The Lemon Index2011 Toyota Tacoma.
The 2011 Toyota Tacoma is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 37 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 28, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about lights, it has 9 recalls, and it gets 16 to 22 mpg combined. The best Toyota Tacoma year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 186 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Tacoma year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 32K to 95K miles on the car (130 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- suspension complaints mostly came at 70K–117K miles
- lights complaints mostly came at 37K–75K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 47K–94K miles
Recalls 9
- body structure 2017
The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- seats 2014
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.
Show all 9 recalls
- suspension 2014
In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs may fracture due to stress or corrosion.
- equipment 2014
The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard.
- seat belts 2013
If the access doors are repeatedly and forcefully closed, the screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor can loosen over time.
- equipment 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
- airbags 2013
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk…
- tires 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 FJ CRUISER, LAND CRUISER, TACOMA, SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE P…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 375 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the…
- When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Tacoma PU/RC AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/EC AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/CC AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/RC RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/EC RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/CC RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Letter from senator martin heinrich re constituent regarding safety of his 2011 Toyota Tacoma (reply to new mexico office).
2011 Toyota Tacoma owner · NHTSA complaint 10508035
More owner reports
Looks like burn marks from the amber driving lights. Also, there are bubbles and cracks in the headlight covers.
NHTSA complaint 10577579
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 3.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 28; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Tacoma year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2011 Toyota Tacoma problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (19%), speed control (16%) and electrical (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota Tacoma have?
9 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Toyota Tacoma get?
16 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Toyota Tacoma safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Toyota Tacoma problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 32,600 and 95,000 miles. The middle report was at 65,100 miles, from 130 complaints.
Does the 2011 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Toyota Tacoma cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Toyota Tacoma have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Tacoma year is better than the 2011?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2014 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works