Problems · NHTSA complaints
2010 Toyota Tacoma problems
Owners filed 294 complaints about the 2010 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Oct 2009 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is suspension (95).
Complaints
294
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension95
- Vehicle speed control34
- Structure30
- Power train29
- Exterior lighting25
- Steering19
- Air bags16
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Seat belts9
- Electrical system8
- Service brakes7
- Engine6
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Visibility/wiper3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
8
38
19
13
19
24
34
36
23
20
7
9
4
5
9
9
8
9
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 38 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
95 reports1 related recall
“The passenger side lower A arm frame mount broke, due to frame rust. The truck has been taken to Toyota, they had the truck for about 6 weeks and have refused to fix the safety issue.This year model had a recall on the frame, it was taken in for the recall, but the recall has failed. When the lower A arm frame mount broke, I just happened to be in a parking lot. If I had been driving it, I could have killed someone, or could have been killed myself.”
Vehicle speed control
34 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“ON 1/2/18 I WAS DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT GOING SLOW GETTING READY TO PUT MY TRUCK INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP INTO A SPOT WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION TOOK PLACE. MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING FORWARD WITH MY RIGHT FOOT PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO REV UP AND JUMP FORWARD WITH TIRES RUBBER BURNING DUE TO ME HAVING MY FOOT ON BREAK TRYING TO STOP THE TRUCK. I MISSED HITTING A CAR BARELY AND STILL NOT SURE HOW I MISSED IT. MY FOOT WAS CLEARLY ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME AND FINALLY I PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP, SINCE I WAS NOT GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY. I REPORTED TO TOYOTA AND GOT NO WHERE. I HAVE NO FLOOR MAT IN MY TRUCK SO CANT BLAME IT ON FLOOR MAT. THEY ARE CLAIMING IT WAS MISAPPLICATION OF PEDAL. THIS IS A TOTAL LIE. I WOULD OF HIT THAT CAR HAD MY FOOT BEEN ON WRONG PEDAL. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE SO HARD AND PUTTING IN PARK STOPPED THE TRUCK. AGAIN COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV AS IF STUCK IN ACCELERATION AND MY TIRES BURNING RUBBER AS I CONTINUED TO ENGAGE BRAKE AND TRUCK WAS JUMPING FORWARD. TOYOTA HAS OPENED A CASE BUT AGAIN REFUSE TO ADMIT TO ANY PROBLEM BLAMING IT ON…”
Structure
30 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for inspection, the mechanic informed the contact that the entire subframe was rusted. The contact was advised that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to the rust on the subframe. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted and informed the contact that the extended warranty for the failure had expired. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 49,000.”
Power train
29 reports1 fire1 related recall
“THE TRANSMISSION, WHILE DRIVING, HAS A JERKY SHIFTING MOTION. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN STOPPED AT LETS SAY A RED LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO DRIVING AWAY, WILL SEEM LIKE IT ENGAGES WITH AN EXTREME JERKING MOTION, ALMOST FEELING LIKE YOU'VE BEEN REAR ENDED.”
Exterior lighting
25 reports1 crash5 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLE WHICH INCLUDED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING THE LIGHT HOUSING TO BECOME DISCOLORED AND THE BULB HAD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS AND HAD FAILED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER TOYOTA OF BROOK HEAVEN LOCATED AT 890 BROOKWAY BLVD, BROOKHAVEN, MS 39601 MS. WHO REPAIRED THE FAILURE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *BF*JB”
Steering
19 reports
“MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR OTHER TOYOTA TACOMAS FOR AN AIR BAG SPIRAL ASSEMBLY HOWEVER MY MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS WERE RUSTY AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN A CRASH UNLESS THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. I PAID OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.