Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
420–25K
1525–50K
1550–75K
1275–100K
12100–150K
3150K+
99 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports6 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
125 reports
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2025
StructureUnknown Or Other
The frame was “repaired” by the spray foam, not replaced. This foam has been falling off since I purchased the vehicle and there is much rust on the frame. I have gone into Toyota for this to be inspected and they said that the foam that was applied to the frame and was sufficient enough to meet the standards. I don’t find this …
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The frame was “repaired” by the spray foam, not replaced. This foam has been falling off since I purchased the vehicle and there is much rust on the frame. I have gone into Toyota for this to be inspected and they said that the foam that was applied to the frame and was sufficient enough to meet the standards. I don’t find this to be safe especially on vehicle that is 12 years old. There was rust that was clearly repainted in spots.
NHTSA ODI #11658402
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2025
Air BagsSeat Belts
THE SRS AIRBAGS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENDER SIDE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON 1/23/2025 AT 6:06 PM RIGHT AFTER I GOT HOME FROM WORK. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS FASTEN TO THE SEATBELT BUCKLE. WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS IN PLACE AND REMOVED FROM HOLSTER, THE INDICATOR LIGHT LIT UP AND A BELL SOUND ALERTED ME AS THE…
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THE SRS AIRBAGS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENDER SIDE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON 1/23/2025 AT 6:06 PM RIGHT AFTER I GOT HOME FROM WORK. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS FASTEN TO THE SEATBELT BUCKLE. WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS IN PLACE AND REMOVED FROM HOLSTER, THE INDICATOR LIGHT LIT UP AND A BELL SOUND ALERTED ME AS THE OPERATOR OF THE TRUCK, THE SEAT BELT WARNING ALSO TRIGGERED THE AIR BAG LIGHTS TO TURN ON WITH A INDICATOR SRS AIRBAGS OFF. THE INDICATOR RESUMES AS THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHTS REMAIN ON UNTIL THE CAR ENGINE IS OFF. WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED BACK ON, THE WARNING LIGHTS OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS ON.
NHTSA ODI #11637882
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2024
Structure
While backing in camper to my driveway after a 3.5 hr return trip, the back part of the frame which holds the rear bumper and the trailer hitch let go from a rusted frame. See attached pic. I inquired with a Toyota dealer who said my vehicle is out of warranty for the CSP from Toyota for rusting frames. They indicated ther…
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While backing in camper to my driveway after a 3.5 hr return trip, the back part of the frame which holds the rear bumper and the trailer hitch let go from a rusted frame. See attached pic. I inquired with a Toyota dealer who said my vehicle is out of warranty for the CSP from Toyota for rusting frames. They indicated there was a recall that wasn't repaired on my vehicle but I don't recall seeing a recall for rusting frames. They also said this wasn't a safety recall which I have a hard time understanding. If this happened while on the highway and not in front of my house the entire camper would have completely let go from my vehicle. Any information would be appreciated.
NHTSA ODI #11606530
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2024
Suspension
The rear leaf springs are rusted and corroded, and make a noise when I drive the vehicle.
NHTSA ODI #11579131
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2023
Air Bags
Within 1 month of buying a 2012 and 2013 tacoma the clockspring goes out. This repair is incredibly expensive and has happened with every single Tacoma I have ever bought. Toyota needs to do something about this, this is unnaceptable that my horn/clockspring goes out almost immidiately.
NHTSA ODI #11555348
92,000 miles · Jun 8, 2023
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the ABS activated at approximately 35 MPH while making a turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The contact stated that the fa…
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The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the ABS activated at approximately 35 MPH while making a turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V054000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
NHTSA ODI #11525967
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2022
Structure
1. Fuel door hinge broke. Checked on Tacoma forums, this is a common problem with 2005-2015 model. 2. Not a safety risk. 3. Toyota does not acknowledge this is as a problem for the 2005-2015 model. 4. Vehicle has been inspected for repair estimate. 5. Prior to hinge breaking, the fuel door was not mating properly.
NHTSA ODI #11474511
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2021
Steering
my lower [ntermediate steering shaft has to be replaced repair is pending the u joint was so rusted steering was very difficult i noticed that the vehicle steering wheel would not return to normal straight it was a gradual process at least 3 months of minor to very hard steering while having some routine work done…
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my lower [ntermediate steering shaft has to be replaced repair is pending the u joint was so rusted steering was very difficult i noticed that the vehicle steering wheel would not return to normal straight it was a gradual process at least 3 months of minor to very hard steering while having some routine work done it was pointed out to me that it might need to be replaced vehicle is a 2013 tacoma 2wd base
NHTSA ODI #11439550
75,000 miles · Aug 16, 2021
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while in reverse and attempting to park the engine RPMs suddenly increased while pressing the brake pedal and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration causing the driver to lose control of the steering. During the incident, the vehicle crashed into two separat…
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The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while in reverse and attempting to park the engine RPMs suddenly increased while pressing the brake pedal and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration causing the driver to lose control of the steering. During the incident, the vehicle crashed into two separate vehicles and a restaurant building serving outside diners. The contact was eventually able to switch gears causing the vehicle to drive forward before turning the engine off and stopping. The contact indicated that the brake pedal was being pressed at the time of the failure but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The driver sustained a mild head injury and one diner was also injured. No further information was available. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 75,000.
NHTSA ODI #11429292
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2021
Steering
This issue has been ongoing. Taken into local Toyota dealer and was told they needed to replace entire rack and pinion at a cost of nearly $1500. Three days after picking up it is doing same thing. While steering around corner it will temporarily lock and suddenly it feels like it has no power steering. I am getting nothing but …
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This issue has been ongoing. Taken into local Toyota dealer and was told they needed to replace entire rack and pinion at a cost of nearly $1500. Three days after picking up it is doing same thing. While steering around corner it will temporarily lock and suddenly it feels like it has no power steering. I am getting nothing but the run around from Wooster Toyota. My wife very nearly was in an accident because of this. This truck only has 80000 miles. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment
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.
Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
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.
Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Tacoma vehicles manufactured July 1, 2013, through October 11, 2013. The engines of the affected vehicles contain valve springs that may break over time.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the valve springs break, the engine could fail and stall while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began on November 27, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Tacoma vehicles equipped with 18" Maverick Alloy Wheels. In the affected vehicles, the spare tire requires the use of a different style of lug nut to attach it to the vehicle than the other wheels use. These lug nuts were not provided with the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the lug nuts from another wheel, damage to the wheel could result and may eventually lead to a loose wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will: (a) Install a Warning Label on the spare tire/wheel, (b) supply a bag containing proper spare wheel lug nuts, and (c) place an Owner's Manual Addendum in the vehicle's glove box. The recall began on January 23, 2014. Owners may contact SET at 1-954-429-2000.
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
2013 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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