The first Toyota Tacoma was introduced in 1995 and produced for three versions, ending in 2005. While the tough truck has never exactly been recognized for being quiet or smooth, its value has held through the years.
The 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004 Tacomas from the first generation received the highest ratings. However, 2004 received less praise overall.
There are many models available if the second generation is of interest to you. 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 all received flawless dependability verdict ratings from MotorBiscuit.
For purchasers looking for an all-purpose vehicle that can handle tough terrain, the 2012–2015 series is ideal. These Tacomas had a significant renovation and now have a stylish interior.
This second generation is more expensive than other used trucks on the market, even with higher mileage.
A 2005 Toyota Tacoma 2WD Access Cab PreRunner with 200,000 miles was posted on Autotrader for $9,000, as were a Tacoma 4WD Double Cab with 75,000 miles and a 2015 Tacoma with the TRD package and 6,000 miles.
With a 4 out of 5 rating from Consumer Reports, the 2005 Toyota Tacoma has the greatest satisfaction rating out of the group.
Even the 2016 model of Toyota’s current generation costs between $20,000 and $32,675. But if you’d prefer a more recent design, the Toyota Tacoma from 2019 is your best alternative. The 2019 model received a 4 out of 5 rating for dependability and owner satisfaction.
In This Article...
What year should I not buy a Tacoma?
The Toyota Tacoma models from the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017 have a lot of faults, therefore we advise staying away from them. The body, paint, and engine issues on the 2006, 2007, and 2008 models are major difficulties.
Along with several light, body, and engine flaws, the interior accessories of the 2009 model have a tendency to be defective and frequently malfunction.
There are several issues with the 2011 Toyota Tacoma, and complaints have been made concerning almost every part. The drivetrain and engine are primarily flawed in the 2012 model, whereas unreliable transmissions are also present in the 2016 and 2017 vehicles.
These two Toyota Tacomas are among the worst you can buy because their transmissions have so many flaws that driving them might be dangerous. However, the 2007 is as unwise to purchase due to its extraordinarily high repair expenses.
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What year Tacoma is experiencing transmission issues?
High-Mileage Toyota Tacomas with a Defective Automatic Transmission There are reported transmission issues with the Toyota Tacoma, which affect vehicles with anywhere between 125,000 and 150,000 miles on the odometer. These problems, which hinder the car from shifting properly, have been documented in Tacoma models made between 1995 and 2015.
What Tacoma motor is the best?
The V6 is the superior engine choice, despite neither being particularly outstanding. It enables the Tacoma’s highest towing capacity and helps the car accelerate a little more quickly.
When was the Tacoma frame recall?
For many owners, the warranty extension is coming to an end. In 2016, Toyota agreed to pay $3 billion to fix millions of Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia SUVs with rusted frames as part of a settlement of a class-action lawsuit. Model years from 2004 to 2008 are affected (or 2010 in a few cases).
How far can a Tacoma travel?
According to a recent study, the Toyota Tacoma is the third-longest-lasting vehicle overall, trailing only the Honda Ridgeline and the first-place Toyota Tundra.
According to the report, 2.8% of all Tundras that are still in use today have an odometer reading of over 200,000 kilometers. Furthermore, Toyota is the automaker with the longest lifespan, with 2% of all active, registered vehicles reaching the 200k-mile threshold.
Only 1.6% separates Honda from first, while 1.5% separates Chevy from Cadillac in third place.
On the high end, Mike Neal, a Tacoma driver, is renowned for having logged an astounding 1.5 million miles and counting. If you see Mike in traffic, you’ll recognize him because he updates the number on the rear of his truck every 10,000 miles and posts it there.
Realistically, the majority of us won’t travel 1.5 million miles. For the majority of us, the maintenance necessary to reach that number is simply too onerous.
Even if you manage to keep the engine and transmission operating for that long, many other components will start to fail.
Drivers can typically expect their trucks to travel between 250,000 and 300,000 miles before repairs start to cost more than the price of a new truck.
Even though it seems impossible, 1.5 million tacos might possibly exist. This should delight enthusiasts of tacos.
Tacoma versus Ford Ranger: which is superior?
When compared to the Tacoma’s V6, the Ranger’s EcoBoost is by far the superior engine. The Ranger’s EcoBoost engine outperforms the Tacoma’s V-6 in terms of towing capacity, torque, and fuel efficiency.
The Ranger has established itself as the best-in-class for towing because to its 7,500lbs of towing capacity on each model (XL, XLT, and Lariat). The ordinary Tacoma SR package can only tow 3,500 pounds, which is more than 50% less than what the base model of the Ranger can tow, but the Tacoma TRD Off-Road can tow 6,400 pounds.
The Ford Ranger benefits from the Ford EcoBoost engine’s fuel efficiency, which is 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined in RWD. Only a small drop in fuel economy is seen in the 4WD Ranger model, which gets 20 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg overall. The Tacoma only achieves 18 city, 22 highway, and 20 combined mpg in the V6 variant. This drops to 18 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the interstate, and 20 mpg overall in the 4WD variant.
With 278 horsepower and 270 horsepower, respectively, the Tacoma’s 3.5L V-6 engine marginally exceeds the Ranger’s 2.3L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The Ranger offers 310 lb-ft of torque compared to the Tacoma’s 265 lb-ft of torque, making up for the Ranger’s lack of horsepower.
Is Tacoma having a horrible year in 2017?
The Toyota Tacoma was rated as the “Worst Buy” for 2017. This was partially caused by the low reliability score it received.
After the 2015 model, reviews for the 2017 model year only gave it three out of five stars, while evaluations for prior model years gave them five stars for both reliability and customer happiness.
More transmission problems were the cause of this. The truck appeared to irritate drivers by making improper shifts or staying in one gear for an excessive amount of time.
These drivers’ difficulties persisted even after they returned their Tacomas to the dealer for software updates that were supposed to solve them.
Because of these transmission issues, some drivers were unable to accelerate their truck unless they floored it, which increased the gas consumption of the vehicle.
In addition to these problems, the transmission was grating and sluggish. When slowing down, it will heave as well, resulting in jerky movements that must be controlled.
Which Toyota Tacoma has the most fuel efficiency?
The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is the best choice for drivers seeking for a more economical truck from the Toyota portfolio. With its 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the truck can produce 278 horsepower while getting an estimated 24 mpg on the interstate. The vehicle can carry an additional 3,500–6,800 pounds of payload when fully outfitted at this powertrain level.
The 4.6-liter V-8 engine is required for the 2016 Toyota Tundra to achieve an estimated 19 mpg on the interstate. The Tundra has a 310 horsepower output and a 6,700 pound towing capacity. Actually, there aren’t too many stark changes in power between the two vehicles. However, the fuel efficiency is significant enough to affect a driver’s daily commute or sporadic road trips.
What issues do Toyota Tacomas have?
Some Tacomas may unexpectedly shift into the incorrect gear after being driven for a while. The lever typically needs to be readjusted before shifting appropriately.
It frequently occurs as a result of a misaligned throttle position sensor. The shift solenoid, which can wear out after thousands of kilometers, is another potential offender.
The transmission typically developed issues after 150,000 miles, on average.
The 2016 Tacoma also experiences transmission delays, however the issue is widespread with the first and second generations of Tacomas. The fact that there have been few or no complaints about the third generation Tacomas suggests that Toyota has found a solution to the issue.
Precautions and Solutions
The throttle position sensor needs to be readjusted or reset if the issue is brought on by a misaligned sensor. You might need to get the shift solenoids replaced if this doesn’t work.
The shift solenoids need to be replaced, which may be more difficult but will be more likely to solve the issue. Your car’s mechanic can determine which solenoid has to be changed. It would be less expensive to replace one solenoid than all of them.
The price of replacement could be anything between $150 and $370. Your location and whether a full or partial replacement is necessary will affect the overall cost.
Even in perfect circumstances, the shift solenoid would eventually wear down, therefore you should take good care of it. The shift solenoids’ longevity is influenced by when you service your transmission.
Your transmission issue may be caused by the shift solenoid, according to your mechanic. If so, have it changed out right away. Your transmission will suffer additional harm if there is a delay.
The Tacoma engine’s dependability
The Toyota Tacoma from 2022 isn’t very dependable. It receives a 3/5 projected dependability rating from Consumer Reports. This reliability rating for the Toyota Tacoma is substantially worse than previous ones. The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has a dependability rating of 5/5, so the reliability rating for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma is significantly lower. The reliability rating for the 2020 Toyota Tacoma is a 4/5, which is excellent.
The 2019 Toyota Tacoma’s reliability score is a 1/5, nevertheless. The Toyota Tacoma’s reliability seems to be fluctuating a little. The transmission, both small and large, had the most serious reliability faults in the 2019 Toyota Tacoma. You don’t want to deal with this issue unforeseenly as it can be costly. Additionally, there are issues with the motor system and the fuel system.
Key Points
- Overall, the Toyota Tacoma is among the best midsize pickups in its class, and if you steer clear of the model’s worst years, you should be delighted with your purchase.
- Airbags that might not deploy and excessive rust and rot that compromises the structural integrity of the frame were the two problems that led to the recall of Toyota Tacomas from 2005 to 2010.
- For a variety of issues, the 2016 and 2017 models received poor ratings overall, with a peculiar transmission being the most prevalent.
Are V6 Tacomas trustworthy?
Everyone is aware that Toyota manufactures indestructible engines, but like the majority of man-made objects, there are production problems and prospective weaknesses to watch out for. This article will go over the Toyota 4.0 V6’s dependability in detail and the highest mpg you can get out of the v6 monster.
The 2009 and later vehicles’ Dual VVT-i 4.0 V6 engine is quiet, dependable, and smooth, with an engine life that easily exceeds 200,000 miles (320,000 km).
It goes without saying that the secret to an engine’s dependability is routine maintenance and the use of premium oils and lubricants. Undoubtedly, certain engines are more likely than others to experience mechanical and dependability problems.
So how does the 4.0 v6 fare in terms of durability and dependability? What are some of the potential problems you can anticipate and how effective are these engines really?