Owners have filed 319 complaints
about the 2017 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between 2016 and 2026.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 32 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 48
Against the median year of the Toyota Tacoma. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 66
12.9% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
71% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
2578.1%
Manifold Pressure (Map) Sensor
13.1%
Wiring Harness
13.1%
Throttlebody/Manifold
13.1%
Infotainment
13.1%
Speedometer/Odometer
13.1%
Shoes/Linings
13.1%
Seat Heater/Cooler
13.1%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
209.7%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
6230.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
5426.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
3717.9%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
157.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
125.8%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
52.4%
150,000+ miles
21.0%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash
tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2017 Toyota Tacoma PU/CC 2WD
14.7% risk
2017 Toyota Tacoma PU/CC 4WD
19.1% risk
2017 Toyota Tacoma PU/EC 2WD
—
—
—
14.7% risk
2017 Toyota Tacoma PU/EC 4WD
—
—
—
19.1% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Sep 2016peak 15Aug 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2017 Toyota Tacoma
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA19001Opened 19 Apr 2019Closed 19 Sep 2024AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mount...
Recalls on the 2017 Toyota Tacoma
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202172355,683 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903 Safety Risk: Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.
Recall 2020514126,597 units in Canada
Fuel System
Issue: On certain vehicles, the low-pressure fuel pump could fail. If this happens, then engine may run rough or may not start and the check engine light may turn on. This could also result in a sudden loss of engine power while driving. Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls SRC R95/SRC R96 and SRC RA2/SRC RA3 (Transport Canada Recall Numbers 2020-005 and 2020-088). Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the fuel pump.
Recall 2018155220 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain vehicles, an oil passage in the rotor of the vacuum pump may not have been machined properly and could result in oil not being distributed throughout the pump. This could lead to the illumination of a warning light and message, an audible tone, and a sudden loss of braking assist, which could increase stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the vacuum pump with a new one.
Recall 201736339,189 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles, the electrical power cords of some dealer installed block heaters may have been improperly manufactured, causing the wires to contact each other, resulting in a short circuit. A short circuit could lead to a fire which would increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: For vehicles where the subject block heater was approved for installation, the dealer will replace the block heater assembly with a new one of an improved design. For vehicles where the subject block heater was not approved for installation, dealers will remove the block heater assembly. In the interim, until the remedy can be performed, dealers will cut the plug end from the block heater cord to disable the block heater's operation.
Recall 201723115,016 units in Canada
Powertrain
On certain vehicles, the seal between the rear differential and the axle housing could degrade due to contact variation. This could result in leaking differential oil. If the vehicle is operated in this condition, damage to the differential could occur, and could potentially result in noise, reduced motive power and rear axle lockup. These issues could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the rear differential for leaks. If no leaks are found, fastening nuts will be re-tightened. If leaks are found, the differential gasket will be replaced, and new differential fastening nuts installed. Note: This applies to vehicles equipped with automatic transmission and non-locking differentials only.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 123,000 milesPort Saint Lucie, FLFire
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, he was inside a client's home, and the contractors who were working on the client's roof came inside the client's home and alerted the contact that his vehicle was on fire. The contact stated that upon exiting the client's home, the contact noticed the fire coming from under the front hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to the insurance company for investigation. Then the vehicle was towed to the dealer for manufacturer investigation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
NHTSA complaint #11680141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakeside, CAFire
SEATS
I had noticed my heated seat stopped working. Upon investigation and searching the web for similar issues I found that a relay for the seats located under each front seat was the issue. I saw pictures online of others and when I pulled my seat out I found the connection between the wires and relay had been completely burned and melted. This is Toyota part number 87501-0C020. When looking up this part it is discontinued with no replacement. There’s no recall or warning from Toyota for this issue. This same part is also installed on Tundra too. By the amount of burning this is definitely a safety issue and I don’t know why it has not been addressed.
NHTSA complaint #11623342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Owensboro, KYCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
Unit 1 vehicle ran a red light at approximately 45mph and impacted the passenger side door of the Tacoma (unit 2) pushing the Tacoma into a stop vehicle (unit 3) in the turning lane. Unit 1 and unit 3 air bags deployed but none of the air bags in the Tacoma deployed. One of the pictures taken show the front driver side air bag sensor in the wreck frame.
NHTSA complaint #11591290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesEagle River, AKCrash
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that, upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. After which, upon attempting to apply the brakes and with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to stop, prompting the contact to switch off the ignition. As a result of the unintended acceleration and brake failures, the contact collided with the rear quarter panel of another passenger vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure, informing the contact that the event data recorder showed the accelerator pedal had been depressed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11574774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesEagle River, AKCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that, upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. After which, upon attempting to apply the brakes and with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to stop, prompting the contact to switch off the ignition. As a result of the unintended acceleration and brake failures, the contact collided with the rear quarter panel of another passenger vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure, informing the contact that the event data recorder showed the accelerator pedal had been depressed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11574774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,000 milesIndianapolis, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that they had smelt an electrical burning odor coming from their heated seat. The vehicle's heated seats had caught fire. The contact had not received any injuries. The contact spoke with the dealer who stated they would have someone call them back to discuss the failure, however, they received no callback. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
NHTSA complaint #11470428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Kingsport, TN
SERVICE BRAKES
The parking brake sticks. This is an issue because the vehicle automatically applies the parking brake briefly when switching from neutral to first gear or reverse to prevent rollback. When this happens, the parking brake sticks, and the rear wheels lock. I believe the brake cables have been infiltrated with water resulting in rust/corrosion.
NHTSA complaint #11758934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oklahoma City, OK
SERVICE BRAKES
Common issue reported amongst 2016-2019 Toyota Tacoma owners. Noticed brake fluid dripping from under driver's side dash directly under brake pedal onto floor mat. Upon inspection, found brake fluid dripping down from what appears to be brake booster. Leaking brake booster should be a safety recall with replacement covered by Toyota.
NHTSA complaint #11744979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA
ENGINE
Truck has 116k miles, started losing power and acceleration diminished. CEL and Trac Off light came on. Pulled over twice after experiencing same issue. Took to mechanic and diagnostic code P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). Replaced 6 spark plugs to be safe, and replaced broken coil in cylinder 1. Drove less than a mile and CEL came back on. Brought to dealership this time and they found a leak in the head gasket and noticed warping in cylinder 1, along with code P0301 still present. They reported back to me stating it needed a machinist to resurface the the cylinder head, that the repair is mechanical. Even outside of warranty this fix should not be costing $13,000. The truck has been properly maintained for the past 9 years, all oil services and replacing any wear and tear items. Mechanical (warping) is manufacturing issues.
NHTSA complaint #11741962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pasadena, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Truck has 116k miles, started losing power and acceleration diminished. CEL and Trac Off light came on. Pulled over twice after experiencing same issue. Took to mechanic and diagnostic code P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). Replaced 6 spark plugs to be safe, and replaced broken coil in cylinder 1. Drove less than a mile and CEL came back on. Brought to dealership this time and they found a leak in the head gasket and noticed warping in cylinder 1, along with code P0301 still present. They reported back to me stating it needed a machinist to resurface the the cylinder head, that the repair is mechanical. Even outside of warranty this fix should not be costing $13,000. The truck has been properly maintained for the past 9 years, all oil services and replacing any wear and tear items. Mechanical (warping) is manufacturing issues.
NHTSA complaint #11741962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
Clear coat and paint began to oxidize and fade after 4 years of ownership even when maintaining with wax
NHTSA complaint #11741321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesKaneoche, HI
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the engine revved lightly. Over time the vehicle began to lunge forward, and the revving had become more intense. The RPM increased and revved. While reversing, the vehicle lunged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the map sensor and throttle body. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11739290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the engine revved lightly. Over time the vehicle began to lunge forward, and the revving had become more intense. The RPM increased and revved. While reversing, the vehicle lunged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the map sensor and throttle body. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11739290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the engine revved lightly. Over time the vehicle began to lunge forward, and the revving had become more intense. The RPM increased and revved. While reversing, the vehicle lunged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the map sensor and throttle body. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11739290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenwell Springs, LA
SEATS
Water leak from cabin pressure vents behind rear seats. Water leaks directly into carpet causing unknown mold growth. This mold growth is a safety issue due to the cognitive and respiratory problems associated.
NHTSA complaint #11738731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenwell Springs, LA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Water leak from cabin pressure vents behind rear seats. Water leaks directly into carpet causing unknown mold growth. This mold growth is a safety issue due to the cognitive and respiratory problems associated.
NHTSA complaint #11738731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenwell Springs, LA
STRUCTURE:BODY
Water leak from cabin pressure vents behind rear seats. Water leaks directly into carpet causing unknown mold growth. This mold growth is a safety issue due to the cognitive and respiratory problems associated.
NHTSA complaint #11738731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stoughton, WI
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT
Product identification: Brand: Dasaita Model: HA2161H3 ASIN: B0CQNWQR8D Purchased: September 4, 2025, via Amazon Aftermarket Android head unit installed in a 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport caused electrical interference with the vehicle's brake stop switch circuit (DTC C1425), resulting in autonomous braking without driver input, simultaneous ABS and Traction Control warning lights, and a dashboard warning indicating simultaneous accelerator and brake input. Two independent repair facilities confirmed the head unit as the probable cause. Symptoms resolved upon removal of the head unit and reinstallation of the factory OEM unit. The product is currently listed as unavailable on Amazon. Injury or accident: None, but describe it as a near-safety incident since the vehicle was braking itself while in motion.
NHTSA complaint #11737359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Folsom, LA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle stalled on highway bridge. Took to mechanic shop. They put the diagnostic code machine on and the code indicated fuel pump failure. Toyota does have a recall notice for the year, make, and model of my vehicle. But not showing on my VIN.
NHTSA complaint #11735232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sarasota, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
My 2017 Tacoma extra cab has paint peeling around the both windows and both fenders. Toyota states the four door trucks are covered under the customer support program 23TE08 but the extra cabs are not. My truck currently has 13,500 miles. They need to include the extra cabs.
NHTSA complaint #11734469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 I was looking for something in my rear seat and noticed the seat was damp. I couldn't figure out the cause so I goggled it and found out that Toyota had a limited service campaign called LSC21TD03 on my 2017 Tacoma because of the third brake light having a gasket issue causing water to enter the vehicle. I called a local Toyota dealer and was told that the fix for my vehicle had expired in 2025. This water intrusion from the high third brake light can cause mold, interior damage, or electrical issues. This is an issue that Toyota previously acknowledged but has now stopped covering it. I called Toyota Corporate and was again told yes the repair fix was expired. I asked why wasn't I notified and was told that Toyota sent out letters. I told the representative that I never received a letter and was told the mailing was done by an outside company. I asked what could Toyota do to help me and was told to go back to the dealer and maybe they "would give me a discount or reduced price on the fix". The dealer offered nothing. Upon further research I found that several Toyota Tacoma owners state they were not aware of the service campaign and ended up changing the light themselves or paying out of pocket to have it repaired. I feel that this is an issue that Toyota is aware of and they should take care of it. This should have been a recall issue rather than just a service campaign that the public was not fully aware of. I still don't know the extent of damage to my vehicle because the dealer gave me a quote of $690 to repair. I questioned why so much to change a light and gasket and was told they have to take the panels down and clean the vehicle to make sure no mold was there. The quote was given without even examining the vehicle. I'm asking you to please look into this situation.
NHTSA complaint #11731811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 I was looking for something in my rear seat and noticed the seat was damp. I couldn't figure out the cause so I goggled it and found out that Toyota had a limited service campaign called LSC21TD03 on my 2017 Tacoma because of the third brake light having a gasket issue causing water to enter the vehicle. I called a local Toyota dealer and was told that the fix for my vehicle had expired in 2025. This water intrusion from the high third brake light can cause mold, interior damage, or electrical issues. This is an issue that Toyota previously acknowledged but has now stopped covering it. I called Toyota Corporate and was again told yes the repair fix was expired. I asked why wasn't I notified and was told that Toyota sent out letters. I told the representative that I never received a letter and was told the mailing was done by an outside company. I asked what could Toyota do to help me and was told to go back to the dealer and maybe they "would give me a discount or reduced price on the fix". The dealer offered nothing. Upon further research I found that several Toyota Tacoma owners state they were not aware of the service campaign and ended up changing the light themselves or paying out of pocket to have it repaired. I feel that this is an issue that Toyota is aware of and they should take care of it. This should have been a recall issue rather than just a service campaign that the public was not fully aware of. I still don't know the extent of damage to my vehicle because the dealer gave me a quote of $690 to repair. I questioned why so much to change a light and gasket and was told they have to take the panels down and clean the vehicle to make sure no mold was there. The quote was given without even examining the vehicle. I'm asking you to please look into this situation.
NHTSA complaint #11731811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cañon City, CO
STRUCTURE:BODY
2017 Toyota Tacoma painted in MGM (MG1). The trucks paint/clearcoat are quickly failing from the factory paint application. This is a garage kept vehicle with 75k miles. Toyota refuses to accept any ownership of the factory paint application. This is a common issue amongst all Tacoma's, regardless of year or color.
NHTSA complaint #11723872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pikeville, KY
ENGINE
Have had engine issues such as stalling, rattling, limp mode, rough idling and engine missing. Have had repairs done but continues to have major issues where it is not functioning properly.
NHTSA complaint #11715462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lompoc, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
Premature factory paint and clear coat failure on Toyota MGM paint. Issue affects vehicle value and body protection. Manufacturer notified.
NHTSA complaint #11711153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Katy, TX
POWER TRAIN
There is a leak the rear differential. There is a recall on this issue
NHTSA complaint #11708042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carmel, IN
POWER TRAIN
I was driving on the highway when my vehicle suddenly lost power. The engine light and traction control light came on, and I lost power, and the engine started sputtering. I had to pull off to the side and put on hazards. My Tacoma would only drive about 25 MPH after this happened. Based on a quick search, this is a very common problem in 3rd-generation Tacomas!
NHTSA complaint #11700837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carmel, IN
ENGINE
I was driving on the highway when my vehicle suddenly lost power. The engine light and traction control light came on, and I lost power, and the engine started sputtering. I had to pull off to the side and put on hazards. My Tacoma would only drive about 25 MPH after this happened. Based on a quick search, this is a very common problem in 3rd-generation Tacomas!
NHTSA complaint #11700837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apopka, FL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel leak at the fuel lines at the rear connection near the fuel tank, drivers side rear.
NHTSA complaint #11697819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesMechanicsville, MD
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, it was discovered that the front driver’s side heated seat was inoperable, and the seat was not heated while the switch for the heated seat was activated. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the electrical wire connector and wiring harness had melted and was destroyed and that the heating components inoperable. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure and informed the contact of a Technical Service Bulletin regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11694131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, OH
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Truck does not accelerate fully when I hit gas pedal. The truck stalls and my gas consumption is off.
NHTSA complaint #11687805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
