Is the Toyota Tacoma reliable?
65% of the 53 we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, with an average of 65/100 — it scores a little better than average.
53
Cars inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections65/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/10065%
In good shape (60+)all cars we check: 56%Across 53 used Toyota Tacomas we inspected, this model scores a little better than average — average condition 65/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.
What we found
Most common faults
Fluid leaks · Steering (hydraulic power)
34%
Oil leaks · Engine
30%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
25%
Abnormal noise · Engine
19%
Tire pressure monitoring system · Brakes and tires
19%
Share of inspected Toyota Tacomas where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 25%
Good 40%
Mediocre 17%
Poor 19%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on this model.
74%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 74%
6%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
15%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%
How long does a Tacoma stay good?
Good cars by mileage
Share of Toyota Tacomas in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; a band under 20 cars follows the nearby bands, so a run above the all-cars line stays above it, and a band of 20 or more uses the rate we measured; where a band has too few cars, the line follows the trend between the bands on either side; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.
More on Toyota
RAV4
56 cars · 80% good
Prius
65 cars · 68% good
Highlander
41 cars · 64% good
Corolla
117 cars · 62% good
Sienna
48 cars · 56% good
Tundra
57 cars · 55% good
Camry
116 cars · 54% good
Avalon
29 cars · 48% good
4Runner
70 cars · 47% good
Other Toyota models we've inspected — or see the full Toyota profile.
Straight from recent Toyota Tacoma reports
2014 Toyota Tacoma · 116k mi — flagged: signs of recent repair, battery condition, charging voltage. Inspected Oct 7.
2017 Toyota Tacoma · 69k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared, sway bars, worn suspension joints. Inspected Sep 28.
The bottom line
A Tacoma here is a leak-and-wear buy more than a hidden-history surprise. Repaints track the fleet, structural repairs sit only slightly higher, and fault codes have been cleared less often than average, so start under the truck, not in the paint. Hydraulic power-steering leaks turned up on 34 percent and engine oil leaks on 30 percent, with abnormal engine noise riding along often enough to listen before you negotiate. Worn tires and a bad tire-pressure monitor are price chips. Walk if steering and oil are both leaking and the engine sounds wrong; a dry, quiet example is the one worth keeping in the conversation.
FAQ
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What are the most common problems on a used Toyota Tacoma?
The items we flag most often are fluid leaks (34%), oil leaks (30%), tires condition & wear (25%). Have these checked before buying.
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Should I worry about cleared fault codes?
On 15% of these cars the ECU codes had been erased shortly before sale, which can hide active faults. Ask for a diagnostic scan and start the engine from cold.
Thinking of buying a Toyota Tacoma? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 53 inspections · updated Oct 21, 2026
