Home · 2011 Toyota Tacoma · Complaints

What 183 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Tacoma

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (183)Crash / fire / injury (15)Suspension (59)Lights (32)Electrical system (22)Body & structure (21)Steering (17)Airbags (15)Brakes (13)Speed control (9)Transmission & drivetrain (8)Engine (3)

8 of 183 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Dec 29, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

Vehicle was brought to dealer to replace ROTTED transmission cooler lines. During inspection it was noticed that the vehicles rack & pinion steering tube is almost completely ROTTED through as well, this is a complicated and expensive repair, which if it completely fails will render the vehicle unsafe for the road, a danger to myself and others on the road. The vehicle has only 127,000 miles. I was also informed that the vehicle no longer qualifies for frame replacement under recall ' because I waited too long '

NHTSA ODI 11499413

Dec 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

EXTREME WEAR AND STRUCTURAL DETERIORATION OF THE REAREND GEARS THAT CAUSES A CLUNKING AND WINDING SOUND. THE CLUNK SOUND OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IT PUT INTO GEAR AND THE WINDING SOUND AS IT IS DRIVEN.

NHTSA ODI 11291158

Jan 18, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

THE EXISTING "TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZH2 CERTAIN 2005 ' 2011 MODEL YEAR TACOMA COVERAGE FOR PROPELLER SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS" COVERS REPLACEMENT OF U JOINTS AND/OR SHAFTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND WEAR. MY VEHICLE, WHILE NOT COVERED BY THE SPECIFIC VIN SERIES, IS A 2011 TACOMA WHICH HAS ITS U JOINTS REPLACED RIGHT NOW AT A TOYOTA DEALER. REASON: EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND WEAR CAUSING LOOSE AND WORN OUT U-JOINTS ACCORDING TO TOYOTA SHOP IN PALESTINE, TX. THE COST IS APPROX. $560. THE REP AT TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER WAS UNABLE TO HELP AND ONLY ADVISED TO RETAIN REPAIR RECEIPTS FOR FUTURE WIDENING OF PROGRAM, IF APPLICABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11063541

Jul 26, 2017Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

SINCE PURCHASE VEHICLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EVIDENCED BY SHAKING OF THE TRUCK BED, EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE BY: REBALANCING, ROTATING AND REPLACING TIRES, ALIGNING FRONT END, WHEEL TRUING, UNIVERSAL JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT HANGER BRACKET REPLACEMENT, INSPECTION OF- ROD ENDS, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, STEERING BOX, UNSUCCESFULL. JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ATTACHED TECH BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR DRIVELINE FAILURE? TOYOTA TECH BULLETIN # T-SB-0008-14 IT WON'T UPLOAD DUE TO SIZE.

NHTSA ODI 11010798

Dec 18, 2013Transmission & drivetrain

FIRST EXPERIENCED CLUTCH SLIPPAGE UNDER ACCELERATION IN 4TH GEAR ABOUT 240 MILES INTO A 300 MILE TRIP ON 12/16. AGAIN LATER THE SAME DAY I EXPERIENCED MORE SEVERE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE IN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO I-95 AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A WASTE TRUCK DUE TO LACK OF ACCELERATION (SLIPPAGE). 20 MILES LATER I EXPERIENCED PRONOUNCED CLUTCH SLIPPAGE AT 50-55 MPH IN 5TH GEAR DURING ACCELERATION. NEXT DAY, 12/17 I EXPERIENCED CLUTCH SLIPPAGE IN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR 20 MILES INTO MY TRIP TO WORK ON I-95. WEDNESDAY 12/18 I TOOK MY TRUCK TO CHAMPION TOYOTA IN PHILADELPHIA PA, EXPLAINED THE SYMPTOMS AND THE SCENARIO IN WHICH IT OCCURRED WHICH IS AFTER TRUCK IS RUN FOR 20 MILES AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA TECH ALLEGEDLY DROVE THE TRUCK ALONE AROUND A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 5 MILES AND ABOUT 3 MILES WITH MYSELF ON BOARD AND DRIVING. NO SLIPPAGE WAS FOUND ACCORDING TO TOYOTA TECH. I NOTICED THE A SLIGHT SLIP IN 3RD GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALTHOUGH THE TECH DISAGREED. SERVICE WRITER STATED IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TO LEAVE THE TRUCK OVERNIGHT AND A TECH OR SERVICE MANAGER WOULD TAKE IT HOME. I WILL CONSTANTLY MONITOR THIS (WHAT I CONSIDER) A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THERE IS A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING DEFECTIVE MEXICAN MADE CLUTCHES INSTALLED IN SOME 2006-2011 TOYOTA TACOMA 5 SPEED TRUCKS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT I AM HAVE BEEN AN AUTO MECHANIC FOR OVER 35 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10556506

Jan 16, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

2011 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SECURITY SYSTEM IN VEHICLE. . *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY AS SHE WAS LEAVING WORK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT JUMP STARTING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM, WHICH HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED COMPLETELY. SHE ALSO STATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY, PARTICULARLY WHEN SHIFTING UP HILLS, IT REQUIRED HER TO FORCEFUL APPLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO GO APPROPRIATELY. AGAIN, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE COMPUTER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE, WHEN IN EARLY DECEMBER THE CONSUMER WAS IN ROUTE OVER A DOUBLE LANE ROAD OVER A MOUNTAIN, WHEN THE TRUCK SUDDENLY FELT AS THOUGH IT HAD SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN AND THERE WAS A GRINDING SENSATION FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THEN DRIVE AND PROCEEDED AGAIN. A SIMILAR EVENT OCCURRED AS SHE MADE HER WAY BACK OVER THE MOUNTAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN AND IT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT IT ALSO MADE A VERY FAST CLICKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, ONLY TO BE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE SLUGGISH IN THE AUTOMATIC DRIVE POSITION, BUT SEEMED TO FUNCTION MORE RESPONSIVELY IN THE 4TH POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 10492701

Apr 17, 2012Transmission & drivetrain

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, A HARSH BUMP/LUNGE IS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. AT TIMES TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL AS THOUGH, I HAVE BEEN BUMPED FROM A VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT FIRMLY PRESSED, THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD. HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND OK. HAVE BEEN TOLD A TSB EXISTS FOR THE PROBLEM. HAVE HAD THE ECU MEMORY CLEARED TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10455577

Aug 30, 2011Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY WHILE DOWNSHIFTING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE SHAKING WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT AGREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

NHTSA ODI 10422630

Working with the data? Download all 183 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Toyota Tacoma verdict →