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 4.3x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 8 crash reports 4 injuries

342

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

SPEED CONTROL

35 complaints

10%

• 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
• I TURNED LEFT INTO A BEST BUY PARKING SPACE. MY FOOT COVERED THE BRAKE AS I SLOWLY COASTED IN. MY 2010 TACOMA BEGAN SPEEDING UP. I HIT THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, STOPPED THE TACOMA. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, PUT THE TACOMA IN PARK. THIS WAS NOT FLOOR MAT RELATED, SINCE THE DEALER DID NOT SUPPLY
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. HE HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. A TOYOTA MANUFACTURER TECH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

29 complaints

• 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
• WHILE SLOWING TO 10-12 MPH MY 2010 TACOMA V-6 4X4 'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO WHAT SEEMS TO BE NEUTRAL FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS. ENGINE RPM'S WILL RISE TO ABOUT 2500-3000 RPM'S BEFORE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. THIS SITUATION HAS NEARLY GOTTEN ME INVOLVED IN 5 ACCIDENTS. I FIRST NOTICED THE
• WHILE SLOWING AND MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS, MY 2010 TACOMA V-6 4X2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO EITHER NEUTRAL OR FIRST GEAR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS (TYPICALLY 2 OR 3). ENGINE RPM INCREASE AND THEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO THE CORRECT GEAR WITH A LURCH. THIS DEFECT MAKES LEFT TURNS, ACROSS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

28 complaints

• 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
• THE TRACTION CONTROL ON MY 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA DOES NOT WORK. IT DOES NOT REDUCE THE THROTTLE AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. WHEN ON A PATCH OF ICE OR SLICK ROAD THE TIRES AND THROTTLE JUST CONTINUE TO ENGAGE. THE STABILITY CONTROL FINALLY ENGAGES BUT STILL DOES NOT REDUCE THE THROTTLE RESPONSE. *TR
• I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE DRIVER'S WINDOW DOWN, WHEN A RUNNING DEER MADE CONTACT WITH MY DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WITH IT'S HEAD. THE MIRROR WAS VIOLENTLY SHUT INTO IT'S FOLDED-IN POSITION CAUSING THE MIRROR TO SHATTER AND PROJECT LARGE AND SMALL PIECES OF VERY SHARP GLASS ACROSS THE D

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

27 complaints

• 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
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT RODENTS CRAWL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED HE LOADED HEAVY MATERIAL ONTO THE TAIL GATE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE HINGE BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)