Historically, the Tacoma pickup truck has been a dependable but demanding workhorse. It maintains its worth surprisingly well, making low-cost secondhand ones difficult to locate. One of two sizes of four-cylinder engines or a more desirable V6 enginein more recent instances, a 4.0-liter V6are available for the Tacoma.
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What issues are there with Toyota Tacoma?
It’s hard to beat the Toyota Tacoma as an off-roader. The Tacoma is a reasonably priced pickup that is excellent for off-road excursions and rough terrain. One of its most significant flaws is its transmission.
Out of all the Toyota models, the Tacoma’s automatic transmission is among the worst. The truck is much easier to control because to its manual transmission, but it is still far from ideal. The automatic transmission has a tendency to slip, which is really aggravating while driving.
Some Toyota Tacoma vehicles with automatic gearboxes and higher mileage completely lose the ability to effectively shift gears. Steering problems may result from the lower ball joint of the Tacoma prematurely wearing down. The Tacoma can be a fun pickup to own, but it has several issues that are characteristic of Toyota trucks and frequently need to be fixed right away.
Is the Tacoma the best-ever-built truck?
Among midsize trucks, the Tacoma achieved the highest dependability rating from JD Power in 2011. Based on replies from more than 80,000 confirmed owners of three-year-old automobiles each year, this prize gauges reliability.
What Tacomas should you stay away from?
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.
Why not purchase a Tacoma?
1. Base Engine Lacks a Powerful Kick
For some truck fans, the Tacoma’s base four-cylinder engine may not have enough power. The rate of acceleration will be lower than usual. It is capable of producing 159 horsepower. The standard four-cylinder engine of the Chevrolet Colorado, in contrast, generates a more potent 200 horsepower. Driving performance will fluctuate when accelerating and towing a load. While switching to the Tacoma’s V6 engine may solve this issue, owners will have to fork over more cash.
2. Less Roomy Than Some Competitors
Tacoma crew cab models are available from Toyota. Despite the truck’s four full-size doors, some families will still require extra room to decompress. Some passengers may feel crowded in the Tacoma’s rear seat due to its constrained space. The full-size Toyota Tundra will be more comfortable for tall families.
3. Some range-topping trims are really expensive.
The Toyota Tacoma from 2021 is a top-notch pickup vehicle. Its higher trim levels are, however, a little on the pricey side. The new Tacoma Nightshade Edition has a starting price of more than $41,000. The exceptionally tough TRD Pro model is listed by Toyota at more than $45,000. Budget-conscious drivers will have to make do with a lower trim level.
4. Fuel Economy May Be Improved
Other midsize pickup trucks on the market now may provide higher overall fuel efficiency. Even with its smaller four-cylinder engine, the Tacoma only achieves 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the interstate. The Chevrolet Colorado, on the other hand, can achieve up to 30 mpg when powered by diesel.
5. Potentially Require a More Powerful Towing and Hauling Machine
With a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds, the Tacoma can handle most jobs. But eventually, some drivers will require a more powerful workhorse. There are some jobs that the truck’s bed is a little too tiny for.
One of the Tacoma’s toughest rivals is the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The Colorado receives high honors from reviewers for its superb driving characteristics and exceptional towing capacity. Additionally, Chevrolet offers various Colorado trims that are very tough. Although the Colorado is a good option, the Tacoma has a minor advantage in terms of long-term dependability due to Toyota’s track record for producing dependable cars. The new Tacoma also includes more safety technologies as standard equipment.
There are certain advantages between the larger Tundra and the smaller Tacoma. The passenger space varies greatly. The big apartments at the Tundra are ideal for families. The Tundra can pull bigger weights because to its regular V8 engine. However, the Tacoma is a more effective everyday driver thanks to higher fuel economy. Truck customers have greater justification to choose the Tacoma because of its cheap pricing.
The 2021 Ford Ranger comes with a substantially stronger engine as standard equipment. Additionally, this pickup truck has a greater hauling capability. Even while the Ranger has an off-road package, it isn’t quite as tough as the Tacoma, which is intended for off-road driving. In addition, the sole vehicle with a manual transmission is the Tacoma.
The new 2021 Toyota Tacoma is perfect for motorists looking for a dependable pickup truck with exceptional off-road ability. Automatic emergency braking and Toyota’s Entune touchscreen are popular features that are included as standard. Despite not being a standard feature, the Tacoma’s 10-way power driver’s seat is unquestionably a worthwhile addition. The truck’s lack of rear passenger space is one of its main flaws.
Is Tacoma maintenance expensive?
Cost. A Toyota Tacoma’s total yearly cost for repairs and maintenance is $478, whereas the average for midsize trucks is $548 and the average for all vehicle types is $652.
What is the Toyota Tacoma’s typical lifespan?
How important is mileage? That really relies on how well the car has been maintained.
A properly-kept Toyota Tacoma will run far over 300,000 miles, although standard automobiles are known to endure up to 200,000 miles.
According to some sources, Toyota Tacomas have traveled more than 400,000 miles. The equivalent Chevy Colorado has an around 200,000-mile lifespan.
What distinguishes and distinguishes the Toyota Tacoma as the best is its capacity to last hundreds of thousands of miles longer than its rivals. Your brand-new Tacoma today might endure until your kids get their driver’s license in 15 years, provided you take good care of your car.
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). When compared to the Ranger’s base model, the Tacoma TRD Off-Road can tow 6,400 pounds, whereas the standard Tacoma SR package can only pull 3,500 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.
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.
What used trucks should you not purchase?
The 5 Worst Used Trucks to Purchase in 2020
- Chevy Silverado 1500 from 2014. Due to flaky A/C units and peeling paint, the 2014 Silverado 1500 is one of just a few Chevy Silverado model years to stay away from.
- Nissan Frontier from 2008.
- Toyota Tacoma from 2016.