2018 Toyota TACOMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Toyota TACOMA has 273 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: a month after i lease the vehicle the check engine light came on one day after work..

7 crash reports 1 injury

273

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

65 complaints

24%

• A MONTH AFTER I LEASE THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AFTER WORK.
• FUEL GAUGE ON THE DASHBOARD ITS NOT READING CORRECTLY THE TANK AMOUNT OF FUEL. WHEN ITS FULL OF GASOLINE THE GAUGE ON THE DASHBOARD GAVE ME WRONG READINGS MARKING AS EMPTY OR 1/4 OF THE FUEL TANK.
• THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE GONE OUT TO MY TACOMA THAT I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING ON IT'S OWN. I HEARD IT RUNNING ONE EVENING, WHILE NO KEYS WERE INSERTED AND THE TRUCK WAS LOCKED UP. THE TRUCK RUNS ROUGH MOST OF THE TIME AND I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT STALLING AND NOT WANTING TO STAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“A MONTH AFTER I LEASE THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AFTER WORK.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

46 complaints

17%

• THE 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS A PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM THAT DOES NOTHING MORE THAN BEEP LOUDLY AT THE DRIVER WHEN IT "THINKS" I NEED TO BRAKE. IT IS OVERLY SENSITIVE AND SERVES AS A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHENEVER I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AS AN EXAMPLE, ON TIGHT CITY ROADS WITH CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUT
• WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS RECALLED BY TOYOTA. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND CONTINUES TO PUT THESE VEHICLES OUT IN PUBLIC WITH NO DISCLOSURE TO THE CONSUMER.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“THE 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS A PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM THAT DOES NOTHING MORE THAN BEEP LOUDLY AT THE DRIVER WHEN IT "THINKS" I NEED TO BRAKE. IT IS OVERLY SENSITIVE AND SERVES AS A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHENEVER I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AS AN EXAMPLE, ON TIGHT CITY ROADS WITH CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

29 complaints

11%

• BOUGHT TRUCK BRAND NEW. WITHIN A COUPLES OF WEEKS NOTICED RANDOM SHUDDERING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOT AROUND 35-45 MPH. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT IMITATE THE ISSUE. SHUDDERING IS WORSE AND CONSISTENT AROUND 35-50 MPH. CURRENTLY AROUND 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. SCHEDULE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTER KNOB BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEWART TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 3400 I-145, CORSICANA, TX 75110, (903) 874-6556) AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APP
• TRANSMISSION LOCKS OUT IN 4TH GEAR, MID SPEED SURGE, SURGE AT IDLE WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T FUNCTION IT WILL INCREASE RPM'S ON A FLAT ROAD.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BOUGHT TRUCK BRAND NEW. WITHIN A COUPLES OF WEEKS NOTICED RANDOM SHUDDERING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOT AROUND 35-45 MPH. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT IMITATE THE ISSUE. SHUDDERING IS WORSE AND CONSISTENT AROUND 35-50 MPH. CURRENTLY AROUND 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. SCHEDULE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

26 complaints

10%

• AROUND 12:30PM ON 6/28 MY TOYOTA TACOMA 2018 VIN# [XXX] STARTED TO BLINK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT WAS FOLLOW BY THE ENGINE SHAKING AND NOT TAKING GEARS UP THEREFORE VERY SLOWLY ACCELERATING UP TO THE 40MPH. SEEING ALL THIS I DECIDED TO HEAD TO THE DEALERSHIP BIG HORN IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO AT
• TRANSMISSION LOCKS OUT IN 4TH GEAR, MID SPEED SURGE, SURGE AT IDLE WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T FUNCTION IT WILL INCREASE RPM'S ON A FLAT ROAD.
• FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE WHEN CHECKING OIL LEVEL ON THE DIP STICK WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 1,000 MILES. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO TELL THEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL BUT I ASKED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED FOR MY FILTER AND OIL BACK WHEN THEY WERE DONE. ON THE REPORT THEY GAVE ME THEY SAID THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AROUND 12:30PM ON 6/28 MY TOYOTA TACOMA 2018 VIN# [XXX] STARTED TO BLINK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT WAS FOLLOW BY THE ENGINE SHAKING AND NOT TAKING GEARS UP THEREFORE VERY SLOWLY ACCELERATING UP TO THE 40MPH. SEEING ALL THIS I DECIDED TO HEAD TO THE DEALERSHIP BIG HORN IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO AT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

24 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING WITH ALL TSS (TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE) SYSTEMS ENABLED (AS IS THE ONLY DEFAULT SETTING ON THIS TRUCK) WITH THREE PASSENGERS (MY YOUNG FAMILY) AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON A SOMEWHAT CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD. THE TRUCK'S PCS (PRE COLLISION SYSTEM) SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES ERRONEOUSLY WHEN A CAR (NOT IN MY P
• TRANSMISSION LOCKS OUT IN 4TH GEAR, MID SPEED SURGE, SURGE AT IDLE WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T FUNCTION IT WILL INCREASE RPM'S ON A FLAT ROAD.
• SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE TOYOTA TACOMA V6 WITH 6SPD AUTOMATIC. SLUGGISH FROM A STANDSTILL, IF STARTING FROM A COAST, THERE IS A DEALY UNTIL IT ACCELERATES, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS ABRUPTLY INTO 4TH GEAR IF A GUST OF WIND OR ANY INCLINE CROSSOVER, BRIDGE, OVERPASS OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOCK DOWNS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING WITH ALL TSS (TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE) SYSTEMS ENABLED (AS IS THE ONLY DEFAULT SETTING ON THIS TRUCK) WITH THREE PASSENGERS (MY YOUNG FAMILY) AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON A SOMEWHAT CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD. THE TRUCK'S PCS (PRE COLLISION SYSTEM) SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES ERRONEOUSLY WHEN A CAR (NOT IN MY P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 273 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: A MONTH AFTER I LEASE THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AFTER WORK.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: THE 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS A PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM THAT DOES NOTHING MORE THAN BEEP LOUDLY AT THE DRIVER WHEN IT "THINKS" I NEED TO BRAKE. IT IS OVERLY SENSITIVE AND SERVES AS A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHENEVER I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AS AN EXAMPLE, ON TIGHT CITY ROADS WITH CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: BOUGHT TRUCK BRAND NEW. WITHIN A COUPLES OF WEEKS NOTICED RANDOM SHUDDERING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOT AROUND 35-45 MPH. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT IMITATE THE ISSUE. SHUDDERING IS WORSE AND CONSISTENT AROUND 35-50 MPH. CURRENTLY AROUND 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. SCHEDULE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AROUND 12:30PM ON 6/28 MY TOYOTA TACOMA 2018 VIN# [XXX] STARTED TO BLINK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT WAS FOLLOW BY THE ENGINE SHAKING AND NOT TAKING GEARS UP THEREFORE VERY SLOWLY ACCELERATING UP TO THE 40MPH. SEEING ALL THIS I DECIDED TO HEAD TO THE DEALERSHIP BIG HORN IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO AT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)