Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2011 Toyota Tacoma — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2015 to Dec 2014
The most reported issue is suspension problems (47 complaints). 8 complaints involved crashes. 6 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (9)
NHTSA Campaign: 17V425000
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V743000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V604000
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:LEAF
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner and 4x4 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, to October 11, 2010. In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs may fracture due to stress or corrosion. While being driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components including the fuel tank, possibly puncturing the tank and causing a fuel leak.
Risk: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V396000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V475000
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Risk: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V148000
Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 FJ CRUISER, LAND CRUISER, TACOMA, SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)." WHEN FACTORY-INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH TOYOTA AUTHORIZED ACCESSORY WHEELS AND LT TIRES PRIOR TO FIRST SALE, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS WERE NOT RE-CALIBRATED CORRECTLY AND THEREFORE DO NOT START ILLUMINATING THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING TELLTALE AT THE REQUIRED MINIMUM ACTIVATION PRESSURE.
Risk: FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: FOR THE LAND CRUISER, SEQUOIA, TACOMA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES, THE DEALER WILL RE-CALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ON AFFECTED VEHICLES AND INSTALL AN UPDATED TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AT NO CHARGE. FOR THE FJ CRUISER VEHICLES, THE TPMS CANNOT BE RESET SO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE TPMS WILL BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE REMEDY ECU. IF AN OWNER IS NOT CERTAIN WHETHER HIS OR HER VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THESE ACCESSORIES, PLEASE CONTACT ANY TOYOTA DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V337000
Component: SEAT BELTS
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Tacoma Access Cab vehicles manufactured September 14, 2004, through March 29, 2010; and model year 2011 Tacoma Access Cab vehicles manufactured July 1, 2010, through September 7, 2011. If the access doors are repeatedly and forcefully closed, the screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor can loosen over time. If the screws loosen completely, the seat belt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seat belt retractor.
Risk: If the seat belt pre-tensioner detaches from the seat belt assembly, the seat belt pre-tensioner will not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in a severe crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assemblies. Based on the inspection, the seat belt assembly will be replaced or new pre-tensioner screws will be installed with thread-locking sealant and a retractor spring cover with stopper ribs to prevent loosening of the screws. These services will be provided at no cost to the owner. The recall began during February 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V014000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V123000
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 180)
Structure →4 issues
Your truck's frame has developed several holes in the underbody, which prevented a mechanic from completing a vehicle inspection. This structural damage was discovered at around 168,000 miles. The frame may need to be inspected for rust or corrosion damage, and depending on the severity, sections may need to be repaired or replaced.
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You noticed a hole has developed in the frame rail on the passenger's side of your truck near the rear. Your Toyota dealer inspected it under a service bulletin but declined to repair it, and Toyota confirmed the truck is out of warranty for this issue. Frame rust-through or corrosion repair typically involves cutting out the damaged section and welding in a reinforced replacement piece.
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Your 2011 Toyota Tacoma was subject to a frame corrosion service campaign, but the dealer and manufacturer denied coverage because your vehicle is in a non-cold climate state. You've discovered corrosion on the sub-frame that hasn't been repaired. Addressing frame corrosion typically involves inspection, cleaning, and applying protective coatings or replacement of corroded sections.
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The rubber strip that runs along the passenger side of your roof has come off or is missing. This is a trim piece that helps seal and protect the roof edge.
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Unknown Or Other →2 issues
Your truck's frame has developed severe rust. This is a structural integrity issue that should be inspected and addressed by a professional, as rust can weaken the frame over time and affect safety. Repair will likely involve rust removal, treatment, and potentially welding or frame replacement depending on the extent of damage.
Parts you may need:
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Your truck's horn has stopped working, and the cruise control only works intermittently. A repair shop diagnosed the problem as a faulty clock spring in your steering wheel. This is concerning because the clock spring also controls the airbag system, and you've heard that Toyota fixed this same issue on 2012 and newer Tacomas.
Parts you may need:
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Exterior Lighting →2 issues
Your headlights have become yellowed and cloudy, making it harder to see at night. Buffing them provides only temporary improvement, and replacing the headlight assemblies with OEM parts is expensive. You're concerned this is a safety issue that affects many vehicles of this age.
Parts you may need:
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Your headlights on both the driver and passenger sides stopped working. When you inspected them, you found the headlight assemblies were extremely hot and had melted. The dealer confirmed that both headlight assemblies need to be replaced to fix the problem.
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Suspension,service Brakes →1 issue
Shortly after purchasing your truck, you experienced brake failure on the highway and discovered a cracked leaf spring suspension component and rusted brake lines underneath. A fire then broke out in the front brake calipers, causing $7,800 in damage. You found that Toyota has a recall for this exact issue on your truck model, but your VIN isn't covered by it, and the repair estimate doesn't include the $2,000 cost for the leaf spring replacement that's also under recall.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System →1 issue
Your blower motor fan cuts off and only works intermittently on high. After replacing the cabin air filter, a mechanic identified this as a known Toyota Tacoma issue and replaced the blower motor resistor and wiring harness, but the technician spliced new wires to old ones instead of fully replacing them. The motor stopped working again and now needs complete replacement, with the shop warning of potential fire risk due to overheating and burnt wires. The repair will require a new blower motor and extensive labor, with the part currently on back order.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your 2011 Tacoma has developed severe frame rust and corrosion at the suspension mounting points within six months of purchase, making it unsafe to drive. Toyota offered a limited service campaign (not a full recall) that expired after 12 years, and you're now outside the coverage window. Addressing this issue will likely require extensive frame repair or replacement, which is a major undertaking.
Parts you may need:
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Carry Handle, Shell, Base,chest Clip, Buckle, Harness →1 issue
Your child car seat won't lock securely into place, whether facing rear or forward—the locking mechanism fails to engage properly. You've noticed the plastic around the lock area is bent upward from the seat belt, and the magnetic chest clip has already failed and required manufacturer replacement. This is a serious safety issue since the seat won't stay properly secured.
Parts you may need:
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Steering →1 issue
Your steering shaft's universal joint (u-joint) seized up, causing you to lose steering control of your vehicle. This is a serious safety hazard that contributed to a crash. The u-joint will need to be replaced to restore proper steering function.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →1 issue
Your transmission cooler lines have rotted and needed replacement at the dealer. During inspection, the dealer also found that your rack and pinion steering tube is severely rusted and nearly broken through—if it fails completely, your steering could stop working, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. This is a complex and expensive repair that needs attention soon before the steering becomes inoperable.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,structure,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your vehicle was involved in a rear-end collision on June 10th that caused frame damage severe enough to total the car. You're concerned that your insurance company may not properly report the title as salvage, which could constitute fraud.
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Structure,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your 2011 Tacoma's underside has developed significant rust that has weakened metal brackets, body panels, and the gas tank support straps. The dealer said since there's no hole rusted all the way through yet, they won't address it—but one of the two gas tank straps has failed, and you're currently using a bungee cord to help hold the tank up as a temporary fix. This is a structural concern that needs professional inspection and repair to secure the fuel tank properly.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,suspension →1 issue
You've noticed rust developing on your steering shaft, support arms, and front end components. The dealer informed you that Toyota doesn't have a fix available for this rust issue. This is a corrosion problem that will likely require replacement of the affected metal parts to prevent further deterioration and maintain steering safety.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension →1 issue
Your Tacoma failed a safety inspection because a rear leaf spring is broken. A Toyota dealership confirmed the problem and quoted $2,321 to replace the rear springs. A broken leaf spring affects your vehicle's suspension and handling, and it needs to be repaired to pass inspection.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,air Bags,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your horn stopped working, causing your vehicle to fail a Virginia state inspection. A repair shop says you need a new spiral cable (the coiled connector in your steering column). While Toyota recalled this same issue on 2011 Tacomas for the horn and potential airbag deployment problems, your specific vehicle year wasn't included in that recall. Replacing the spiral cable should restore both the horn function and ensure proper airbag operation.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension,structure →1 issue
Your 2011 Tacoma's frame and suspension components are showing rust again, even after being rust-treated in 2020. While the rust coating is preventing holes from forming, rust is spreading extensively on the frame and suspension areas, particularly behind the rear wheels. This will require professional inspection and likely reapplication of rust protection coating or replacement of severely affected suspension components.
Parts you may need:
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