Verdict
2021 Toyota Tacoma: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for truck.
Owners filed 76 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 57% of 2021 trucks. Power Train leads the reports (13%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2021 trucks, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
76
Reports to NHTSA, 2021
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
20
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 57% of 2021 trucks
The bar is this car's percentile among 2021 trucks by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Power Train issues lead owner complaints (13% of 76 reports), followed by service brakes (13%).
+ 9 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 76 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11699491, ODI 11681105, ODI 11644223, ODI 11598095, ODI 11469227.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/EC 2WD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/CC 2WD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/EC 4WD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
2021 Toyota TACOMA PU/CC 4WD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma 2WD | 2.7L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 20 | 23 | 21 |
| Tacoma 2WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 24 | 21 |
| Tacoma 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 19 | 22 | 20 |
| Tacoma 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 18 | 22 | 20 |
| Tacoma 4WD D-CAB MT TRD-ORP/PRO | 3.5L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 17 | 20 | 18 |
| Tacoma 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 17 | 21 | 18 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2021 Toyota Tacoma: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners filed 76 NHTSA complaints about the 2021 Toyota Tacoma — fewer complaints than 57% of comparable 2021 trucks, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma?
The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (13% of complaints) and service brakes (13%).
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Toyota Tacoma between 18 and 21 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.