UsedScore

2015 Toyota Tacoma: Solid

Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Tacoma in its first five years on the road, about 32 for every 100,000 sold: 0.7× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the air bags (11% of complaints, median 12,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.7×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Tacoma year
Rank
4th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
55
first five years; 32 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
2nd generation, 2005–2015 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2015 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Long Bed

Photo: 2015 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Long Bed · SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Air bags11% · 6 complaints · median 12,000 miles
  2. Brakes15% · 8 complaints · median 9,000 miles
  3. Body and structure15% · 8 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  4. Electrical9% · 5 complaints
  5. Steering5% · 3 complaints
  6. Wheels and tires7% · 4 complaints
  7. Speed control5% · 3 complaints
  8. Engine11% · 6 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  9. Seats and belts5% · 3 complaints
  10. Visibility11% · 6 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Several owners describe crashes in which the air bags did not deploy despite significant frontal or rear impacts, sometimes resulting in injuries. A few others report curtain air bags deploying suddenly with no collision at all.

Warning signs:
A few owners note no warning lights or indicators before the air bags failed to deploy or deployed unexpectedly.
What shops did:
Some owners report vehicles were towed or totaled with no repair completed, and one had a dealer inspect but not yet diagnose the air bag system.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 95,000 miles, among 7 complaints that give it

“Substantial frontal impact without air bag deployment or seatbelt pre-tensioners being activated.”

“My driver side and rear passenger side curtain airbags deployed spontaneously. I didn't hit anyone or anything.”

Body and structure

Owners of this Tacoma describe wind noise from doors and mirrors at highway speed, paint peeling around windows, and rust forming on the frame or drivetrain components. Dealers sometimes diagnosed or partially repaired these issues, but several owners say their vehicles weren't covered under Toyota's paint support program.

Warning signs:
Owners report a whistling or squealing noise at highway speeds, moisture or fogging inside the cabin, and visible paint peeling near window frames or rust on the frame and leaf springs.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced weatherstripping or diagnosed the noise and paint issues, though some owners say the weatherstripping was never replaced or that their vehicle wasn't covered under a paint support program.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 15,000 miles, among 7 complaints that give it

“Then I heard same whistling sound coming from the drivers side mirror the next time I was on highway going over 55 MPH”

“Bushing between truck bed and frame wore out causing bed to bounce around”

Brakes

Owners describe a range of brake problems including sudden loss of stopping power, warped rotors causing steering shake, and unexpected lunging or acceleration when braking. Some say dealers found nothing wrong or called the behavior normal, while others had parts replaced.

Warning signs:
Owners note pedal traveling to the floor, steering wheel shaking or jumping when braking at highway speeds, warning lights, or brake fluid leaking into the cabin.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced a brake actuator and master cylinder, replaced tires or rotors, or told owners the behavior was normal without repairing anything.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 40,000 miles, among 11 complaints that give it

“Brakes just released with me standing on the pedal - allowing me to roll into the vehicle in front of me”

“When driving over 50 MPH on highway and brakes are applied the steering wheel shakes violently”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 17V425000July 20173,547 vehicles

    Equipment · Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 15V099000February 201518 vehicles

    Wheels · Tires

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Tacoma pickup trucks manufactured August 7, 2014, to December 22, 2014. The affected vehicles may have had their tires and wheels changed to TRD PRO accessory tires and wheels, causing the inflation information on the tire placard to be incorrect which may result in the tire being improperly inflated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

    Risk: Improperly inflated tires may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will send a revised tire placard with correct tire size and inflation information to owners, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V828000December 20143,958 vehicles

    Equipment

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.

    Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V663000October 2014142 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain model year 2015 Toyota Tacoma vehicles manufactured September 2, 2014, to October 15, 2014. The affected vehicles may contain an incorrect Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

    Risk: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Gulf States has notified owners, and dealers will install an accurate label, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 309 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2015 Tacoma. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · December 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere.
  • T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · December 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover.
  • T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · December 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds.
  • T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · December 2024Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces.
  • T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · December 2024Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc.
  • T-SB-0055-24 Rev1 · July 2024Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present.
  • T-SB-0035-24 Rev1 · July 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere.
  • T-SB-0038-24 Rev1 · July 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover.

All 2015 Tacoma bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2015 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Tacoma in its first five years on the road, about 32 for every 100,000 sold: 0.7× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Tacoma years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2015 Tacoma problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the air bags (11%), the brakes (15%) and the body and structure (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2015 Toyota Tacoma been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2015 Toyota Tacoma, the most recent in July 2017 (equipment). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2015 Toyota Tacoma on NHTSA.gov · How we rate