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#BS-2021-TOYTAC-AFD4

2021 Toyota TacomaProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 119 owners and 0 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
119
Crashes
14
Fires
0
Recalls
0
TSBs
165
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 119 complaints, 14 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

paint degradation and peeling

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

rough lurching shifts whistling grinding noises

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the DrivetrainHIGH

14 owners reported drivetrain issues — failures commonly reported around 8K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

16
0–30K
5
30–60K
2
60–90K
2
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (16 reports) • Median: 8K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Drivetrain (14 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Drivetrain14 (12%)
Engine14 (12%)
Brakes12 (10%)
Other12 (10%)
Fuel System9 (8%)
Electrical8 (7%)
Airbags7 (6%)
Structure:body5 (4%)

2021 Toyota Tacoma: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 8,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 8K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

34
21
16
22
19
23
17
24
15
25
18
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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2021 Toyota Tacoma NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Toyota Tacoma is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is body / paint.

2021 Toyota Tacoma vs. Class Average (Small Pickup Trucks 2WD)

This vehicle

119

Class avg

84

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small pickup trucks 2wd vehicles from 2021.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 119 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 0 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Toyota Tacoma Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995
View all Toyota Tacoma years →

2021 Toyota Tacoma: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is related to the drivetrain, with 14 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma has 119 complaints, 14 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Toyota Tacoma problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
No recalls have been issued for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma according to NHTSA records.
What mileage do Toyota Tacoma problems start?
Based on 25 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 8,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2021 Toyota Tacoma data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 21, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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