NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A weld inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be incomplete, causing an electrical connection to separate and disable the driver's air bag.
This page covers 5 recalls, 46 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2023 Toyota Tacoma.
18–20 mpg combined
11.8–13.1 L/100km
Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
The 2016 to 2023 Toyota Tacoma received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The truck earned five stars in side crash protection and four stars in frontal crash, rollover, and side pole crash tests. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this assessment covers the entire range shown. The Tacoma's performance reflects how the vehicle performed in NHTSA's standardized crash tests.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints about the 2023 Tacoma spread across a few systems, with the electrical system and engine drawing the most reports. On the electrical side, owners describe multiple warning lights appearing simultaneously followed by unexpected shutdowns while driving, sometimes requiring a tow. Several owners report the vehicle failing to restart after these events, and the problem recurring even after dealer service. Engine complaints include a persistent knocking or ticking noise that owners associate with the valve train and timing components, along with at least a few reports of oil caps loosening or falling off at low mileage. Airbag complaints, while fewer in number, involve owners reporting that airbags did not deploy during collisions they describe as significant impacts. Some of those owners also mention difficulty sourcing replacement airbag parts through dealers.
46
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Toyota Tacoma has 5 recalls, the most serious being an axle shaft that can separate from the axle housing, causing sudden loss of vehicle stability and reduced braking ability that raises the risk of a crash.
Two recalls address the driver's airbag clockspring, which is the rotary connector that allows the steering wheel to turn while keeping the airbag circuit intact. A fault in this component can deactivate the driver's airbag so it does not deploy in a crash. One of these recalls specifically covers trucks where a prior repair attempt did not fully resolve the issue, meaning owners who already had the clockspring serviced under an earlier campaign may still be affected. On the child safety side, one or more welds securing the upper child seat anchors in the cargo area may be insufficient, allowing a child seat to shift or come loose during a hard stop or collision. There is also a label recall affecting a small number of trucks where the tire and loading information label may display incorrect values, which can lead to overloaded cargo, wrong tire pressure, or mismatched wheels and tires, any of which can cause poor handling or a tire failure.
At a glance
What can fail
A weld inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be incomplete, causing an electrical connection to separate and disable the driver's air bag.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 4 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire and loading information label may contain incorrect information, potentially causing overloading, improper tire inflation, or mismatched rims and tires, which could result in poor handling or tire failure.
What the fix does
Toyota will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where they will inspect and replace the tire and loading information label if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The axle shaft can separate from the axle housing when debris causes the fasteners that hold it in place to come loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear axle assembly, tighten the retaining nuts if needed, and repair or replace any damaged parts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A weak weld inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may fail, causing the electrical connection to break and disable the driver's air bag.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the spiral cable assembly and replace it if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Welds in the upper child seat anchors may be weak or incomplete, potentially reducing the anchor's ability to secure a child restraint safely.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the upper child seat anchors and reweld them as needed to ensure proper strength.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
