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All cars · Toyota Tacoma · Transmission

Toyota Tacoma transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2009 (66 complaints), 2016 (57 complaints), 2005 (44 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2023, 2014, 2020.

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

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

200053.4 per 100K sold200163.7 per 100K sold20021610.5 per 100K sold2003149.1 per 100K sold2004138.5 per 100K sold20054426.1 per 100K sold20064123 per 100K sold20073620.8 per 100K sold2008128.3 per 100K sold20096659 per 100K sold20102220.7 per 100K sold201165.4 per 100K sold201296.4 per 100K sold201385 per 100K sold201431.9 per 100K sold201563.3 per 100K sold20165729.7 per 100K sold20173718.7 per 100K sold2018218.5 per 100K sold20192510 per 100K sold202052.1 per 100K sold202172.8 per 100K sold202283.4 per 100K sold202320.9 per 100K sold20244724.4 per 100K sold202562.2 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Slipping11%
Shudder11%
Delay or hesitation10%
Hard or jerky shifting9%
Lost power while driving9%
Stuck in gear or limp mode4%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2025 2025

    The front driveshaft constant-velocity (CV) joint may deform and break.

  • 2023 2024

    The axle shaft sub-assembly may separate from the axle housing due to debris causing improperly secured fasteners.

  • 2017 2017

    Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.

  • 2010 2010

    TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS.

  • 2007 2007

    ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, A SECTION OF THE REAR PROPELLER SHAFT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY CAST.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

After going in reverse then stopping and placing the vehicle in drive, the transmission will slip, I would accelerate but the vehicle does nothing but rev up and then it will finally engage.

2009 Toyota Tacoma owner · NHTSA complaint

2009 toyota tacoma doublecab 4x4 trd, upon slowing down and entering a turn engine rpm will increase while pressing the gas pedal without vehicle accelerating before transmission engages abruptly..describe as "slipping".

2009 Toyota Tacoma owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Toyota Tacoma years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Toyota Tacoma years are 2009, 2016, 2005.

What are common Toyota Tacoma transmission problems?

Owners most often describe slipping, shudder, delay or hesitation.

Which Toyota Tacoma years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Toyota Tacoma years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2023, 2014, 2020.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Toyota Tacoma reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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