It is no surprise that the Toyota Tacoma is one of the most popular trucks on the market. On any given day, you will see many Tacomas on the road, ranging from modern Tacomas to Tacomas produced in the 90’s. There’s no question these trucks are built to last, but that’s only one of the reasons people love them. When driving a Tacoma, there is no terrain too tough for it to handle, it’s full of top of the line safety features, the interior cabin is spacious and comfortable, and its entertainment system rivals most modern vehicles.
However, although it may be a very reliable truck, like all cars, it is not invincible and some Toyota Tacoma problems have come to light over the years. That said, if you are in the market for a new or used Tacoma, you will want to read this article before buying. We love Tacomas so this is in no way trying to persuade you against them, but rather to inform you of the common Toyota Tacoma issues you might face. That way you will be able to ask your car dealer all the right questions and be as confident as possible with your purchase.
Most Commonly Reported Toyota Tacoma Problems
- Toyota Tacoma Transmission Problems: Over the years, some Tacoma drivers have reported experiencing a faulty automatic transmission once the car was over a certain high-mileage point. When experiencing these Tacoma issues, your vehicle may not be able to shift properly. Thankfully, this issue is only common as you get close to 150k miles of use, so no matter what, you are getting a long life out of your vehicle. Also, if you do end up experiencing this issue, you luckily won’t need to completely replace the automatic transmission to fix this problem. It’s also important to note that Toyota has made the necessary adjustments to address this issue, so now-a-days, it’s really only common in Tacomas built before 2015.
- Premature Ball Joint Wear: Another highly reported Toyota Tacoma issue is the premature wear on the lower ball joints. This issue most commonly happens in the front suspension, making it more difficult to steer and reducing the cars ability to self-center. Although not common, in some cases, these worn and loose ball joints can detach from the suspension altogether, causing a loss of control of the vehicle.
- Faulty Starter: If your Tacoma’s engine isn’t turning over, it’s likely due to a faulty starter, rather than an engine problem. Several common symptoms of a bad start are grinding noises when trying to start the engine, taking several tries to get the engine to turn over, and of course, if the engine won’t start at all. Thankfully, replacing a starter is much easier and more cost effective than having to deal with engine repairs. Also, note that if you hear a ticking sound when trying to start your car, it’s likely due to a dead battery, not a starter issue.
- Failed Airflow Sensor: As you may or may not know, the mass airflow sensor measures the amount of air that the engine needs for combustion at any point in time. The engine then uses this information to burn the correct amount of fuel needed. If you have a faulty mass airflow sensor your engine won’t be able to determine the right amount of fuel needed, thus causing an imbalance in the fuel combustion process. If experiencing this airflow sensor related Toyota Tacoma problem, your check engine light will most likely be on, but another symptom to look out for is a decrease in power, jerking, and a more rapid consumption of fuel.
As mentioned above, Tacomas are generally great vehicles with a strong reputation for being reliable, but now that you know some of the more common problems with Toyota Tacomas, you can know what to look out for when buying a new or used model. You will also know what kind of questions to ask the dealer, especially if you are in the market for a used Tacoma. If you have any questions about any of the Toyota Tacoma issues mentioned above or a question about a different vehicle make/model, don’t hesitate to reach out at (385) 492-6620. We look forward to helping you with all of your automotive needs.