IllustrationTRANSMISSION WHEN IN COLD WEATHER. HAS A VERY SLIGHT THUMP WHEN COMING TO A STOP AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING DOWN SMOOTHLY IN GEARS. YOU SOMETIMES HEAR AND FEEL THIS THUMB WHEN DRIVING AROUND CITY STREETS . NOT AS MUCH AS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD OR AT STARTUP.
2017 Toyota Tacoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
960–25K
2625–50K
1150–75K
875–100K
5100–150K
2150K+
148 reports with mileage · 91 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 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports6 fire reports7 injury reports
Power Train complaints
68 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITH GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST TIPS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITH GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST TIPS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THE RESIDENCE AND INFORMED HIM THAT A SECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ROCHESTER TOYOTA (48 FARMINGTON RD, ROCHESTER, NH 03867) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
MY TRUCK STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I LOOKED UP WHAT COULD OF CAUSED THIS AND FIND OUT I MAY HAVE A CRANK POSITION SENSOR THAT'S MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING MY TRUCK TO STALL.
ON ONE OF MY SERVICES I MENTIONED THAT I FEEL THAT THE STANDARD TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR VERY EASY. BECAUSE IT'S NEW TO ME AND IT ALSO HAS SOME KIND OF ANTI ROLL I THOUGHT MAYBE JUST WASN'T WORKING THE PEDAL FAR ENOUGH OR JUST MISSING IT BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM SMOOTH. MY OTHER CONCERN WAS ABOUT SHIFTING OR THY LAC…
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ON ONE OF MY SERVICES I MENTIONED THAT I FEEL THAT THE STANDARD TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR VERY EASY. BECAUSE IT'S NEW TO ME AND IT ALSO HAS SOME KIND OF ANTI ROLL I THOUGHT MAYBE JUST WASN'T WORKING THE PEDAL FAR ENOUGH OR JUST MISSING IT BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM SMOOTH. MY OTHER CONCERN WAS ABOUT SHIFTING OR THY LACK OF ENGAGING IN FOUR WEEK DRIVE. TOYOTA AGREED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID HERE YOU GO. UNFORTUNATELY THE SAME PROBLEMS ARE STILL OCCURRING. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN AT MAUI TOYOTA FOR MONTHS NOW. THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY AGREE THAT IT'S NO BETTER BUT THA IT'S IN RUNNING CONDITION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO ALL SERVICE HONOLULU WHERE I HAVE BEEN BASICALLY LEFT BLIND. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL SITUATION GOING ON SO I FIGURED THAT HAS PART TO DO WITH NOT GETTING ANY UPDATES. YESTERDAY MAUI TOYOTA CALLS AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED ON TUESDAY. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SAY THE LEAST. I DON'T WANT A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT ACTS LIKE ONE THEY SAID WAS NOT RIGHT. I WANT A PROPER FUNCTIONING VEHICLE THAT WILL LAST THAT'S WHY THIS IS MY FOURTH TOYOTA TRUCK.
I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTING FROM 4TH OR 5TH GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH IN THIS AREA IS 70 MPH. THE TRUCK WOULD STICK AND THE RPMS WOULD GO ABOVE 3000 RPM. I HAD TOYOTA OF MIDLAND LOOK AT THIS ON 03/07/19. IN APRIL I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY A…
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I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTING FROM 4TH OR 5TH GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH IN THIS AREA IS 70 MPH. THE TRUCK WOULD STICK AND THE RPMS WOULD GO ABOVE 3000 RPM. I HAD TOYOTA OF MIDLAND LOOK AT THIS ON 03/07/19. IN APRIL I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ASSIGNED CASE #1904152129 AND SENT A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE HERE ON 04/24/19. THE CORPORATE REP, ALONG WITH A LOCAL TECHNICIAN, HOOKED UP A COMPUTER AND RODE WITH ME AND WITNESSED THE SHIFTING PROBLEM. THE CORPORATE REP. SAID THAT THIS WASN'T ANY FAULT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE LOCAL TECHINICIAN SAID THAT HIS 2017 TACOMA WAS DOING THE SAME THING. ON 01/22/2020 I BROUGHT MY TACOMA IN FOR IT'S 30K MAINTANCE AND TOLD THE SEVICE WRITER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AGAIN. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WHEN HE OWNED A 2017 & 2019 TACOMA, AND REMEDED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE TRADED FOR A 2020 TACOMA.. THIS IS MY FAMILIES 5TH TOYOTA VEHICLE; IT WILL BE MY LAST TOYOTA.
THE VEHICLE SURGES WHEN BACKING UP IN REVERSE AND WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL IN DRIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF ORANGE (1400 N TUSTIN ST, ORANGE, CA 92867, (714) 639-6750) WHERE AN INSPECTION OF THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF ORANGE (1400 N TUSTIN ST, ORANGE, CA 92867, (714) 639-6750) WHERE AN INSPECTION OF THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING OIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED THE CONTACT FIFTY PERCENT OFF TOWARDS THE REPAIR FEE. A CASE NUMBER WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. *DT *BF *TR THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA DIDNT FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEEPING AND LEAKING AFTER SECOND REPAIR AND STILL NOT FIXED. ALSO SEEPING FROM FILL BOLT REAR DIFFERENTIAL, CARRIER GASKET, AND BOTTOM STUD AND CARRIER BOLT. IT ALSO POPS WHEN STARTING SOMETIMES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TUSTIN TOYOTA (36 AUTO CENTER DR, TUSTIN, CA 92782, (714) 602-5311) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TUSTIN TOYOTA (36 AUTO CENTER DR, TUSTIN, CA 92782, (714) 602-5311) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,110.
WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR TO MERGE, THE TRUCK STUMBLED AS IF LOST ALL POWER FOR A FULL 4 TO 5 SECONDS CAUSING ME TO MISS MY CHANCE TO MERGE AND PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR A CLEARING. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOT THIS BAD AND THIS TIME I HAD MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK. THERE IS A TECHNIC…
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WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR TO MERGE, THE TRUCK STUMBLED AS IF LOST ALL POWER FOR A FULL 4 TO 5 SECONDS CAUSING ME TO MISS MY CHANCE TO MERGE AND PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR A CLEARING. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOT THIS BAD AND THIS TIME I HAD MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK. THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR THIS BUT MY DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PERFORM IT IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT.
Official recalls
520V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 4, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
18V211000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Apr 3, 2018
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.
17V831000 · Equipment:other:labels
Dec 20, 2017
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
17V356000 · Engine
Jun 1, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crank position sensor with an improved design, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0H.
17V285000 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
Apr 27, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear differential for oil leakage. Based on the inspection, dealers will either tightening the fastening nuts or replace the fastening nuts and gasket. If the rear differential components are damaged, the rear differential carrier assembly will be replaced. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall June 19, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0G.
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
1EA19001 · 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.