2021 Toyota TACOMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Toyota TACOMA has 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (12% of all complaints), specifically: 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 .

10 crash reports 17 injuries

111

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

13 complaints

12%

• 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
• 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.
• 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 mil

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

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

12 complaints

11%

• 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.
• 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 REPA
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

11%

• TROUBLE CLOSING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. HAVE TO FORCEFULLY SHUT IN ORDER TO CLOSE.
• 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
• Not a "safety" issue per se, but the A/C expansion valve makes a loud whistling noise every 15 seconds when driving on freeway and the noise is quite distracting when combined with other possible safety alert noises. TAS case was opened with Toyoyta and they state that vehicle is operating as per de

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

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

12 complaints

11%

• WHITE SMOKE AND STRONG GAS SMELL OUT OF EXHAUST UPON START UP.
• I was my 2021 Toyota Tacoma home after work on the highway at night at 11:00 pm. While on the highways there was highway construction and traffic was coming to a stop. I was driving in the slow lane doing 60-65. As I approached the stopped traffic i let my foot of the accelerator pedal and put my fo
• in traffic engine surges at times,going from 1200 to 3500 rpm's very dangerous, afraid to drive , wife refuses to drive it, naturally the dealer says NO PROBLEMS, that truck will last 300.000, at 3000 miles in seven months ,thinking about trading it in, dealers tell me I must repair the engine knock

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

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

11 complaints

10%

• 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.
• During driving for a little while and slightly braking, the brakes started to tug very strong. Brakes start pulling very hard sometimes preventing reliable braking
• Hello, I bought a 2021 Toyota Tacoma this year. Soon I discovered that there was a problem with the brake system. We went to this store (Nashville Toyota North) to replace it, but we were told that we had to pay more than $200 for the brake pads ourselves, and My car does not have its own tire unlo

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 111 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TROUBLE CLOSING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. HAVE TO FORCEFULLY SHUT IN ORDER TO CLOSE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHITE SMOKE AND STRONG GAS SMELL OUT OF EXHAUST UPON START UP.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)