2021 Toyota Tacoma reliability
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has 80 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 14 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Tacoma years here — under the median of the other years, which is 17. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
80
14
0
6
The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (14 of 80), then Service brakes (12) and Engine (11). Those filings include 9 that report a crash, 8 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.
The 2020 Tacoma has 87 complaints, 16 per year, and the 2022 has 58 complaints, 13 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.
The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Toyota Tacoma. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (0)
No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.
Complaints by component (80 total)
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9
0
8
1
Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"Driving in town 30 to 40mph, (while in drive) the vehicle rev’d up like it was in neutral then went back to normal. That is concerning because it will cause transmission problems & pulling onto a road the truck could…"
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"The cabin air pressure vents behind the back seat are leaking letting water into the vehicle. The seals have dried up. It's causing a moldy smell in the vehicle."
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"Having two issues major issues that’s causing me a $10,000 bill. The timing cover is leaking and there is a coolant bypass hose that is leaking. I have spend a lot of maintenance on this truck on maintaining it to have…"
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"Brake master cylinder is leaking in the interior of truck on driver side floor mat. Oil is come from brake master cylinder seal."
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"The Multi-Information Display (MID) on the instrument cluster (combination meter) has failed completely. The display shows full-width horizontal RGB scan lines across the entire screen with no readable information. The…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/CC 2WD | 4 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/CC 4WD | 4 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/EC 2WD | 4 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/EC 4WD | 4 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.
Fuel economy
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma two-wheel drive | 3.5L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 19 | 24 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| Tacoma two-wheel drive | 2.7L, 4-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 20 | 23 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| Tacoma four-wheel drive | 3.5L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Part-time four-wheel drive | 18 | 22 | 20 MPG | $3250 |
| Tacoma four-wheel drive | 2.7L, 4-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Part-time four-wheel drive | 19 | 22 | 20 MPG | $3250 |
| Tacoma four-wheel drive | 3.5L, 6-cyl | Manual 6-speed | Part-time four-wheel drive | 17 | 21 | 18 MPG | $3600 |
| Tacoma four-wheel drive D-CAB MT TRD-ORP/PRO | 3.5L, 6-cyl | Manual 6-speed | Part-time four-wheel drive | 17 | 20 | 18 MPG | $3600 |
Specs and fitment
Known issues for this generation
Early third-generation production drew several Toyota safety recalls. NHTSA campaign 17V-285 (Toyota H0G) covers certain 2016-2017 Tacomas where oil may leak from the rear differential carrier joint; low oil can seize the differential and cause a loss of control. Campaign 17V-356 (Toyota H0H) covers certain 2016-2017 six-cylinder Tacomas whose crank position sensor may fail and stall the engine. NHTSA campaign 15V-656 (Toyota F0T) covers a small batch of 2016 Tacomas built in August-September 2015 with incorrect bolts on the driver knee air bag module, which can affect air bag performance in a crash.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has 80 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 14 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Tacoma years here — under the median of the other years, which is 17. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
What are common problems with a 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (14 of 80), then Service brakes (12) and Engine (11). Those filings include 9 that report a crash, 8 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.
Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2020 Tacoma has 87 complaints, 16 per year, and the 2022 has 58 complaints, 13 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.
Has the 2021 Toyota Tacoma been recalled?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners have filed 80 complaints about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA.
What mpg does a 2021 Toyota Tacoma get?
EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is 19.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.
What generation is the 2020 Toyota Tacoma?
3rd generation (2016-2023).
How much can a Toyota Tacoma tow?
Published maximums vary by generation, cab, engine, and equipment; many recent U.S. specs list up to 6,500 lb when properly equipped.
When did the 4th-generation Tacoma start?
The 2024 model year (4th generation) followed the 2016-2023 3rd generation in the U.S. lineup.