The Lemon Index

All cars · Toyota · Truck

Toyota Tacoma.

The best Toyota Tacoma years are 2022, 2001, 2014. Years to avoid: 2009, 2005, 2006. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 44, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

44Lemon Index · 100 = average car

One of the most reliable. Whole model, 2010-2022: 2.3× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2022 · Worst year 2009

Toyota Tacoma
Photo shows a 2016 Toyota Tacoma. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Compare the Toyota Tacoma.

vs Ford F-Series · vs Chevrolet Silverado · vs Ram pickup · vs GMC Sierra · vs Toyota Tundra · vs Chevrolet Colorado

Quick answers.

Is the Toyota Tacoma a good car?

Yes, it is one of the most reliable models we track, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 44; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2022 and the worst is 2009.

What are the best Toyota Tacoma years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2022, 2001, 2014.

What Toyota Tacoma years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2009, 2005, 2006.

How many recalls does the Toyota Tacoma have?

158 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2009 (13), 2010 (13), 2006 (11). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Toyota Tacoma problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, speed control and brakes most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000432.3× fewer complaints than average70tires (24%)5—16–21
2001224.5× fewer complaints than average38airbags (21%)6—16–21
2002342.9× fewer complaints than average54suspension (24%)5—16–22
2003492× fewer complaints than average62body structure (15%)5—16–22
2004442.3× fewer complaints than average58speed control (17%)5—16–22
20051231.2× the average car's complaints144body structure (25%)10—16–21
20061231.2× the average car's complaints152speed control (37%)11—16–21
20071121.1× the average car's complaints172speed control (49%)10—16–22
200894about average134speed control (50%)11—16–22
20092102.1× the average car's complaints194transmission & drivetrain (31%)13—16–22
2010781.3× fewer complaints than average97speed control (29%)13—15–22
2011283.6× fewer complaints than average37lights (19%)9★★★★☆16–22
2012342.9× fewer complaints than average52transmission & drivetrain (19%)7★★★★☆17–22
2013333× fewer complaints than average64transmission & drivetrain (27%)6★★★★☆17–23
2014224.5× fewer complaints than average39brakes (23%)4★★★★☆17–22
2015283.6× fewer complaints than average49body structure (14%)4★★★★☆17–22
20161141.1× the average car's complaints218transmission & drivetrain (54%)4★★★★☆18–21
2017701.4× fewer complaints than average147transmission & drivetrain (39%)5★★★★☆18–21
2018551.8× fewer complaints than average137fuel or EV drive system (23%)3★★★★☆18–21
2019591.7× fewer complaints than average149fuel or EV drive system (32%)4★★★★☆18–21
2020254× fewer complaints than average56fuel or EV drive system (20%)1★★★★☆18–21
2021224.5× fewer complaints than average54brakes (17%)0★★★★☆18–21
2022166.2× fewer complaints than average47transmission & drivetrain (17%)3★★★★☆18–21
2023195.3× fewer complaints than average54electrical (22%)4★★★★☆18–21
2024851.2× fewer complaints than average153transmission & drivetrain (36%)5—20–24
2025661.5× fewer complaints than average109body structure (39%)5★★★★☆20–23

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Toyota Tacoma transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data