UsedScore

2017 Toyota Tacoma: Use caution

Owners filed 167 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Tacoma in its first five years on the road, about 85 for every 100,000 sold: 1.4× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (38% of complaints, median 5,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.4×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Tacoma year
Rank
10th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
167
first five years; 85 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
3rd generation, 2016–2023 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab

Photo: 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain38% · 63 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  2. Air bags6% · 10 complaints · median 22,000 miles
  3. Engine14% · 23 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  4. Brakes11% · 18 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  5. Fuel and propulsion10% · 16 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  6. Body and structure8% · 13 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  7. Electrical10% · 17 complaints · median 38,000 miles
  8. Wheels and tires5% · 8 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  9. Speed control5% · 9 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  10. Visibility5% · 9 complaints · median 29,000 miles

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

Owners describe crashing at moderate speeds only to find the air bags never deployed, sometimes resulting in injuries. A few also mention dashboard warning lights, water leaks near air bag components, or a failed clock spring causing air bag light concerns.

Warning signs:
Some owners noticed air bag or seat belt warning lights illuminating on the dash, sometimes tied to a failed clock spring or after hitting a bump.
What shops did:
Some owners had vehicles towed to dealers or independent shops, but several report the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, with manufacturer cases opened for investigation.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 65,000 miles, among 10 complaints that give it

“None of the frontal air bags deployed.”

“Clock spring has failed. I've lost all steering wheel button controls as well as cruise control. Air bag light has now come on.”

Engine

Owners describe their 2017 Tacoma engines stalling, losing power, or misfiring, sometimes with warning lights and rough idling. Repairs ranged from replacing sensors, spark plugs, or intake components to full engine replacement, with some problems recurring after service.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights (check engine, traction control, low oil pressure), rough idling, tapping or clunking noises, surging RPMs, and sudden loss of power before failures.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced parts such as spark plugs, coil packs, intake manifold, coolant bypass pipe, or crankshaft position sensor, though some issues recurred or could not be diagnosed.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 55,000 miles, among 24 complaints that give it

“started losing power and acceleration diminished. CEL and Trac Off light came on. Pulled over twice after experiencing same issue.”

“Cylinder #5 & 6 misfire codes thrown after nominal driving conditions on the interstate.”

Powertrain

Owners describe hesitation, jerking, or sudden lunging when accelerating or stopping, along with rear differential leaks or howling noise. Dealers sometimes updated software or replaced parts, but many owners say the problems returned or repairs were delayed for lack of parts.

Warning signs:
Owners report harsh or delayed shifts, engine revving without acceleration, whining or howling noise from the differential, and clunking or banging sounds during shifts.
What shops did:
Dealers often updated or reflashed the transmission control software, replaced differentials or transmissions, or reported they could not duplicate or fix the problem; parts for the differential repair were frequently unavailable.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 15,000 miles, among 54 complaints that give it

“Within 2 days of driving it I felt the hard jerks of the transmission at the start of the day.”

“The vehicle differential started to howl and whine at 800 miles and has steadily increased in severity as I put more miles on it.”

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

Recalls (5)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 20V682000November 20201,525,742 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V211000April 20186,046 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.

    Risk: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V831000December 2017649 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V356000June 201731,824 vehicles

    Engine

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles equipped with a six-cylinder engine. The affected vehicles have a crank position sensor that may malfunction, potentially resulting in an engine stall.

    Risk: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crank position sensor with an improved design, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V285000April 2017227,732 vehicles

    Power train: driveline: differential unit

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles. Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.

    Risk: If the vehicle is operated with an insufficient amount of oil in the rear differential, the differential may seize and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear differential for oil leakage.

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 379 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2017 Tacoma. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 23TE08 · September 2024 · Warranty extensionToyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames and front inner fenders under the hood on certain Tacoma vehicles with 040 Super White paint color.
  • T-SB-0103-20 Rev1 · June 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
  • T-PANT-2024-004- · March 2024This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024.
  • TSB003220 · August 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ?
  • TSB011219 · August 2023TSB: Some 2005 ?
  • 23TE04 · February 2023DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court.
  • T-SB-0115-22 · December 2022TSB: Some 2019 ?
  • T-SB-0124-20 Rev · November 2022TSB: Some 2016 ?

All 2017 Tacoma bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2017 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Owners filed 167 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Tacoma in its first five years on the road, about 85 for every 100,000 sold: 1.4× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. That's above average, so use caution. 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 2017 Tacoma problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (38%), the air bags (6%) and the engine (14%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2017 Toyota Tacoma been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma, the most recent in November 2020 (fuel system, gasoline). 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 2017 Toyota Tacoma on NHTSA.gov · How we rate