2021 Toyota Tacoma problems and complaints
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. The most-reported areas: Power Train (14), Engine (12), Service Brakes (12).
Key takeaways
- 81 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 15 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 14 | 17% |
| Engine | 12 | 15% |
| Service Brakes | 12 | 15% |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 | 15% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 9 | 11% |
| Air Bags | 7 | 9% |
| Structure | 6 | 7% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 6% |
| Lane Departure | 4 | 5% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/CC 4WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/EC 4WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/CC 2WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/EC 2WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-09
Engine developed a loud knock while under normal driving conditions at 61,000 miles. Oil was changed every 5k miles since new. Dealer says my oil rings on piston skirt have failed and heavy scoring on cylinder #5 Replaced short block under my aftermarket warranty. Toyota refused to cover it because I was 1k miles ove...
Power Train - filed 2026-09-08
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 shift to (neutral) causing it to not go.
Structure - filed 2026-08-29
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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More for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.