Toyota Tacoma 2005–2015

2nd generation · N220-N270 (shares architecture with 4Runner N210/N280 and FJ Cruiser) · 5,117 complaints, 3,800 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 59,053 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The suspension accounts for 16.8% of complaints (861 reports, 436 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 83,762 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 118,000 miles.

Body structure accounts for 16.7% of complaints (856 reports, 613 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 95,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,000 and 137,357 miles.

Throttle and speed control accounts for 11.3% of complaints (580 reports, 498 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 26,020 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,400 and 61,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.9% of complaints (406 reports, 346 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 17,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,500 and 62,500 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 6.1% of complaints (311 reports, 162 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,325 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,400 and 116,000 miles.

The steering accounts for 6.0% of complaints (307 reports, 259 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 130,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 977 complaints — while 2014 drew the fewest at 133. The median year sits at 406.

That makes 2006 an outlier: roughly 2.4 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 21 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around equipment (8), seats (3), the airbag system (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 5,117 complaints filed against this generation, 428 reported a crash; 81 reported a fire; 224 reported an injury; 10 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.4% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, the two-peak pattern is the useful part. The early cluster — 20% of failures below 12,000 miles — will already have happened on any example you are looking at today, and either been repaired under warranty or not. Ask what was done. The late cluster, 25% above 100,000 miles, is the one still ahead of you if the car has lower mileage than that.

On inspection, the suspension and body structure are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The suspension in particular shows a median failure mileage of 83,762, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (21)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Toyota Tacoma 1995–2004
• Toyota Tacoma 2016–2023
• Toyota Tacoma 2024–2025