IllustrationThe cabin air pressure vents behind the back seat are leaking letting water into the vehicle. The seals have dried up. It's causing a moldy smell in 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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →80Owner complaints
Model-year median: 228.5
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2021 Toyota Tacoma
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 80 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Power Train: 14 reports
- Service Brakes: 12 reports
- Unknown Or Other: 12 reports
- Engine: 11 reports
- Electrical System: 9 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Structure complaints
6 reportsToyota addressed this issue with the frame paint peeling off long ago but they have not launched a customer support program to solve the problem yet. When we reached their Brand Engagement center line (1-888-270-9371) and they do not provide a hard or estimated date to launch the repair program. The vehicle was already inspecte…
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Toyota addressed this issue with the frame paint peeling off long ago but they have not launched a customer support program to solve the problem yet. When we reached their Brand Engagement center line (1-888-270-9371) and they do not provide a hard or estimated date to launch the repair program. The vehicle was already inspected by Round Rock Tx Toyota service (PDF page) certifying the issue is a manufacturer responsibility. Please take care of this situation promptly.
My vehicle was hit on the door frame and rear door on the driver's side by someone who ran a red light.
The cabin vent system appears to have a design defect, specifically the passenger-side vent located in the back of the cabin. This component is available for inspection upon request. The dealership, Santa Cruz Toyota, has declined to replace the part despite acknowledging the issue. The concern lies in the vent's design, as it a…
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The cabin vent system appears to have a design defect, specifically the passenger-side vent located in the back of the cabin. This component is available for inspection upon request. The dealership, Santa Cruz Toyota, has declined to replace the part despite acknowledging the issue. The concern lies in the vent's design, as it allows water to enter the cabin instead of just expelling air. The water intrusion caused by this malfunction poses a safety risk in two ways. First, the presence of water on the floor increases the chance of an electrical fire due to the numerous electrical wires running underneath. Second, mildew spores can grow on the wet undercarpet padding, creating a health hazard. This problem has been confirmed by Santa Cruz Toyota, and we have video evidence to support the claim. While Santa Cruz Toyota has inspected the vehicle, our request for a direct inspection from the manufacturer, Toyota, has not been successful. There weren't any warning lights or messages prior to the failure. However, the issue became apparent after the heavy rains of 2023 in California, when we discovered water accumulated under the passenger-side carpet padding.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH INCLUDED SEVERAL CRACKS TO THE FRAME WELDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH INCLUDED SEVERAL CRACKS TO THE FRAME WELDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE COST OF THE VEHICLE WAS REFUNDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IN ORDER TO CLOSE PROPERLY, DOORS MUST BE CLOSED FORCEFULLY TO ACHIEVE CLOSURE.
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.