AI Damage2018 Toyota Tacoma: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Toyota Tacoma filed 209 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 169 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 209
- involving a crash
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 169
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 22% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 8% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 47 complaints (22% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 42 complaints (20% of all).
- Powertrain: 29 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Engine: 26 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Fuel system: 24 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.7 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 4 complaints
Drive: 4WD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 209 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 47 | 5 | 11 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 29 | 0 | 9 |
| Engine | 26 | 0 | 7 |
| Fuel system | 24 | 0 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 0 | 4 |
| Structure | 16 | 0 | 51 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 11 | 1 | 9 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 3 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was traveling southbound on I-25 when the flatbed truck in front of me came to a sudden stop. I was unable to stop in time to avoid rear-ending the truck. The airbags did not deploy upon impact.
I got in a car accident another car hit me T-bone right between the driver a d passenger door sideairbags weren’t deployed at all the incident cause me to jump into de sidewalk run over a sign and neither of the frontbags were deployed either the hit cause me to hit my head to the side window reason I got a concussion…
I was invoked in a front end collision my brakes didn't stop fast enough my pedal went down to the bottom floor and my tps radar collision warning didn't activate what can I do ?
I was going slow when I reversed, however my whole bumper snapped off and my taillight shattered. The truck seemed to have accelerated without the gas pedal being used....the brakes seemed to work just fine after, however dealership told me there weren't any codes indicating a loss of brakes.
I was sure my windows were not open and my doors were closed and sealed properly. I took the vehicle to the Honda dealership and they provided me a Condition, Cause and Remedy (CCR). The CCR stated that water was entering my vehicle through the cabin vents located between my truck bed and the cabin of the vehicle.
At about 87,000 miles the check engine light came on with code P11EC, Cylinder 1 Air-Fuel Ratio Imbalance (Port). Cylinder 1 failed compression. Leakdown and coolant tests had passed earlier; borescope did not show heavy scoring.
The cabin pressure vents, located at the rear of the cab below the rear window on the body frame have failed. The seal on the exterior of the vents has dry rotted. This has caused an extensive amount of water intrusion that is undetectable until it has been present long enough to cause mildew issues.
No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the rear cabin pressure bin needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 314 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tacoma has 141 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 209, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
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…
- Toyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames, front inner…
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…
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free
This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
- Customer Support Program 23TE08 Paint Repair Process Job Aid
- TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM 23TE08 COVERAGE FOR PAINT PEELING ON EXTERIOR DOOR…
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM 23TE08 COVERAGE FOR PAINT PEELING ON EXTERIOR DOOR FRAMES, FRONT INNER FENDERS AND A-PILLARS CERTAIN 2016-2022 MODEL YEAR TACOMA
- Some 2016 – 2022 model year Tacoma vehicles with Super White (040) paint may exhibit paint peeling along…
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)…
- 21TD03 Final Reminder
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
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…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
NHTSA lists 169 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, fuel/propulsion system, powertrain. Total complaints: 209. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (16%), fuel system, fuel smell (13%), stalls while driving (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA lists 169 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Toyota Tacoma from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.