The 2010 Toyota Tacoma lasts over 350,000 miles with only some minor oil consumption and stereo issues. At $10,470 to $18,584 it’s a lot for a used truck, but worth the money since they are so reliable.
Is the 2010 Toyota Tacoma a Good Used Truck?
- Overall Rating 9/10 – 2010 is a good year for the Tacoma. Owner reviews praise the off-road performance, dependable engine choices, and low ownership costs.
- Interior Quality 8/10 – All of the materials in the cabin are durable, and the stereo system is easy to use even though it doesn’t have many advanced features.
- Reliability 10/10 – We recommend Tacomas from 2006–2015, and buyers should avoid the 2016 model since they have more engine problems.
- Performance 7/10 – Power is poor from the 4-cylinder engine, but the V6 offers great horsepower for a compact truck.
- Safety 8/10 – The Tacoma is a safe truck, earning a 5-star overall rating in government crash tests, but only getting 4-stars in the rollover risk assessment.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – Fuel economy is average for a compact truck at up to 21 MPG, which should get owners around 41 miles of range out of the 21 gallon gas tank.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Toyota Tacoma?
- Consumer Reports says the Tacoma offers steering improvements over older models and has very high owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds gives the Tacoma a 4.4/5 praising the powerful V6 engine, but doesn’t like the noisy cabin.
- Kelley Blue Book users rate the Tacoma 4.7/5 and enjoy the off-road capabilities, but owners don’t like the unimpressive handling.
What Common Problems Does the 2010 Toyota Tacoma Have?
The most common problems found on the 2010 Toyota Tacoma include excessive oil consumption, stereo system issues, and chipping paint. Overall, these problems are relatively minor compared to other trucks from 2010, and repair costs are more affordable as well.
Excessive oil consumption is the most common complaint from owners at around 150,000 miles. Toyota vehicles in general tend to consume more oil than the competition. Most owners check the oil regularly and top it off as needed. Others replace some gaskets in the engine for around $800.
Stereo system issues show up on some Tacoma models at around 20,000 miles. Owners report the stereo turns itself off and back on randomly. This is usually caused by a software bug in the stereo. Some owners have had it fixed by Toyota with a software update, while others have installed a new stereo for around $500.
Chipping paint is another problem mentioned by owners at around 70,000 miles. Paint that is not properly cared for and left outside will chip more easily since the clear coat gets worn down by sunlight. Repainting the affected areas costs about $1,000 per panel.
There are 13 recalls, worse than other compact trucks from 2010. The most serious recall is for a broken leaf spring which can puncture the gas tank, and Toyota will replace the spring. Many of the other recalls are for air bags and seat wiring, which are less of a concern
How Long Will the 2010 Toyota Tacoma Last?
A well-maintained 2010 Toyota Tacoma lasts over 350,000 miles, which is over 100,000 miles more than other popular small trucks like the Chevrolet Colorado. Regular annual maintenance costs are better than other compact trucks as well, according to Repair Pal, at $447 per year.
Since most 2010 Tacoma models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace items including the air bag clock spring for $475, the suspension ball joint costing $350, and the throttle body which costs $500.
Yes, it is very reliable. It does not have any major problems as of now. . We purchased it used and have only had minor issues.
It is reliable and has no problems other than standard maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, etc.
No, oil changes are once a month. Brakes require replacing every 6 to 8 months. Transmission fluid requires replacement every 12 to 18 months.
No problems at all, I have driven it everyday since I bought it about 4 years ago and other than normal maintenance I have had zero issues.
Is the 2010 Toyota Tacoma a Good Value?
Yes, the Tacoma is an excellent value for a dependable truck. Blue book prices range from $10,470 to $18,584 making the Tacoma more expensive than a similarly equipped Ford Ranger or Nissan Frontier. When new, the price range was $15,345 to $27,250. Depreciation is better than average, only losing about 6% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Toyota Tacoma?
There are three models of the Tacoma offered for 2010 including the Base, PreRunner, and sporiter X-Runner.
Base is the entry-level model with:
- 15-Inch Steel Wheels
- Cloth Seating
- Plastic Bed Liner
- 4-Speaker AM/FM/CD Stereo System
PreRunner is a step up, adding:
- 16-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Keyless Entry
- Premium Cloth Seating
- Rearview Camera
- Optional 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Upgraded Leather Seating
- Optional Off-Road Suspension
X-Runner is built for on-road performance and adds:
- 18-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Lowered Body Kit
- Sport Suspension
- Hood Scoop
What Engines Come In the Toyota Tacoma?
- The base engine is a fairly weak 2.7L 4-cylinder which makes 159 horsepower and gets up to 21 MPG.
- An available upgrade is the stronger 4.0L V6 which produces 236 horsepower while getting up to 18 MPG. Performance is good, taking 7.8 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH, and the towing capacity is high at up to 6,500 pounds.
What Colors Does the Toyota Tacoma Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Toyota Tacoma?
The 2010 Toyota Tacoma isn’t very comfortable since it’s a smaller truck, and is similar in size to the Nissan Frontier and Dodge Dakota. The seats are durable and supportive, but the small cabin just limits overall comfort. It’s available as a 2-door Regular Cab, 4-door Access Cab, and larger 4-door Double Cab.
Passenger room is good in the front seats, but the back seats of all models have poor legroom for adults.
What Size Beds Are Available on the Toyota Tacoma?
The 2010 Tacoma comes with a 6-foot bed on the Regular and Access Cab models, and a shorter 5-foot bed on the Double Cab.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The second generation of the Tacoma was introduced in 2005, and replaced by the third generation in 2016.
2008: No major changes
2009: Stability & traction control added, stereo system improvements
2010: No major changes
2011: Front grille redesign and new automatic transmission with 4-cylinder engine
2012: New stereo system and styling refresh
How Does the Toyota Tacoma Compare to the Competition?
The Toyota Tacoma is the best compact truck from 2010, offering excellent power, off-road capabilities, and long-lasting engines.
The Toyota 4Runner is another choice from Toyota which is about $7,000 more. Passenger room is better in the backseats of the Toyota 4Runner, but the Toyota Tacoma does better off-road. We recommend the Toyota Tacoma if you need the versatility of a truck bed, or the Toyota 4Runner if you plan on hauling more passengers.
The Ford Ranger is another competitor, which costs about $2,500 less. Interior quality is slightly better in the Ford Ranger on the base models, but the Toyota Tacoma wins out with better off-road performance and power. We recommend the Toyota Tacoma since they last much longer and are more affordable to own.
Do Owners Recommend the Toyota Tacoma?
Yes, the mid size truck is very dependable and reliable. It drives like a car but provides extra space for travel and home remodeling projects. It is also great on gas.
Yes it is a trustworthy vehicle that runs well in all kinds of weather. Good vehicle to learn to drive manual in.
It is a good base vehicle, it has powerful engines, great horsepower, amazing gas mileage. Maintenance is not required as much as other cars.
I love my truck. It is incredibly dependable. I have driven in rain, sleet, snow, mud, you name it and I have went through it and it has never given me any problems. It looks great and has enough power for anyone interested in driving it.
