Toyota Tacoma Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some. 599 of the 3,489 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Toyota Tacoma (17.2%) name the transmission, 1.4× the median share across the 139 models we track. Across the 2015–2022 cohorts with published sales, the Toyota Tacoma rate is 0.18 per 1,000 sold, below the 0.28 median. The worst years are 2016, 2009 and 2017.
Transmission complaints
599
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.18
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
17.2%
of 3,489 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
4
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Toyota Tacoma transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 22 | — | 4.9% | 2 | — | 73 |
| 2009WORST | 75 | — | 14.5% | 1 | — | 73 |
| 2010 | 29 | — | 9.9% | 1 | 10V042000 | 72 |
| 2011 | 8 | — | 4.4% | 0 | — | 71 |
| 2012 | 35 | — | 11.9% | 0 | — | 62 |
| 2013 | 22 | — | 17.7% | 2 | — | 53 |
| 2014 | 13 | — | 14.1% | 1 | — | 32 |
| 2015 | 9 | 0.05 | 9% | 0 | — | 19 |
| 2016WORST | 136 | 0.71 | 42.1% | 0 | 17V285000 | 47 |
| 2017WORST | 67 | 0.34 | 28.3% | 4 | 17V285000 | 33 |
| 2018 | 29 | 0.12 | 14.6% | 0 | — | 26 |
| 2019 | 40 | 0.16 | 19.1% | 0 | — | 20 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0.06 | 16.5% | 0 | — | 14 |
| 2021 | 13 | 0.05 | 17.1% | 0 | — | 10 |
| 2022 | 10 | 0.05 | 18.2% | 1 | 24V152000 | 8 |
| 2023 | 6 | — | 12.5% | 0 | 24V152000 | 5 |
| 2024 | 52 | — | 37.7% | 0 | — | 9 |
| 2025 | 19 | — | 27.5% | 0 | 25V656000 | 0 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Toyota Tacoma transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 599 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Toyota Tacoma years to avoid for the transmission
2016 Toyota Tacoma
136 transmission complaints (42.1% of the year's 323), 0.71 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement. Covered by transmission recall 17V285000.
2009 Toyota Tacoma
75 transmission complaints (14.5% of the year's 518). Most often described: slipping or revving without accelerating.
2017 Toyota Tacoma
67 transmission complaints (28.3% of the year's 237), 0.34 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recall 17V285000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Toyota Tacoma years to avoid.
Toyota Tacoma transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Toyota Tacoma model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 25V656000 · 2025-10-01 · 2025 models
The front driveshaft constant-velocity (CV) joint may deform and break.
- 24V152000 · 2024-02-27 · 2022–2023 models
The axle shaft sub-assembly may separate from the axle housing due to debris causing improperly secured fasteners.
- 17V285000 · 2017-04-27 · 2016–2017 models
Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.
- 10V042000 · 2010-02-18 · 2010 models
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS. THE PROPELLER SHAFT MAY DEVELOP CRACKS DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. OVER TIME, THE CRACKS MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER SHAFT.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 136 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, 42.1% of all 323 complaints for that year, or 0.71 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (21 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 17V285000.
Does the 2009 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 75 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2009 Toyota Tacoma, 14.5% of all 518 complaints for that year. The most common description is "slipping or revving without accelerating" (26 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2017 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 67 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma, 28.3% of all 237 complaints for that year, or 0.34 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (10 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 17V285000. 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Toyota Tacoma years have the most transmission complaints?
2016 (136), 2009 (75) and 2017 (67), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Toyota Tacoma transmission problems?
In the 599 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (14.5%), slipping or revving without accelerating (11.5%) and shudder or vibration (10.9%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Toyota Tacoma model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration