2018 Toyota Tacoma Problems and Recalls (202 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma is Fuel system (27% of 202 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 202 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?

54 of 202 filings named Fuel system (27% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Brakes (30 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Brakes and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2017 has 236 reports on file; this year has 202. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2018 Toyota Tacoma

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
Skim a few owner reports below for Fuel system. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Fuel system 54 complaints · 26.7% of the file

Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:

Crashes 7
Fires 0
Injuries 2
Deaths 0

All Toyota Tacoma years →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table

System / Component	Complaints	Share of Reports	Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)	54	26.7%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)	30	14.9%	4 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)	19	9.4%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)	18	8.9%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE)	14	6.9%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE)	11	5.5%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)	8	4.0%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE)	6	3.0%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING)	4	2.0%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover	71	35.2%	2 crashes · 0 fires

NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

Campaign 18V888000 was reported 100 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 20V012000 was reported 676 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 20V682000 was reported 972 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

View timeline records as a table

Date	Record type	Count	Record identifier
2018-Q1	Owner reports	1
2018-Q2	Owner reports	2
2018-Q3	Owner reports	5
2018-Q4	Owner reports	11
2019-Q1	Owner reports	10
2019-Q2	Owner reports	10
2019-Q3	Owner reports	8
2019-Q4	Owner reports	10
2020-Q1	Owner reports	11
2020-Q2	Owner reports	16
2020-Q3	Owner reports	33
2020-Q4	Owner reports	5
2021-Q1	Owner reports	5
2021-Q2	Owner reports	1
2021-Q3	Owner reports	5
2021-Q4	Owner reports	4
2022-Q1	Owner reports	4
2022-Q2	Owner reports	3
2022-Q3	Owner reports	2
2022-Q4	Owner reports	8
2023-Q1	Owner reports	2
2023-Q2	Owner reports	2
2023-Q4	Owner reports	4
2024-Q1	Owner reports	1
2024-Q2	Owner reports	2
2024-Q3	Owner reports	3
2024-Q4	Owner reports	2
2025-Q1	Owner reports	2
2025-Q2	Owner reports	4
2025-Q3	Owner reports	7
2025-Q4	Owner reports	6
2026-Q1	Owner reports	2
2026-Q2	Owner reports	7
2026-Q3	Owner reports	4
Dec 2018	Recall campaign	1	18V888000
Jan 2020	Recall campaign	1	20V012000
Nov 2020	Recall campaign	1	20V682000
Apr 2019	Defect investigation	1	EA19001

NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Brakes and Fuel system.

Recall campaign 18V888000

Brakes

Report date

Dec 13, 2018

Component:

Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)

Consequence:

Reduced brake performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began January 28, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J16/J06.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 20V012000

Fuel system

Report date

Jan 13, 2020

Component:

Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)

Consequence:

If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 20V682000

Fuel system

Report date

Nov 4, 2020

Component:

Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)

Consequence:

If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

View authoritative NHTSA record →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07

Showing 5 of 202 complaints · page 1 of 9

2026-07-22Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11752269

CrashFireInjuryDeath

Vehicle hits a bump in the road and the check engine light comes on, followed by the gas pedal being non-responsive and an error code on the instrument panel saying “Brake Override System Malfunction. Check with dealer.” and “Pre-collision System Malfunction. Visit your dealer. ” When this occurs, have to coast the vehicle to a safe place, turn off and wiggle the Radar Control piece attached to the front grill sometimes multiple times before the truck will clear the code and accelerate. Been an ongoing issue for several months. Have replaced the front grill sensor and plate and the issue persists.

2026-07-19Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11751422

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The cab vents failed causing water to soak the carpet and pad from the back wall to the front of the cab. Mold was growing through out the the cab. Carpet & pad had to be removed. This is a known problem by dealerships and owners of Toyota Tacoma. Because the water was under the seats, trim and weather mats it went undetected exposing us to mold. Problem was reported to Toyota dealership and Toyota Corporation. A case was logged 07/10/2026 as Case # 260710001840. The resolution offered was ordering and replacing parts. All parts required for repair and on backorder. Hundreds of orders for these parts in their system. Carpet and under mat had been replaced 05/02/2025 due to a Toyota recall campaign 21TD03.

2026-07-13Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11750035

CrashFireInjuryDeath

WHAT FAILED: The clear coat finish on the exterior paint of my 2018 Toyota Tacoma has failed (cracking) in two separate locations on the same vehicle, indicating a manufacturing defect rather than normal wear. In late 2024, I discovered clear coat cracking on the roof and hood. I reported this to Toyota (Toyota case #241028000714) and paid approximately $2,000 out of pocket to have an independent body shop repaint the affected panels, as Toyota corporate declined to assist after the repair had already been performed. The clear coat is now cracking again at approximately 48,925 miles, this time on the cab in the pillar/trim area between the tops of the doors and the roofline. The vehicle and affected areas are available for inspection upon request. SAFETY IMPACT: This is a cosmetic exterior paint/clear coat defect. I have not identified any impact on vehicle operation, structural integrity, or visibility, and I am not aware of any safety risk to myself or others resulting from this issue to date. I am reporting it to document a recurring defect pattern on this vehicle. REPRODUCED/CONFIRMED BY A DEALER OR SERVICE CENTER: The 2024 occurrence was inspected and repaired by an independent body shop (not a Toyota dealer). The current occurrence has been reported to Toyota corporate (Toyota Brand Engagement Center) along with photographs, but has not been physically inspected by a Toyota dealer. INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER, POLICE, OR INSURANCE: Toyota corporate reviewed photographic evidence of the current issue through my correspondence with the Toyota Brand Engagement Center, which I have asked to be linked to prior case #241028000714. Toyota has not physically inspected the vehicle. This is not a crash-related issue, so no police or insurance inspection has occurred. WARNING LAMPS OR PRIOR SYMPTOMS: Not applicable. This is a cosmetic paint/clear coat defect rather than a mechanical or electronic system issue, so there were no dashboard warning lamps or system messages

2026-07-08Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11749079

CrashFireInjuryDeath

I was traveling southbound on I-25 when the flatbed truck in front of me came to a sudden stop. I was unable to stop in time to avoid rear-ending the truck. The airbags did not deploy upon impact.

2026-06-30Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11747530

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The cabin pressure vents, located at the rear of the cab below the rear window on the body frame have failed. The seal on the exterior of the vents has dry rotted. This has caused an extensive amount of water intrusion that is undetectable until it has been present long enough to cause mildew issues. Being that water enters below the vehicle carpet and padding you cannot see it, your first warning sign is smell. When I began to assess the issue I pulled up my carpet to find standing water and mold. This is supposed to be a safe environment where I can transport myself and my family and I now I have to be concerned about mold inhalation each time my toddler sits in my truck. Toyota needs to do an immediate recall to the cabin vents and replace them with a product that can actually with stand the elements. Additionally they need to replace all the carpet, twill, and padding that has been compromised.

Toyota Tacoma Complaints and Recalls by Year

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 54 of 202 reports (27%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Brakes and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2018 Toyota Tacoma?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21

Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources