IllustrationWhen starting and stopping there is a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle.
2021 Toyota Tacoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma are lower than 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
Limited mileage data: 18 of 80 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
Power Train complaints
14 reportsVisible oil leak or staining in rear differential is consistent with a prior recall in 2016-2016 model years as described in this document https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCAK-17V285-5030.pdf. This is a 2021 model year vehicle, purchased brand new in January 27, 2021, with less than 10,000 miles. This document indicates th…
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Visible oil leak or staining in rear differential is consistent with a prior recall in 2016-2016 model years as described in this document https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCAK-17V285-5030.pdf. This is a 2021 model year vehicle, purchased brand new in January 27, 2021, with less than 10,000 miles. This document indicates that "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."
VEHICLE WILL NOT HOLD 6TH GEAR WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFT TO 5TH AND SOMETIMES 4TH. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE SURGE FORWARD ABRUPTLY.
UPON ACCELERATION VEHICLE WILL HAVE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, UP TO AND INCLUDING A NEAR STALL OR STUTTERING. HAS LED TO SEVERAL NEAR MISSES (X2). THE TSS SYSTEM TAKES OVER AND DOES IT'S THING VERSUS ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR THE CONDITIONS. EXAMPLE WOULD BE AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF BRAKES DUE TO DEER IN ROAD CAU…
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UPON ACCELERATION VEHICLE WILL HAVE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, UP TO AND INCLUDING A NEAR STALL OR STUTTERING. HAS LED TO SEVERAL NEAR MISSES (X2). THE TSS SYSTEM TAKES OVER AND DOES IT'S THING VERSUS ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR THE CONDITIONS. EXAMPLE WOULD BE AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF BRAKES DUE TO DEER IN ROAD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL ON AN ICY ROAD WAY. DRIVER RELEASED GAS PEDAL AND WAS COASTING AS DEER WAS CROSSING. DUE TO BRAKES BEING AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE, DEER BECAME SPOOKED AND STOPPED CROSSING, VEHICLE ENDED UP PARTIALLY IN THE DITCH. AFTER MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES (5+ MEMORABLE), DRIVER HAS LOST ALL FAITH IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND DOES NOT TRANSPORT PASSENGERS AS THEY FEAR FOR THE PASSENGER'S SAFETY. DRIVER ONLY UTILIZES VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS THEIR LAST AND ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORT.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.