Toyota Tacoma
Every model year 2016–2026: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every Toyota Tacoma model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hybrid Gas | A | 0 | 12 | ★★★★☆ | 23 mpg | |
| 2025 | Hybrid Gas | C | 5 | 112 | ★★★★☆ | 23 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid Gas | C | 6 | 154 | — | 24 mpg | |
| 2023 | Gas | C | 4 | 54 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg | |
| 2022 | Gas | B | 3 | 59 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg | |
| 2021 | Gas | A | 0 | 81 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg | |
| 2020 | Gas | A | 1 | 90 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg | |
| 2019 | Gas | C | 4 | 219 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg | |
| 2018 | Gas | C | 3 | 209 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg | |
| 2017 | Gas | C | 5 | 243 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg | |
| 2016 | Gas | C | 4 | 324 | ★★★★☆ | 21 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2021 is the cleanest Tacoma year we hold, and the 2023 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
Which Toyota Tacoma years reported which system early
Source: NHTSA complaints, odometer at reportEarliest on the record: 2019 power train complaints at 0.06× the mileage of same-age vehicles (median 1,500 miles). Latest: 2017 electrical system at 1.14× (40,000 miles).
| Year | Power Train | Fuel/Propulsion System | Service Brakes | Engine | Electrical System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | 0.16× | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 0.06× | 0.46× | 0.51× | — | — |
| 2018 | 0.19× | 0.72× | 0.49× | 0.3× | — |
| 2017 | 0.16× | 0.62× | 0.55× | 0.16× | 1.14× |
| 2016 | 0.24× | — | 0.12× | 0.39× | 0.8× |
Each cell is that model year’s median odometer when owners reported the system, divided by the median for the same system across every make’s complaints on the same model year. under 0.67× reported early; 1.5× or more late; a dash means too few readings. When problems get reported, not how often — complaint counts are in the table above. Across the whole fleet: which systems go first.
What owners filed about the Toyota Tacoma, by system
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsEvery system, every year →The systems the federal record is deep on for this nameplate: the complaints per model year, the mileage owners reported them at, and every recall, investigation and manufacturer bulletin filed under the heading — each one linked, none a failure rate.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2025: best combined mpg 24 → 23
- 2024: added hybrid; best combined mpg 21 → 24; 6 → 10 EPA configurations
- 2020: 8 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2019: 6 → 8 EPA configurations
- 2018: 7 → 6 EPA configurations
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tacoma vs Ford Maverick · Compact Pickup truck | Toss-up | |
| 2026 Tacoma vs Hyundai Santa Cruz · Compact Pickup truck | Santa Cruz +24.2 | |
| 2026 Tacoma vs Ford F-150 · Large Pickup truck | F-150 +8.9 |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Toyota Tacoma
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Toyota Tacoma year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2021 Tacoma comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (100/100), 0 recalls and 81 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Toyota Tacoma years should I avoid?
No Tacoma model year carries a D or F Safety Signal or a standing advisory. The ranking page orders every year on recalls and complaints per year on the road, and says why.
How many recalls does the Toyota Tacoma have?
Across model years 2016–2026, NHTSA has posted 35 recall campaigns for the Toyota Tacoma. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.