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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.

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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

What owners actually said

80 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2021
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

Tacoma was rear-ended at 80 mph. Tacoma rolled over three times front airbags did not go off.. side curtain bags did.. seat belt on driver side failed after the second rollover.. rear cross traffic warning did not go off.. driver seat collapsed. driver was injured and was in trauma unit for 3 weeks. Vehicle last known is located…

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Tacoma was rear-ended at 80 mph. Tacoma rolled over three times front airbags did not go off.. side curtain bags did.. seat belt on driver side failed after the second rollover.. rear cross traffic warning did not go off.. driver seat collapsed. driver was injured and was in trauma unit for 3 weeks. Vehicle last known is located off of belvedere road in West Palm Beach Florida.. I called up Toyota and a third party got the EDR from the vehicle.. I have a copy of it. As far as I know the problem has not been inspected.

NHTSA ODI #11425923

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2021
Power Train

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 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."

NHTSA ODI #11421665

150 miles · Apr 19, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidancePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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.

NHTSA ODI #11412879

8,000 miles · Apr 18, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidancePower TrainUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11408651

500 miles · Apr 5, 2021
Structure

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.

NHTSA ODI #11406387

1,000 miles · Mar 18, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceCrash

I PURCHASED A NEW 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH A PRE COLLISION SAFETY SYSTEM. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ACCIDENT (DAUGHTER AT FAULT). THE SYSTEM DID NOT DO WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO, WHICH WAS WARN HER AND HELP HER APPLY THE BRAKE. AT THE REPAIR CENTER, I ASKED THEM TO CHE…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH A PRE COLLISION SAFETY SYSTEM. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ACCIDENT (DAUGHTER AT FAULT). THE SYSTEM DID NOT DO WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO, WHICH WAS WARN HER AND HELP HER APPLY THE BRAKE. AT THE REPAIR CENTER, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE PRE COLLISION SAFETY SYSTEM. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BERT OGDEN TOYOTA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME THE SYSTEM WAS PROBABLY OFF OR NOT SET SENSITIVE ENOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NOW THAT I HAVE THE VEHICLE BACK, I HAVE SET THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM TO THE MOST SENSITIVE SETTING AND IT APPEARS IT IS NOT WORKING. THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO WARN ME (ON THE MOST SENSITIVE SETTING) AS I ACCELERATED TOWARD A BRAKING CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO TOYOTA OF PHARR AND SPOKE TO A SALESMAN, WHO TOLD ME ALL OF MY SETTINGS WERE CORRECT AND IT SHOULD BE WORKING. THOUGH THIS FAILURE WAS MINOR IN MY DAUGHTER'S CASE WITH NO ONE HURT (THOUGH IT DID COST $7,000 TO REPAIR), THIS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AS ADVERTISED AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

NHTSA ODI #11403765

20 miles · Mar 1, 2021
Engine

WHITE SMOKE AND STRONG GAS SMELL OUT OF EXHAUST UPON START UP.

NHTSA ODI #11398320

20 miles · Mar 1, 2021
Unknown Or Other

TROUBLE CLOSING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. HAVE TO FORCEFULLY SHUT IN ORDER TO CLOSE.

NHTSA ODI #11398319

38,000 miles · Feb 24, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA TAKOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN COMING TO A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS AWAY, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN IN SPEED THEN BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKES DUE TO A TRUCK NEARBY SUDDENLY COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND COLL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA TAKOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN COMING TO A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS AWAY, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN IN SPEED THEN BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKES DUE TO A TRUCK NEARBY SUDDENLY COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND COLLISION PREVENTION SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED TOTALED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR WRIST AND THE ABDOMINAL AREA. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED NECK, BACK, SHOULDER, AND LEG INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH A DEALER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11397696

61 miles · Feb 17, 2021
Structure

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IN ORDER TO CLOSE PROPERLY, DOORS MUST BE CLOSED FORCEFULLY TO ACHIEVE CLOSURE.

NHTSA ODI #11396576

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.