2018 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Recalls & Reliability

281 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 24/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Fuel system leads the reports, typically around 23,000 miles.

281Complaints
24/100Trouble index
3Recalls
15,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2018 sits among all Tacoma years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Fuel system 65 complaints (23%) · typically ~23,000 miles
“I got the recall back in february for the fuel pump and i'm still waiting for then to fix it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Tacoma
Brakes & stability 47 complaints (17%) · typically ~14,450 miles
“When applying brakes, brake pedal went all the way to the floor. Vehicle is not even 1 year old yet and brakes should not be having problems.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Tacoma
Transmission & drivetrain 29 complaints (10%) · typically ~7,400 miles
“When driving the car when the engine is completely cold and shifting mainly from 2nd and up, the transmission hesitates when going into gear. Once the truck is warmed up to normal operating temps, it doesn't do it anymore”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Tacoma
Engine 26 complaints (9%) · typically ~15,000 miles
“While driving I can here a ticking sound coming from the motor and it gets worse while I pick up speed”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Tacoma
Other 26 complaints (9%)
“There is a clunk noise coming from passenger side at start up. The noise seems to be coming from underneath the truck.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Tacoma
Speed control 19 complaints (7%) · typically ~5,825 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 129 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 15,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 5,000 and 28,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (3)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 20V682000 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020…

Fix: 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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 20V012000 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota…

Fix: 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 BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 18V888000 2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma vehicles. Improper machining of the brake master cylinder may result in internal damage of one of the seals, affecting brake performance.

Fix: 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.…

Federal defect investigations

Electrical overstress EA19001 opened 2019, closed 2024

Led to recall campaign 20V024.

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2018peak 82 in 20202026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2018 Toyota Tacoma reliable?

The 2018 Toyota Tacoma drew 281 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 24/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).

What are the most common 2018 Toyota Tacoma problems?

The top reported problems for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma are fuel system (65 complaints), brakes & stability (47), and transmission & drivetrain (29).

At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Tacoma problems show up?

Owners most often report 2018 Toyota Tacoma problems around 15,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 5,000 and 28,000 miles.

Does the 2018 Toyota Tacoma have recalls?

3 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Toyota Tacoma. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.