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 20122015 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.
The average automobile spends 1-2 weeks on the lot, but the greatest offers are typically scooped up in less than 48 hours. Get notified right away when the price of a saved car reduces or when a great new Tacoma listing appears by downloading the CoPilot app.
When Should I Avoid Buying a Tacoma?
We advise staying away from the Toyota Tacoma models from the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017 because there have been several problems documented with them. Large-scale issues with the body, paint, and engine are present in the 2006, 2007, and 2008 models.
Along with numerous light, body, and engine flaws, the interior accessories for the 2009 model year frequently exhibit flaws and malfunctions.
Numerous complaints have been made regarding almost every component of the 2011 Toyota Tacoma, which has many issues. While the drivetrain and engine are the main areas of concern for the 2012 model, similar issues exist for the 2016 and 2017 models in addition to problematic transmissions.
These two Toyota Tacomas are among the worst you can buy since they have so many problems with their transmissions that they could be dangerous to drive. The 2007 is as unwise to buy due to its extraordinarily high repair costs, though.
The typical time a car spends on a lot is 1-2 weeks, although the best offers are typically scooped up in less than 48 hours. To receive instant notifications if a saved vehicle’s price changes or when a fantastic new Tacoma listing becomes available, download the CoPilot app.
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 were Tacomas’ frames problematic?
As a more portable alternative to larger half-ton trucks like the Ford F-150, the Toyota Tacoma made its dbut in 1995. There have been several setbacks along the way, with certain years experiencing problems with rusted frames, failing leaf springs, and defective transmissions. Despite this, it is now among Toyota’s most well-liked vehicles.
Since the later models of the Tacoma are more likely to be for sale online or on dealer lots, we’ll focus on them in our study.
The Tacoma experienced double-digit annual recall counts from 2005 to 2010 along with thousands of combined complaints, many of which are related to premature rusting problems that might eat through the frame or break leaf springs.
Faulty Frames Could Leave the Pickup with Severe Rust that May Eat Holes Through the Frame
Numerous complaints from Tacoma owners between 2005 and 2010 claimed their frames had excessive rust, rot, and corrosion. Some truck owners claimed that substantial frame damage from rust that had spread to other parts of the truck’s frame prevented their vehicles from passing inspection.
In the end, Toyota handled the recall properly and provided the information in a fairly open manner. More significantly, the company paid drivers $3,000,000,000 to resolve the rusted-frame issue. Tacomas were once again the most impacted vehicles from 2004 through 2010.
Corroded Leaf Springs Can Brake and Puncture the Fuel Tank, Possibly Causing Leak or Fire Risk
The leaf springs above the back axle are subject to one NHTSA recall. Due to a potential hazard where the springs could break and increase the risk of a fire, over 710,000 trucks had to be recalled. If a leaf spring were to break under stress or from corrosion while being driven, it may move, come into touch with the fuel tank and possibly puncture it, releasing petrol. All damaged vehicles receive replacement rear leaf spring assemblies from Toyota, and the frame-corrosion warranty has been increased to 15 years.
Other Issues Include Loose Seatbelt Screws, Airbags that may not Deploy, and a Gas Pedal that May Stick
Seatbelt screws that might gradually loosen over time and possibly lead to the pre-tensioner detaching if excessive pressure is applied are one problem that only particular Access Cab models are susceptible to. Over 342,000 Tacomas were apparently affected by this issue.
An further recall relates to Toyota Tacomas with a driver’s side airbag that might not deploy in an accident because of a defective flexible flat cable that might prematurely wear out when twisting the steering wheel.
The Tacoma was also a part of a significant recall involving almost 4.5 million Toyota vehicles, where a defective design could cause the gas pedal to become stuck in the fully-accelerated position.
What year Tacoma is experiencing transmission issues?
High-Mileage Toyota Tacomas with Faulty Automatic Transmission The Toyota Tacoma has known transmission issues that 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.
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.
Which Toyota Tacoma has the most fuel efficiency?
Here are the mpg ratings for each model of Toyota Tacoma.
- 18/22 mpg city/highway for the Toyota Tacoma SR
- 20 mpg city/23 mpg highway* for the Toyota Tacoma SR5.
- 19/24 mpg city/highway for the Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport
- 19/24 mpg city/highway for the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road
- 19/24 mpg city/highway for the Toyota Tacoma Limited
Which Tacoma generation is the most dependable?
The good news is that there are many used Toyota Tacomas available if you’re wanting to purchase one. The bad news is that they continue to sell well and have a high resale value, making them more expensive than comparable previously bought compact vehicles. If you’re trying to buy one, a high resale value is a positive thing.
From model years 2005 through 2021 of the Tacoma, we compared reliability, customer satisfaction, and road test characteristics. We also took a look at the total amount of complaints made about the model, and some years stand out.
Our recommendation and a decent model year to take into account for an older Tacoma is the 2006. Consumer Reports gave the 2006 Tacoma a dependability rating of 5 out of 5 and a customer satisfaction rating of 4 out of 5. Additionally, it did well in the road test sections of Consumer Reports, receiving a 4 out of 5 for its performance in the areas of acceleration, transmission, and brakes. It received few complaints, most of them were about paint and body problems. The 2006 model year scored the same in all categories as the 2005 model year, with the exception of reliability, which was the deciding factor. Overall reliability for the 2005 model year scored a 4, which was slightly less reliable.
In comparison to the second generation, the most recent Tacomas don’t perform as well overall, but they are still good trucks. The 2020 model year is the one we recommend if you want a newer design. It received a 4 for customer satisfaction and a 5 for dependability. Since 2006, only this model year has received a 4 for customer satisfaction. It also received 4s for its acceleration and gearbox on the road test, but just a 2 for brakes.
Unfortunately, the 2020 models are still fairly expensive given that the year has only begun; the suggested retail price ranges from $26,000 to $45,000.