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2021 Toyota Tacoma problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
38% of relevant owner complaints on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 35%).
Does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 28 of 73 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (38%), and the largest group is filed under power train (14). For comparison, the 2020 scores 48% and the 2022 scores 33%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Toyota Tacoma years
Of the 14 Toyota Tacoma years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 7th-worst on engine and transmission share (38%). The worst is the 2012 (65%), the best the 2011 (11%). By volume, the 2021 drew 80 complaints (28 drivetrain), against 87 for the 2020 and 59 for the 2022.
Toyota Tacoma years to avoid and best years →
2010 Tacoma problems · 2011 Tacoma problems · 2012 Tacoma problems · 2013 Tacoma problems · 2014 Tacoma problems · 2015 Tacoma problems · 2016 Tacoma problems · 2017 Tacoma problems · 2018 Tacoma problems · 2019 Tacoma problems · 2020 Tacoma problems · 2021 · 2022 Tacoma problems · 2023 Tacoma problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 28 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2021 Toyota Tacoma? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 28 of 73 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (38%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is power train: 14 of 80 complaints (18%) name it, followed by service brakes (12) and engine (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 38% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Toyota Tacoma years we score, it ranks 7th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma.
Which Toyota Tacoma years are better?
Among the Toyota Tacoma years we track, the 2011 (11%), the 2010 (17%) and the 2015 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (38%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/toyota-tacoma
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.