Problems · by component

2018 Toyota Tacoma power train problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Tacoma cite power train, 14% of all 209 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
29
14% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAVE HAD BELOW ISSUE AT 57000 MILES ON MY TACOMA. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I AM NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND COPORATE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY TRUCK BY SEARCH VIN, BUT ITS CLEAR IM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS BELOW AND SEEING OTHER VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, SO ITS CLEAR THIS TRUCK WAS BUILT WITH THE SAME DEFECTS. The Plano, Texas-based manufacturer sent a safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stating they will recall 6,046 2018 Toyota Camry, 2018 Toyota Highlander, 2017 Toyota Sienna, 2017 Toyota Tacoma, and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles built between Oct. 2 and Nov. 3, 2017. Toyota stated in the report the affected vehicles contain brake booster vacuum pump assemblies with improperly machined oil galleys. The vacuum pump is supplied oil from the engine to seal and lubricate the pump vane’s movement. The defect can cause oil to not properly circulate through the system, eventually breaking the pump vane and causing potentially dangerous braking assist loss.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2024Power train, Service brakesODI 11626240
“When I go to accelerate at low speed my vehicle shudders shakes and vibrates, no engine lights or codes have popped up, the issue is somewhere from transmission to the rear end. Im guessing transmission or torque converter. With my vehicle only having 136,000 miles and is well taken care of this is ridiculous, I have checked drive line and tires and everything seems to be working as it should so it has to be something internal”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2022Suspension, Power trainODI 11496942
“2018 2WD Tacoma. Auto transmission. Ever since new and even today, when traveling 30-40 MPH and slowing to anywhere from 10-25 MPH, and then trying to accelerate, the engine and/or transmission stumbles/hesitates for at least a full second, and then the engine races higher and a hard transmission downshift occurs jerking your head and body back and sending the vehicle into a fast acceleration.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2022Power trainODI 11492242
“My 2018 Tacoma is experiencing issues with the transmission jerking and shaking. It is not safe to drive. It is currently sitting parked because we can no longer drive it. We are out of a car due to this issue. Is there anything that can be done to get the problem resolved?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2022Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11487387
“2018 TACOMA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS, HESITATES AND MISSES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-60 MPH. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. SLIGHT PEDAL AND LOW RPM'S IN 5TH AND 6TH GEAR IS WHEN IT'S MOST NOTICEABLE. ON OCCASION, THERE IS A MORE SERIOUS MISS, WHICH FEELS AS IF YOU HAVE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AT 50MPH AND THEN RIGHT BACK ON. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN FREQUENTLY, 4 OR 5 TIMES IN THE 20,000 MILES I'VE DRIVEN IT. THE SHUDDER HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA ON 3 OCCASIONS, AND HAS BEE SHRUGGED OFF AS A "TYPICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE". TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO SEE THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO RODE WITH ME AND FELT THE SHUDDER AND MISSING. HE HAD ME TEST DRIVE A 2019 V6 AUTOMATIC OFF ROAD AND IT ALSO HAD THE SHUDDER AND MISSING IN THE SAME RANGE. THE FINAL OUTCOME WAS THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE FUEL PUMP RECALL WAS DONE. THE POWER TRAIN WAS RE-FLASHED. NO CHANGE IN THE CONDITION. IT IS VERY UNNERVING AND DISAPPOINTING THAT THEY CONSIDER THIS CONDITION ACCEPTABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2021Power trainODI 11405527
“DRIVING VEHICLE ON A SIDE STREET GOING APPROX 20 MILES PER HOUR . CAR STARTED SHAKING AND LOST MAJORITY OF POWER. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR BACK TO RESIDENCE (ONLY GOT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY) WHEN HEADING TO DESTINATION. HAD VEHICLE TOWED NEXT DAY TO SAME DEALERSHIP WHO HAD RECENTLY REPLACED FUEL PUMP UNDER A RECALL (PAPERWORK FOR THIS RECALL IS WHAT WAS EXPERIENCED /STALLING DANGERS) . DEALERSHIP TOLD US NOT FUEL PUMP BUT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE RODENTS ATE THE WIRING ( SOY BEAN COVERING ON NEWER VEHICLES )AND ENGINE LOST POWER BECAUSE OF THIS . THANK GOODNESS NOT ON A HIGHWAY GOING 75 MPH. WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS WE VERY WELL COULD OF BEEN . TOLD WE NEED TO DETER THESE RODENTS FROM CONTINUING ANY MORE DAMAGE . WONDER WHY COMPANY WOULD USE A PRODUCT . THANK YOU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2021Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11388819

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.