The 2017 Toyota Tacoma comes from a long line of reliable pickups. Even with five recalls on the books and an ongoing airbag investigation, it doesn’t get much better than a Tacoma when it comes to smaller trucks.
Key Points
- The 2017 Toyota Tacoma has five recalls issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), including a serious one focusing on a faulty fuel pump that can cause the pickup truck to stall while driving.
- One ongoing investigation centers on a malfunctioning airbag sensor that may prevent the airbag from inflating in an accident.
- Despite customer complaints, five recalls, and an airbag investigation, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma holds its value very well and is a reliable choice overall.
2017 Toyota Tacoma is a Reliable Pickup Truck, but Five Recalls Reveal Problems that could Lead to Loss of Control of the Vehicle & Abrupt Engine Stalls
The midsize Toyota Tacoma is a popular choice for buyers who don’t need a full-size pickup, but still want a rugged, capable daily driver. The 2017 Toyota Tacoma has the same impressive standards and is a reliable vehicle, but the 2017 model has had five NHTSA recalls, plus an investigation into its airbags.
The 2017 Tacoma’s recalls range from an innocuous issue with an incorrectly labeled onboard load sticker that can lead to overloading, to a more serious problem with a rear differential that may leak oil and lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The most recent recall has to do with the potential for the fuel pump to fail, which could cause the engine to stall while driving. Another recall involves a defective vacuum pump assembly that could lead to a sudden loss of brake assist. Also, select 2017 Tacomas equipped with the V6 engine have a recall for a malfunctioning crankshaft position sensor that could cause the engine to stall.
The fifth recall involves an oil leak in the 2017 Tacoma’s rear differential carrier. Without enough oil, the rear differential may stall and cause a loss of control of the vehicle. If found to be damaged, dealers will replace the rear differential carrier assembly.
Faulty Airbag Sensors on Some 2017 Tacomas Sparked an Open Investigation
An open investigation is being conducted on the 2017 Toyota Tacoma over a serious airbag issue. Due to suspected electrical overstress, a sensor that detects and analyzes a crash may fail, and result in the airbag not being deployed in an accident. The Office of Defects Investigation has identified two substantial frontal crash events (one fatal) involving Toyota products where electrical overstress is suspected as the likely cause of the non-deployments. Since this investigation is ongoing, there is no current fix.
Consumer Complaints Address Problems with Weak Engine Power, Rattling, and Ticking Noises
Over 150 complaints about the 2017 Tacoma were logged by the NHTSA, with the majority of them about the engine, ranging from problems of abrupt engine stalls to motors suddenly revving without any pressure on the accelerator. Of the eclectic individual complaints, there were a notable number of recurring mentions of unusual noises emanating from under the hood.
One 2017 Tacoma owner reported hearing an “abnormal rattling and ticking noise coming from the engine compartment,” and another noted hearing a “loud unknown tapping noise from the front passenger side of the vehicle.” One engine noise issue was diagnosed as stemming from a brake booster pump that needed to be replaced. Many of the engine problems were reportedly reviewed by mechanics, but no solutions were provided.
Vehicle History‘s auto reviews also include complaints about engine issues and unusual noises. One 2017 Toyota Tacoma owner noted, “It is noisy on the road and has a bouncy uncomfortable ride.” Another owner said there’s “not enough power in the engine. It has very poor gas mileage.”
“At 9,500 miles, the transfer case began leaking transmission fluid,” mentioned another 2017 Tacoma owner’s Vehicle History review. “Toyota pulled the transfer case and replaced the gasket that divides the transfer case housing. Now, six months later (16,000 miles), the transfer case is leaking again. It doesn’t follow Tacoma’s past history of being one of the most reliable mid-size trucks on the market. Maybe I got a lemon; extremely frustrating.”
Transmission Problems Trigger Nearly Two Dozen Owner Complaints, Some about Lagging & Rough Downshifting
Owners of 2017 Toyota Tacomas took to Car Complaints to share their stories about the transmission problems they’ve experienced. Twenty-three drivers vent their frustration over similar transmission woes that vary in their level of danger. One thing they all have in common is disappointment.
One 2017 Tacoma owner said on Car Complaints that he noticed his transmission was constantly and abruptly downshifting when traveling at 70 mph. The issue was suspected by a dealer to be a computer software glitch that just needed an update, but the problem was never resolved. The transmission complains continued to expand, with other owners noting problems with the transmission shifting poorly, rough jerking at low rpms, and randomly shifting into the wrong gear.
“This is one sorry truck, transmission continuously shifts back and forth,” reports one 2017 Tacoma owner who bought the truck new and noticed problems at around 4,310 miles. “The transmission doesn’t know which gear it needs to be in, so the truck bogs down, jumps and jerks.”
“When in cold weather and going downhill, there is a lag while waiting for the transmission to engage,” said another Tacoma owner. “The rpms increased kinda like a manual transmission slipping … not the first time this has happened.”
According to Car Complaints, the reported transmission problems started at around 5,400 miles on average.
2017 Toyota Tacoma is a Safe Bet with Benefits that Outweigh its Recalls and Complaints
Despite its five recalls, whose scope and level of concern aren’t too out of the ordinary for any vehicle, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma still delivers on the tradition of reliability and capability that Toyota is famous for. Consumer complaints lodged against the 2017 model year are wide in scope of what the issues are, and range from issues like a mysterious oil leak to a seemingly common problem of unusual noises emanating from under the hood. Some of the problems were reportedly diagnosed by mechanics and found to be isolated issues. Other complaints remain unresolved. In the end, the sale of 198,124 20176 Tacomas generated only around 150 individual complaints.
The Tacoma’s longtime reputation for reliability and overall customer satisfaction tend to outshine some of its flaws. This also means that sellers price their Tacomas on the high end of used trucks. Still, when they’re as reliable as the legendary Tacoma, this one’s a safe bet.
Photos: Toyota
