · median 3,000–50,000 miles by year · worst years: 2012, 2016 and 2017

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA in each model year's first five years on the road, all years combined. A complaint can name more than one area. Worst years are the rated years with the most complaints about that area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

Questions owners ask

Which Toyota Tacoma years should you avoid?

Counting complaints owners filed with NHTSA in each year's first five years on the road, per vehicle sold, the 2009 Tacoma drew the most: each more than twice the rate of a typical Tacoma year, spread across more than one problem area. The 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2017 also ran above average; use caution with them.

What is the best year for a used Toyota Tacoma?

The best bets are the 2014, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Tacoma, which drew far fewer complaints per vehicle sold than a typical Tacoma year. The 2020 drew the fewest for its time on the road (0.5× the rate of a typical Tacoma year). Years from 2023 on haven't had five years on the road, so they aren't rated yet.

What is the most common problem with the Toyota Tacoma?

Across every year, the problem area owners report most is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (25% of complaints), followed by the brakes (14%) and speed control (12%). A complaint can name more than one area.

Has the Toyota Tacoma been recalled?

Yes. NHTSA lists 44 recall campaigns covering Tacoma model years 2008 to 2026, the most recent in September 2026. Enter a vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether its repairs were done.