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Toyota

2010 Toyota TACOMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Toyota TACOMA has 342 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 182. The most common issue is suspension problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) we recently purchased a new 2010 toyota tacoma. on its first long distance trip, with less that 2000 miles on the vehicle and barely a month old, the rear factory installed high performance bilstein rear s. There are 13 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 8 crash reports 4 injuries

342

Total Complaints

13

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

SUSPENSION

94 complaints
27%
  • INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. ON ITS FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP, WITH LESS THAT 2000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND BARELY A MONTH OLD, THE REAR FACTORY INSTALLED HIGH PERFORMANCE BILSTEIN REAR S
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE OR WHEN DRIVING WITH A HEAVY LOAD AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE EXCESSIVELY HARD. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO DECREASE SPEED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL, IT SWERVED AND A NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER, TH
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. ON ITS FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP, WITH LESS THAT 2000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND BARELY A MONTH OLD, THE REAR FACTORY INSTALLED HIGH PERFORMANCE BILSTEIN REAR S

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2010 Toyota TACOMA

Based on 222 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 35K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
103
30-60K
45
60-100K
40
100-150K
22
150-200K
10
200K+
2

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 6K mi · 31 reports
0-30K
25
30-60K
4
60-100K
2
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 8K mi · 28 reports
0-30K
23
30-60K
3
60-100K
2
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 20K mi · 17 reports
0-30K
11
30-60K
1
60-100K
3
100-150K
2
150-200K
0
200K+
0

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 59K mi · 9 reports
0-30K
4
30-60K
1
60-100K
4
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 8 reports
0-30K
5
30-60K
2
60-100K
1
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 31K mi · 7 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
2
60-100K
2
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (13)

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER19/11/2014

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Above-average theft risk

#25 most stolen in 2025

The Toyota TACOMA was the #25 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 3,900 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Midsize truck; catalytic converters + wheels

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2010 Toyota TACOMA

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,527
Per month
$211
Per mile
21.1¢
MPG
19
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$3,201/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,847/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2010 Toyota TACOMA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,538
Full coverage / month
$128
Liability only / year
$629
vs US avg
-8%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (truck-small)1.02x
× theft risk1.06x
× safety rating1.00x
× vehicle age0.85x
= Full coverage estimate$1538

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Toyota TACOMA Service Intervals

Oil change
10K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
5K mi
Brake fluid
30 months
Transmission fluid
60K mi
Engine coolant
100K mi
Spark plugs
120K mi
Cabin air filter
30K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
60K mi

0W-20 synthetic oil recommended. ToyotaCare covers first 2 years / 25K miles of scheduled maintenance for new vehicles. Hybrid battery: 10 yr / 150K miles warranty.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Toyota New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
10 yr / 150K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
5 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
2 yr / 25K mi

Hybrid battery is 10yr/150K miles for 2020+ hybrids. ToyotaCare (2yr/25K miles complimentary maintenance) is included.

These are the terms for a new Toyota. If you're buying a used 2010 TACOMA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Toyota dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)
$500
SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 342 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • SUSPENSION: INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. ON ITS FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP, WITH LESS THAT 2000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND BARELY A MONTH OLD, THE REAR FACTORY INSTALLED HIGH PERFORMANCE BILSTEIN REAR S

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • SPEED CONTROL: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE AS IF IT WAS GETTING READY TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES BEFORE IT ACCELERATED. HE HAS NOT TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AS OF YET OR THE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE IS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA DBL CAB, THE TRANSMISSION SEARCHES FOR THE RIGHT GEAR TO ACCELERATE IN ONCE THE SPEED GETS 15MPH OR LOWER AND YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE. AT 1ST IT WAS JUST ANNOYING, BUT RECENTLY I WAS TURNING A CORNER AT A SIGNAL LIGHT BEHIND ANOTHER VEH. AND IT SLAMMED ON IT'S BRAKES

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: HAD INSTALLED RUNNING BOARDS ON MY NEWLY PURCHASED TACOMA 2010. FAILURE: IT IS INSTALLED TOO HIGH AS TO MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS. OCCURS EVERY TIME ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS CREATED AN UNSAFE SITUATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO ME AND THE PASSENGER. HAS NOT RECEIVED

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 13 recalls have been completed — free at any Toyota dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
342
Recalls
13
Fire reports
7
Crash reports
8
Injury reports
4
Segment avg
182

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2010 Toyota TACOMA