2011 Toyota Tacoma Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma. Part of Generation 2 — 2005–2015.

20102012
Complaints
224
per 10K Sold
20.2
US Sales
110,705
Crashes
14
Fires
6
Injuries
12
Fatalities
3
Recalls
9

Worst 2011 Toyota Tacoma Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#152 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:89,017 mi
#230 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:56,687 mi
Fires:3
#320 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:74,247 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma.

Suspension Failures
52
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
89,017
Headlight/Taillight Failures
30
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
56,687
Electrical Faults
20
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
74,247
Steering Defects
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
70,360
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
72,307
Brakes
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,481
Body Structure
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
61,280
Structural Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
73,553
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
27,550
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,562
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Horn
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear:Springs
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Toyota Tacoma

9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,120,451 vehicles.

17V425000Other Equipment · Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
~3,547 affected

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.

16V396000Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
~7,749 affected

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.

14V743000Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
~3,233 affected

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.

14V604000Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:leaf
~710,711 affected

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.

14V475000Equipment:other:labels
~20,000 affected

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."

13V337000Seat Belts
~342,451 affected

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.

13V123000Equipment:other:labels
~7,525 affected

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."

13V014000Seats · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive
~3,235 affected

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.

11V148000Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
~22,000 affected

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.

Other Toyota Tacoma Years

2011 Toyota Tacoma — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2011 Toyota Tacoma has 224 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash-related, and 9 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Suspension Failures with 52 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Toyota Tacoma?
Top reported problems: Suspension Failures (52 complaints, avg 89,017 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (30 complaints, avg 56,687 mi); Electrical Faults (20 complaints, avg 74,247 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Toyota Tacoma?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 70,169 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma include 14 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
Yes — 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,120,451 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Toyota Tacoma?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Tacoma reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2011 Toyota Tacoma

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