Best Toyota Tacoma Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Toyota Tacoma years to buy are 2021 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Skip these years
Full failure breakdown: Toyota Tacoma years to avoid →
Every Toyota Tacoma year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | 4 | OK |
| 2024 | 138 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2023 | 48 | 4 | OK |
| 2022 | 55 | 3 | OK |
| 2021 | 76 | 0 | BEST |
| 2020 | 85 | 1 | OK |
| 2019 | 209 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 199 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 237 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2016 | 323 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 100 | 4 | OK |
| 2014 | 92 | 4 | OK |
| 2013 | 124 | 6 | OK |
| 2012 | 294 | 7 | AVOID |
| 2011 | 183 | 9 | OK |
| 2010 | 0 | 13 | OK |
| 2009 | 518 | 13 | AVOID |
| 2008 | 445 | 11 | AVOID |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Toyota Tacoma?
2021 — based on federal NHTSA records, it shows the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Toyota Tacoma model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Toyota Tacoma years should I avoid?
2008, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by body issues. The full breakdown is on our Toyota Tacoma years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Toyota Tacoma a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 3,195 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Toyota Tacoma years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Toyota Tacoma year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Toyota Tacoma you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).