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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In This Article...
When is the best time to purchase a Toyota Tacoma?
After the 2005 model year, Tacomas are a good choice because they have NHTSA five-star ratings. Tacoma’s early years were marred by rust and corrosion, but they also receive Good ratings in the moderate-overlap front collision and side-impact tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, according to Autotrader.
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.
What model years of Tacoma frames did Toyota recall?
One of the most dependable automobile manufacturers in the world is Toyota.
Except for several popular pickup truck frames, buyers are essentially promised years of trouble-free driving.
Until a few days ago, when Jenne Middleton heard a terrible sound, her 2004 Toyota Tacoma had been a reliable buddy.
Middlton claimed the car started swerving, so she took it to a nearby repair shop and received some unfavorable information.
They claimed that the frame was rusty, damaged, and hazardous to drive, Middleton added.
It needed a new frame, according to mechanic Mike Fehler, or the entire back end might come off.
He said that the area where the leaf spring attaches to the frame serves as a load bearing point and is crucial for holding the bed to the vehicle.
Safety recalls prevent injuries and save money; in this case, they prevented the need for costly repairs. However, many automakers have a time limit on them and will no longer pay for repairs after, say, 15 years.
Toyota has issued a restricted recall for Middleton’s pickup, but it was set to expire in 2019. She had almost missed the deadline for the warranty.
In 2016, the automaker committed to fixing or purchasing back millions of Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia SUVs with rusted frames that were manufactured between 2004 and 2008, and in certain cases, 2010 as well.
I owned the car in 2019, but I never got a notification, she claimed.
Here’s some advise so it doesn’t happen to you: make sure the manufacturer of your automobile has your current address so they can send you any repair advisories or recalls. To see if you have any unrepaired recalls, you should go visit recalls.gov.
Middleton expressed his desire to keep his truck. “I’m confident it can travel another 100,000 kilometers.”
A representative from Toyota informed us that although the firm would not guarantee Middleton a free repair, they would speak with her about her choices.
Which Tacomas can you trust?
How Reliable Is the Toyota Tacoma? The projected reliability rating for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma is 81 out of 100. A predicted reliability score from J.D. Power of 91 to 100 is regarded as the best, 81 to 90 as great, 70 to 80 as medium, and 0-69 as fair and below average.
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.
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.
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 3.5 v6’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.
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.
Every Tacoma frame rusts, right?
What exactly is the fuss over the Tacoma frame rust? As the title says, several older Tacoma model years have frame rust issues. Even though rust or corrosion will eventually occur in every steel- or aluminum-using vehicle, it’s happening quite swiftly in the Tacoma.
Specifically, to the truck’s frame, sometimes called the chassis. Any car with a steel frame will eventually develop rust, but if you look at the Tacoma’s page on the NHTSA website, you can see owners complaining about rust as soon as three years after purchase.
The average time it takes for rust to start appearing in a car is around ten years, and it typically spreads and becomes a severe issue after about 1520 years.
Has Toyota addressed the frame rust issue?
Purchase one, and drivers are nearly assured years of trouble-free driving, with the exception of several popular pickup truck frames.
Until a few days ago, when it started swerving, Jeanne Middleton’s 2004 Toyota Tacoma was a reliable companion.
They claimed that the frame was rusty, damaged, and hazardous to drive, Middleton added.
It needs a new frame, according to mechanic Mike Fehler, or the entire back end may come off.
According to Fehler, the load-bearing area where the leaf spring attaches to the frame is essentially what secures the truck bed to the vehicle.
Recalls on unsafe products save lives, as well as thousands of dollars in repairs.
However, many automakers place a time limit on them, and after, say, 15 years, they will no longer pay for a repair.
In 2016, Toyota made a deal to fix or buy back millions of rusted-out Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia SUVs. Models from 2004 to 2008, and occasionally 2010 were covered.
Make sure the manufacturer of the car has a current address on file for recalls or service bulletins to ensure that this doesn’t happen to other car owners. Additionally, determine if any unfixed recalls have been submitted by visiting recalls.gov.
Middleton expressed his desire to maintain the truck, claiming that it could travel another 100,000 miles before needing a $7,000 frame repair.