Short answer
Among Toyota Tacoma model years through 2024, 2000 and 2021 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2009 and 2010 have the most (13). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Toyota Tacoma: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 54
- Fewest recalls
- 2000 and 2021 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2009 and 2010 (13)
- Most recalled system
- Equipment (45)
Toyota Tacoma Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 5 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Power train |
| 2024 | 6 | Not rated | Equipment, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Child seat, Power train |
| 2022 | 3 | 4 stars | Child seat, Equipment, Power train |
| 2021 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2020 | 1 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 4 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2018 | 3 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 stars | Engine, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Engine, Equipment |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 stars | Equipment, Wheels |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 stars | Equipment, Engine |
| 2013 | 6 | 4 stars | Equipment, Electronic stability control (esc), Engine |
| 2012 | 7 | 4 stars | Equipment, Electronic stability control (esc), Seats |
| 2011 | 9 | 4 stars | Equipment, Seats, Seat belts |
| 2010 | 13 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Air bags |
| 2009 | 13 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Air bags |
| 2008 | 11 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Air bags |
| 2007 | 10 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Air bags |
| 2006 | 11 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Seats |
| 2005 | 10 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Parking brake |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Seat belts, Suspension, Tires |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension, Tires |
| 2002 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension, Tires |
| 2001 | 4 | Not rated | Tires, Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension |
| 2000 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20255 recalls
- 20246 recalls
- 20234 recalls
- 20223 recalls
- 20210 recalls
- 20201 recall
- 20194 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20175 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20136 recalls
- 20127 recalls
- 20119 recalls
- 201013 recalls
- 200913 recalls
- 200811 recalls
- 200710 recalls
- 200611 recalls
- 200510 recalls
- 20043 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20023 recalls
- 20014 recalls
- 20000 recalls
Toyota Tacoma: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Toyota Tacoma recalls are equipment (45), seats (16), air bags (13), suspension (13) and tires (12). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 27 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Toyota Tacoma Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Toyota Tacoma?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000 and 2021 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Toyota Tacoma model years have the most recalls?
2009 and 2010 have the most, with 13 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Tacoma", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy