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Searching for a used Toyota Tacoma might not be quite as simple as you think it should be. While this truck has historically been one of the most reliable and dependable trucks in the market, there are some model years of the used Toyota Tacoma that you should avoid.

What are the used Toyota Tacoma years to avoid?

The Toyota Tacoma is known for being a reliable, long-lasting truck. However, not every model year was created equally. Some of the worst Toyota Tacoma years to avoid have a long list of complaints reported by real owners.

But in recent years, the Toyota Tacoma has experienced an increasing reliability score. Most of the options to avoid are older model years. Some are even over 15 years old.

The 2017 Toyota Tacoma in front of a city view
2017 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

Consumer Reports, and other experts, tell us the model years of the Tacoma to avoid are:

  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2011
  • 2012
  • 2016
  • 2017

Why avoid the 2006-2009 model years of this midsize Toyota truck?

The 2006-2008 models all have issues with paint chipping and peeling. This might not be too big a deal to you, but they also have problems with transmission and engine failures.

The 2006 model year can be especially problematic. These Toyota Tacoma models have a frame that tends to rust or break at the 100,000-mile mark, which could cost more than $3,500 to repair.

The 2007 model year doesn’t fare much better than the 2006 version. Tacoma trucks from 2007 tend to have sticky accelerators, which can cause severe problems for drivers.

this Toyota truck’s 2008-2009 models have had early problems including sudden unanticipated acceleration and a slipping clutch.

What are the problems with used Tacoma trucks from 2011-2012?

The 2011 version of the Tacoma suffered from headlight issues, including flickering and cracked covers. Many owners of the 2011 model also reported a repetitive clicking sound coming from the truck.

The 2012 versions come with several engine defects and heavy vibrations occurring while driving.

For both of these model years, the problems appear around 30,000 miles. You might be out of the woods when looking at a used Toyota for sale with more than 30,000 miles from these two model years, but you might not want to take that chance.

Safety problems appear in the 2016-2017 models of Toyota Tacoma trucks

Worse than the previous issues reported, the 2016 and 2017 models year gave us some serious safety problems. Both of these model years have reported dozens of transmission flaws, and the 2016 version has a faulty engine.