2021 Toyota Tacoma
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact pickup truck with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tacoma 2WD, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 81 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma 2WD | Gas | RWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Tacoma 2WD | Gas | RWD | 2.7L 4-cyl | 20 | 23 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Tacoma 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 | 22 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Tacoma 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.7L 4-cyl | 19 | 22 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Tacoma 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 3.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 21 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Tacoma 4WD D-CAB MT TRD-ORP/PRO | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 3.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43082, 43083, 43084, 43087, 43085, 43086.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma 2WD, Tacoma 4WD, Tacoma 4WD D-CAB MT TRD-ORP/PRO | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Pickup |
| GVWR class | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3.5 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 278 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4x2 |
| Transmission speeds | 6 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: SR5). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 212.2–225.2 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 74.8 in |
| Height | 70.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 127.6–140.6 in |
| Track, front | 63.0 in |
| Track, rear | 63.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4,295–4,480 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 58/42 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: Access Cab L/Box 4WD, Double Cab L/Box 4WD, Double Cab S/Box 4WD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (0)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseNo NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this Tacoma →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 15 injuries · 1 deaths reported
2.8 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 287,716 Tacoma built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2021: 20 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2026: 13
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
When filling truck at any gas pump or station the pump will not shut off before shoots out from filling port. Gasoline will shoot onto my hand and clothing if at full flow at pump. I have adapted to slow pump to trickle at 11-12 gallons or near full. It will still eject gasoline but less amount and less velocity.
I was in a severe T-none car accident and the airbags did not deploy. The power restrain activated, the seat locked in place but no airbag deployment. The car that hit me was going at aprox. 50-60MPH. I could have died and so could have my 11 & 6 year old passengers. My sister got cought in between the cabin space and the impacted door
Vehicle purchased less than year ago. Vehicle has approximately 10,000 miles on it. I am on my second rear differential replacement. The original and the first replacement were both making a whining noise. Dealer inspected and found metal shavings in both. There are numerous complaints of similar situation on Tacoma owner websites.
PCS malfunction, VSC malfunctions, Data transmitter for codes to dealership doesn't work, Transmisson jerk/lost in gears, from stop to go would jerk into gear, hot air comes out of steering wheel (video proof), air coming through window controls.
in traffic engine surges at times,going from 1200 to 3500 rpm's very dangerous, afraid to drive , wife refuses to drive it, naturally the dealer says NO PROBLEMS, that truck will last 300.000, at 3000 miles in seven months ,thinking about trading it in, dealers tell me I must repair the engine knocking noise, I didn't tell them about the…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was discovered that there was severe rusting and corrosion on the subframe of the vehicle, which included several cracks to the frame welds. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Toyota itself: 108 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 133 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 38 per 100,000 built. Every Tacoma model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 15 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 8,000 and 47,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU/CC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
| PU/EC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Toyota warranty extension 23TE08In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Customer Support Program to provide coverage for paint peeling on door frames and front inner fenders on…
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Toyota warranty extension (10) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Equipment, Structure, Electrical System, Engine, Power Train.
- T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-01-30 · Electrical System
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- T-SB-0001-26 Service bulletin2026-01-28 · Electrical System
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
- T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-01-07 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
- 23TE08 Service campaign2025-11-11 · Structure — Body
- Toyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames, front inner fenders as can been seen with the hood open, and on the A-pillars on certain Tacoma vehicles with 040 Super White paint color. Although the vehicle paint is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for three years, or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the custom
- T-TT-0780-25 Service bulletin2025-04-02 · Electrical System
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the system and are only to be used when requested by FTS and/or FPE.
- T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin2025-02-11 · Electrical System
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software. The SST is used with applicable vehicles to deliver the update, however, the process for generating license keys differs from previous generations.
- T-SB-0099-24 Rev1 Service bulletin2025-01-17 · Structure — Body
- Some 2016 – 2022 model year Tacoma vehicles with Super White (040) paint may exhibit paint peeling along the exterior window door frames, inner fender edges under the hood, and/or A-pillars. The affected panel(s) require repainting to address this condition. The paint repair may need to be sublet to a body shop.
- T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| B14C0 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Seats | 3 bulletins |
| B14C1 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Seats | 3 bulletins |
| P17A0 P17A0 on Toyota → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment | 2 bulletins |
| P17A4 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment | 2 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma failed the emissions check on 0.69% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).
failed emissions
5,240 initial inspections of 5,157 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2021 Tacoma | Every 2021 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 0.69% | 1.9% | 5,229 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.5% | 1.5% | 5,240 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.19% | 0.19% | 5,240 |
| Miles driven a year | 11,055 | 10,343 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 58,375 | 54,681 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Tacoma by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2021 Tacoma
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2021 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them, and a clean sheet on a recent model year often just means the vehicle is new.
How safe is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA gave the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (100/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, the best EPA combined figure is 21 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
Transport Canada measured it at 212.2–225.2 in long, 74.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 70.5 in tall, on a 127.6–140.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,295–4,480 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, most often about engine, power train, service brakes. Of those, 9 involved a crash, 15 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
The manufacturer has filed 165 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, most often covering equipment, structure, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-01-30. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma failed the emissions check on 0.69% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 6 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 6 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | none | NHTSA recall campaigns | No campaign has been filed. Because the register is complete, an empty row here means there is nothing to find — not that we are missing it. |
| Owner complaints | 81 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 4 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 165 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 10 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.