Problems · NHTSA complaints

2020 Toyota Tacoma problems

Owners filed 90 complaints about the 2020 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Jul 2019 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (21).

Complaints
90
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system21
  2. Power train15
  3. Engine14
  4. Service brakes12
  5. Electrical system9
  6. Vehicle speed control9
  7. Forward collision avoidance9
  8. Steering4
  9. Air bags4
  10. Back over prevention3
  11. Structure3
  12. Visibility/wiper2
  13. Fuel system, gasoline2
  14. Seat belts2

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 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20191
202021
202121
20226
20237
20248
202512
202614

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel/propulsion system

21 reports
“On Sunday, March 15,2026, I was driving from Houston, TX to Pharr, TX at the speed of 75mph on the left lane to pass an 18 wheeler, with another 18 wheeler behind me, and my truck started idling erratically. I lost speed and my service engine light came on. My truck slowed down and I almost got in a car accident with the 18 wheelers because the truck did this. The truck behind me slowed down on time and it went immediately to the right lane to avoid hitting my truck. I feared for my life. All the vehicles behind me and the 18 wheelers also went to the right lane to avoid me. By this time, the TRAC light had already come on also. I managed a space of no vehicles and steered towards the right safety lane. I pulled over at the local truck stop and stoped my truck to rest. After about 5 minutes I tried starting my truck and it wasn’t starting. I am a little mechanically inclined, so I started troubleshooting the truck. My code reader gave these codes: P1605-00, P0300-27, P0300-85, and P0302-00. Unscathed to start the truck after a while and got back on the road. The drive was brutal, as the truck kept burping erratically, but I made it home safely. I took my truck…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2026Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11725081

Power train

15 reports
“The Clutch in the Manual Transmission makes a "creaking" noise, and you can feel it when driving too, when depressing the clutch pedal... The creaking noise is annoying, but the feel of the creaking is very distracting when driving the manual transmission, depressing the creaky clutch can distract you from the road because you can feel it; and it only get's worse when left alone. This is a recurring issue on my 2020 Tacoma. It was "fixed" by the dealer in 2022, I think, and now it's happening again... same "creaking" issue that starts out small and gets louder and more violent (you can feel the "creaking" in the pedal more) with time. This really seems like a parts failure and not a lube job. There is a TSB out for this issue (T-SB-0112-19), but this really should be upgraded to a recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2026Power trainODI 11754665

Engine

14 reports1 crash
“I am having same issue as the incident i found here 12/06/2025, LISTED UNDER COMPLAINTS-I live in Rio Rancho NM- Concern it involves the automatic transmission torque converter specifically torque-converter lock-up behavior, The issue presents as a vibration/shudder during steady -speed driving , we are driving around 30-40 miles per hour when it happens, The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection upon request. The vibration/shudder occurs during steady cruising at moderate speeds which affects vehicle smoothness and driver confidence, while no accident has occurred yet, the behavior is unexpected and distracting and could impact safe vehicle operation, particularly during highway driving or when maintaining steady speed in traffic, I Took it to my Toyota dealer a few months ago they said they could not find any issues, I am taking it again tomorrow and now I CAN SHOW THEM THAT I FOUND THE SAME ISSUE UNDER COMPLAINTS, I NEED TO TOYOTA TO FIX MY ISSUE ASAP,”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11716242

Service brakes

12 reports
“My brake master cylinder is leaking brake fluid under the steering column and dripping inside. This seems to have a recall but they only did it for trucks up to 2019 and my 2020 has the same exact issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2025Service brakesODI 11660258

Electrical system

9 reports
“Occasionally Center cluster on start up is black it has gotten more frequent. No odometer, No cruise control, no digital speedometer. The truck has 12,000 miles on it now today October 13,2026. Selling dealer out of town has no knowledge of issue. Local dealer at time it exhibited issue said never seen that before just disconnect battery for 30mins that will fix it that’s what we do. Was waiting for recall or TSB but am tired of waiting.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2026Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11770970

Vehicle speed control

9 reports
“While traveling with cruise set at 62mph and a truck was in the right turn lane the automatic collision went off and hard brake when nothing was in front of the truck this has happen also with out cruise control on pulling up to a stop light and being first person no other vehicle was on the road I also don't have forward collision turned on or lane departure”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2023Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11520877
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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