2021 Toyota Tacoma Complaints

POWER TRAIN — Filed 11/21/1981

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 08/28/2026

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.

ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 06/10/2026

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 to remove the engine. As for the forward collision warning ive had it go off multiple times witout a vehicle there. While in cruise control ive had it unexpectedly break on me when there was no visible vehicle infront or next to me.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/13/2026

Brake master cylinder is leaking in the interior of truck on driver side floor mat. Oil is come from brake master cylinder seal.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 06/26/2026

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 analog gauges (speedometer and tachometer) remain functional but all digital display information is unavailable including speed, warnings, fuel economy data, and safety system status indicators. This failure occurred suddenly with no prior warning. Vehicle has approximately 50,000 miles. I am aware that Toyota issued Safety Recall 25V595 in September 2025 covering the identical combination meter failure on 2023-2025 model year Tacomas and other Toyota vehicles. The root cause identified in that recall — accelerated deterioration of the memory device inside the combination meter due to improper programming — appears to be the same failure mechanism present in my 2021 model year vehicle. I am filing this complaint to formally document that this known defect extends to 2021 model year Tacoma vehicles and to request that NHTSA investigate expanding recall 25V595 to include earlier model years. Toyota should be required to repair or replace the combination meter on affected 2021 vehicles at no cost to owners, consistent with the remedy already established for 2023-2025 vehicles. A Toyota case has been opened with the Brand Engagement Center at [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 06/17/2026

Digital instrument panel speedometer screen has gone blank. No longer displays speed. This occurred while driving the vehicle.

LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION — Filed 05/29/2026

About a month ago the Blind spot monitoring system failed, dealer said $2500.00 to repair, about 10 days ago, backup sonar parking system failed, dealer cost to repair $2200.00

ENGINE — Filed 05/25/2026

The plastic coolant crossover valve or pipe failed at 66,000 miles and 5 years of usage. This led to the radiator cracking. After researching online, I read about thousands of Tacoma 3rd generation users with the same issue. Also, the same issue was recalled for several other models of Toyotas but not the Tacoma.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/22/2026

After I purchased my 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with 4 miles on it and at 1,332 miles on 11/26/21, the Check Engine light with Traction Control Off light came on while I was driving. I immediately pulled over and on the truck media screen it read this: "A malfunction in the electronic control of the engine, throttle or automatic transmission has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer and have your vehicle inspected." The truck was rough idling and had no acceleration. I had the truck towed to dealership where it was purchased and upon diagnostic, it was determined that #3-cylinder injector was reading "Open Circuit" with code P020313. Being under warranty the dealership repaired the bad injector. No further issues until 4/22/26. On 4/22/26 with mileage at 48,361, I started my truck in my driveway and immediately recognized that the truck was rough idling and the Check Engine Light along with the Traction Control Light Off being on. The exact same message displayed on the screen as above, "A malfunction in the electronic control of the engine, throttle or automatic transmission has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer and have your vehicle inspected.". The truck was towed back to the same dealership and upon diagnostic the same issue of #3-cylinder injector "open circuit" with code P020313 was revealed. It was recommended to replace the bad #3-cylinder injector and also recommended to go ahead and replace all of the spark plugs. The total repair bill we be ~$2600 when I go to pick it up in 3 days. This is not just a coincidence that the exact same #3-cylinder injector has gone bad at 1,332 miles and then again at 48,361 miles. Seems to be a connection between the injector going bad and the issues that they have had with the High Pressure Fuel Pumps. Toyota needs to acknowledge this problem.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 03/11/2025

when I push the brake pedal, it goes to the floor. I have had the brakes and master cylinder replaced. after about one month the brakes started failing again. I am going to take it back to the mechanic to have them re-evaluate the brakes. No kind of official has inspected my truck. I have been having braking issues for about a year.

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,LANE DEPARTURE — Filed 02/25/2026

There are three concerns in this write up: at 117000 miles the blind spot monitoring system has fails and will cost $300 to repair. More concerning is that it was recommended I replace the Power Steering Lines at a cost of $927 and the Transmission Lines at a cost of $797 due to severe rusting and corrosion. Its recommended before they rust through and break/leak.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 02/01/2026

FRONT RADAR RECALL- NO BACK COVER AND GOES DEFECTIVE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 07/17/2024

When vehicle is driven at 85 mph (cruise control set) speedometer jolts. Speed must be reduced to 84 to resolve issue.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/03/2023

Vehicle was in car accident where airbags did not deploy.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE — Filed 12/08/2025

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at highway speeds, the vehicle stalled with the engine oil warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact stated that her husband detected a fuel odor coming from the vehicle after the failure. The driver was able to restart the vehicle and drove the vehicle to the dealer. While at the dealer the vehicle was test driven and the failure was acknowledged. The vehicle was then diagnosed with a defective fuel pump. The vehicle was repaired but remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

STRUCTURE — Filed 05/15/2024

My vehicle was hit on the door frame and rear door on the driver's side by someone who ran a red light.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE — Filed 12/23/2023

The cabin vent system appears to have a design defect, specifically the passenger-side vent located in the back of the cabin. This component is available for inspection upon request. The dealership, Santa Cruz Toyota, has declined to replace the part despite acknowledging the issue. The concern lies in the vent's design, as it allows water to enter the cabin instead of just expelling air. The water intrusion caused by this malfunction poses a safety risk in two ways. First, the presence of water on the floor increases the chance of an electrical fire due to the numerous electrical wires running underneath. Second, mildew spores can grow on the wet undercarpet padding, creating a health hazard. This problem has been confirmed by Santa Cruz Toyota, and we have video evidence to support the claim. While Santa Cruz Toyota has inspected the vehicle, our request for a direct inspection from the manufacturer, Toyota, has not been successful. There weren't any warning lights or messages prior to the failure. However, the issue became apparent after the heavy rains of 2023 in California, when we discovered water accumulated under the passenger-side carpet padding.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 11/25/2023

I was about to park. press the break pedal in order to move gear to Parking. However, My Tacoma accelerated and I was unable to control it. Finally, it stop after hitting a tree.

AIR BAGS,SEATS — Filed 09/24/2022

The subject vehicle left roadway and impacted a tree in a pure frontal impact. The front seat passenger airbag failed to deploy. An 11 year old child was seated and properly belted in the front passenger seat. The child was killed as a result of blunt force trauma to his head when his head struck the front dash structure. In addition, the belted occupant seated behind the front passenger seat, while properly belted, impacted the rear of the front passenger seat and the seat deformed forward, limiting the ride down space for the front passenger seat occupant. The other three occupants in the subject Toyota Tacoma suffered non-life threatening injuries.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/08/2022

I was in a severe T-none car accident and the airbags did not deploy. The power restrain activated, the seat locked in place but no airbag deployment. The car that hit me was going at aprox. 50-60MPH. I could have died and so could have my 11 & 6 year old passengers. My sister got cought in between the cabin space and the impacted door.

AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 05/31/2022

Another vehicle turned left in front of the Toyota, resulting in a head-on collision at about 30 mph. The forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems did not engage and the airbags did not deploy. Police report has not been completed by GRPD as of today (6/1/2022).

AIR BAGS — Filed 12/11/2021

I was rear ended in my Tacoma and then hit at about 30-35mph in the front driver side. No air bags deployed anywhere in the vehicle and the driver head rest that was fully installed went flying out of the seat. Vehicle is currently waiting to be inspected by insurance representatives.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS — Filed 04/21/2021

Tacoma was rear-ended at 80 mph. Tacoma rolled over three times front airbags did not go off.. side curtain bags did.. seat belt on driver side failed after the second rollover.. rear cross traffic warning did not go off.. driver seat collapsed. driver was injured and was in trauma unit for 3 weeks. Vehicle last known is located off of belvedere road in West Palm Beach Florida.. I called up Toyota and a third party got the EDR from the vehicle.. I have a copy of it. As far as I know the problem has not been inspected.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 02/08/2021

I PURCHASED A NEW 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH A PRE COLLISION SAFETY SYSTEM. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ACCIDENT (DAUGHTER AT FAULT). THE SYSTEM DID NOT DO WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO, WHICH WAS WARN HER AND HELP HER APPLY THE BRAKE. AT THE REPAIR CENTER, I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE PRE COLLISION SAFETY SYSTEM. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BERT OGDEN TOYOTA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME THE SYSTEM WAS PROBABLY OFF OR NOT SET SENSITIVE ENOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NOW THAT I HAVE THE VEHICLE BACK, I HAVE SET THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM TO THE MOST SENSITIVE SETTING AND IT APPEARS IT IS NOT WORKING. THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO WARN ME (ON THE MOST SENSITIVE SETTING) AS I ACCELERATED TOWARD A BRAKING CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO TOYOTA OF PHARR AND SPOKE TO A SALESMAN, WHO TOLD ME ALL OF MY SETTINGS WERE CORRECT AND IT SHOULD BE WORKING. THOUGH THIS FAILURE WAS MINOR IN MY DAUGHTER'S CASE WITH NO ONE HURT (THOUGH IT DID COST $7,000 TO REPAIR), THIS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AS ADVERTISED AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 02/14/2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA TAKOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN COMING TO A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS AWAY, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN IN SPEED THEN BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKES DUE TO A TRUCK NEARBY SUDDENLY COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND COLLISION PREVENTION SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED TOTALED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR WRIST AND THE ABDOMINAL AREA. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED NECK, BACK, SHOULDER, AND LEG INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH A DEALER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.