As the third longest-lasting truck on the market today (behind the Tundra and the Ridgeline), the Toyota Tacoma is everything it’s cracked up to be. But there are some problems you’ll want to look out for if you want to go the distance and reach up to 300,000 Miles.
Key Points
- The Toyota Tacoma is one of the longest-lasting trucks on the road today, with almost 3% having topped 200,000 miles on the odometer, and at least one having reached an incredible 1.5 million.
- The 2016 and 2017 Tacomas have been recalled for transmission issues, but complaints continue to roll in, making these model years a bit less likely to hit a quarter-million miles.
- Certain 2005-2010 Tacoma owners were awarded replacement costs for rusty frames following a major lawsuit, but with no recall and no way to ensure the previous owner had these repairs done, these model years might be best avoided.
Expect Your Tacoma to Run a Minimum of 200,000 Miles with Adequate Care, or 300,000 with Excellent Care
A recent survey found the Tacoma to be the third longest-lasting truck overall, ranking behind only the Toyota Tundra, in first, and the Honda Ridgeline.
The survey claims around 2.8% of all Tundras still on the road have more than 200,000 miles on the odometer. And, Toyota holds the overall top spot for longest-lasting automaker, with 2% of all running, registered vehicles having hit the 200k mark.
Honda comes in second at just 1.6%, and Chevy and Cadillac tie for third with 1.5%.
That’s what you can expect on the low end.
At the high end, Tacoma driver Mike Neal famously racked up an incredible 1.5 million miles and counting. You’ll know Mike when you see him in traffic, as he posts the number to the back of his truck, updating it every 10,000 miles.
Realistically, most of us aren’t going to be hitting 1.5 million miles. The upkeep required to hit that number is simply too demanding for most of us.
And even if you can keep the engine and transmission running for that long, you’re going to have a lot of other pieces falling apart.
Typically, drivers should expect to rack up about 250,000 to 300,000 miles on the odometer before the repairs start to outweigh the cost of a new truck.
Still, Taco fans should be excited to know that 1.5 million is theoretically possible, if unlikely.
2016 and 2017 V6 Tacomas May See a Shorter Lifespan Owing to Transmission Issues
Most Tacomas will have no problem reaching 200,000 miles, and with proper maintenance, 300,000 is totally doable. But, some model years are more likely to go the distance than others.
There are a few that you’ll have to look out for if you’re trying to hit that quarter-million mark. Namely, the 2016 and 2017 models.
We cover the matter in-depth in our article on problems and recalls. But the gist of it is that the V6 models for these years were hit with transmission recalls over engine stall, and drivers have continued to register transmission-related complaints since the recall was issued.
The reports are rolling in at fairly low numbers, and chances are that you can drive a 2016 or 2017 model Tacoma for decades without being affected. But if you meet a seller who’s in a hurry to get rid of their V6, check the VIN, ask the right questions, and do a thorough test drive.
Second-generation Tacomas had a Serious Rust Problem and Might not Make the Full 200,000 Miles
A few years back, Toyota was hit with a major lawsuit over their 2005-2010 Tacomas. Around a quarter-million units across these model years featured frames that were allegedly susceptible to extreme corrosion.
The frames were supplied by Dana Holding Corp., an Ohio company that, according to the suit, did not properly treat the metal, leading to premature rust around the leaf spring.
If you want to hit those big numbers on the odometer, you probably don’t want to buy a second-generation Tacoma in the first place. Because whatever the previous owner did is going to have a long-term effect on the truck’s lifespan. And you don’t want to suffer because someone else neglected oil changes.
But if you are buying a 2005–2010 model, you’ll want to inspect the underside and look for rust, listen out for excessive squeaking during the test drive, and feel out the suspension to make sure the ride isn’t too rickety.
The lawsuit ended in a settlement, but without Toyota admitting wrongdoing or issuing a recall.
So, there’s no telling if the previous owner had the necessary repairs conducted, or simply pocketed the cash payout before listing their truck in the want ads. You might be better off skipping these model years entirely.
The Tacoma’s Reputation as One of the Longest-lasting Vehicles on the Road is Well-deserved
With a few exceptions, it’s hard to find a Toyota Tacoma that isn’t built to go the distance. All vehicles have an expiration date built in on the day they’re bolted together, but, assuming an average mileage of 14,000 miles a year, you could easily be driving your 2021 Taco in 2042 just by keeping up with your service schedule.
Photos: Toyota
