Toyota Tacoma brake problems, 2016–2026
229 of the 1,523 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Toyota Tacoma 2016–2026 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). The loudest years: 2019 (56), 2018 (47), 2024 (34). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Toyota Tacoma brake problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the brakes | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 5 | 5% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2024 | 34 | 23% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 | 6 | 11% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 6 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 12 | 15% | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 13 | 15% | — | 8 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 56 | 26% | 5k | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2018 | 47 | 23% | 10k | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2017 | 32 | 13% | 18k | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2016 | 18 | 6% | 5k | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the brakes. Nothing here is a rate.
When the brake complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 12 · 2019: 35 · 2020: 29 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 25 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 43 · 2026: 23
Across the model years, half of the 93 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 3,000 and 19,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Truck is new. Brakes do not function properly. Two times the brakes failed to stop the truck. Flew threw the intersection. The brakes will flutter and fall to the floor. Other times it will be very stiff and stop the car very aggressively. Very dangerous.
Both front and rear brakes locked up while moving. Drove a few miles from home to Toyota dealer to pick up vehicle tags. Truck is new 1000 miles. After driving to dealer parked truck, got tags, started truck put in reverse and brakes locked up happen multiple times. Good thing it happened at the dealer.
I feel that the Toyota dealer in waipahu, hawaii is unable to remedy the defect in regards to recall no. 18v-888. I received the recall remedy notice in the mail, I then called our dealership service department the very next day on 2/25/19. I was told the part was on back order and they had no estimated time of arrival for the part.
My brand new Tacoma has a sticking brake pedal that sticks in the pedal's neutral position. It needs more force to press it at random times. This issue stood out while I was driving in the mountains on a dirt road and came across some ICE.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V058000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
What is on file about the brakes, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V058000 HighFeb 6, 2025 · 221,846 vehicles
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Tacoma 4-wheel drive vehicles. The rear brake hoses can be damaged if mud and dirt builds up inside the rear wheels. This can result in a brake fluid leak.
- 18V888000 HighDec 13, 2018 · 44,121 vehicles
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma vehicles. Improper machining of the brake master cylinder may result in internal damage of one of the seals, affecting brake performance.
- 18V211000 HighApr 3, 2018 · 6,046 vehicles
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Other systems with a record on the Toyota Tacoma
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Toyota Tacoma problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Toyota Tacoma years have the most brake complaints?
2019, 56; 2018, 47; 2024, 34. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (26%).
Is there a recall for the brakes on the Toyota Tacoma?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V058000 (2025), 18V888000 (2019), 18V211000 (2017). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the Toyota Tacoma?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 7,500 miles across the model years; half of them between 3,000 and 19,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.