The 2018 Toyota Tacoma lasts around 350,000 miles with only minor clutch fluid and brake wear issues reported. At $21,700 to $38,525, it’s expensive, yet worth it for the most reliable compact truck on the market.
Is the 2018 Toyota Tacoma a Good Used Truck?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – 2018 is a good year for the Toyota Tacoma since it’s extremely reliable while still being a capable truck, giving it a high overall score. Owner reviews praise the 4-wheel-drive system, technology, as well as the low ownership costs.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – Interior materials are more utilitarian than comfortable, the seats are okay, yet not super supportive, there are also 2 bed lengths.
- Reliability 10/10 – There are no widespread issues found on the 2018 Tacoma. Some models from 2016–2017 had transmission problems, which are fixed for 2018–2022.
- Performance 7/10 – Performance is poor from the 4-cylinder while the V6 offers a decent amount of power for the size of the Tacoma.
- Safety 8/10 – The 2018 Tacoma is safe, earning 4 out of 5 stars in government crash tests. Standard safety features include a rearview camera, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, along with adaptive cruise control. Optional upgrades include rear cross-traffic alert as well as blind spot monitoring.
- Gas Mileage 6/10 – Fuel economy is poor at up to 21 MPG, giving 443 miles of range from the 21.1 gallon tank. Gas costs are $10 higher than average at $298 per month.
- Value 8/10 – The 2018 Toyota Tacoma depreciates slower than other trucks, making it a great long-term value choice.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Toyota Tacoma?
- Consumer Reports says the 2018 Toyota Tacoma is still one of the toughest small trucks on the market, with good owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds rates the Tacoma 3.6/5, praising the great off-road capabilities, but finds the transmission to be very slow.
- Kelley Blue Book users give the Tacoma a 3.7/5, enjoying the extremely durable engine, but owners don’t like the uncomfortable rear seats.
What Common Problems Does the 2018 Toyota Tacoma Have?
Common problems found on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma include the clutch sticking in cold weather, shuddering while braking, as well as frame rust. Overall, these problems are similar to other trucks, with lower repair costs as well as they age.
The clutch on the manual transmission model sticking in cold weather is the most common complaint on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma at around 7,000 miles. Clutch fluid used by the Toyota factory doesn’t hold up very well in cold weather. Replacing the fluid with a more weather-resistant fluid solves the problem, costing around $150.
Shuddering while braking has also been mentioned on some Tacoma models at around 15,000 miles. If you use your Tacoma to tow or haul a lot of weight, there will be excessive wear on the brakes. The excessive wear leads to warping rotors over time, which will cause shuddering. Replacing the rotors costs around $600, depending on local labor rates.
Frame rust also shows up on some Toyota Tacoma models at around 40,000 miles. This is a common problem across all trucks in snowy areas where roads are salted. Installing an undercoating costs around $500, and does a good job of protecting the exposed metal from corrosion.
There are 3 recalls on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, which is fewer than other trucks. Two of the recalls cover the fuel pump which can fail. Toyota will replace the pump in affected models for free. The third recall is for the brake master cylinder which can be damaged. Toyota will change out the master cylinder for free as well.
How Long Will the 2018 Toyota Tacoma Last?
A well-maintained 2018 Toyota Tacoma can last around 350,000 miles, which is around 100,000 miles more than the Chevy Colorado. Regular annual maintenance costs are lower than other trucks, according to data provided by Repair Pal, at $379 per year.
As a used 2018 Toyota Tacoma reaches 100,000 miles owners should be prepared to replace the heater hose for $375, the ignition switch costing $240, as well as the driveshaft u-joint, which costs $320.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is very good in the 2018 Toyota Tacoma offering a standard 6.1-inch touchscreen stereo system. There’s a larger 7-inch touchscreen available as an optional upgrade.
Safety technology is excellent for a truck. Standard features include a rearview camera, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, as well as automatic high beams. Optional upgrades include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, as well as rear parking sensors.
Is the 2018 Toyota Tacoma a Good Value?
Yes, the 2018 Toyota Tacoma is a great value since it’s one of the most dependable small trucks on the market. The blue book fair purchase price ranges from $21,800 to $38,725, making it more expensive than a Nissan Frontier or GMC Canyon. When new, the price range was $25,400 to $43,720. Depreciation is better than other trucks, only losing about 4% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Toyota Tacoma?
There are six main models of the Toyota Tacoma offered in 2018, from the base SR all the way up to the off-road focused TRD Pro. The Tacoma also is offered with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive depending on the model.
SR is the entry-level model with:
- 16-Inch Steel Wheels
- Cloth Seats
- Sliding Rear Window
- Power Windows
- Backup Camera
- 1-Inch Touchscreen
- Bluetooth Connectivity
SR5 is a step up, adding:
- 16-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Foglights
- Remote Keyless Entry
- Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
- 2-Inch Driver Information Screen
- Siri Eyes Free Voice Control
- Satellite Radio
TRD Sport is next in the lineup with:
- 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Body-Colored Fender Flares
- 400-Watt Power Outlet In The Bed
- Power Sliding Rear Window
- 7-Inch Touchscreen Stereo System
TRD Off-Road has additional features such as:
- 16-Inch Alloy Wheels
- All-Terrain Tires
- Chrome Rear Bumper
- Skid Plates
- Lockable Rear Differential
- Bilstein Monotube Shocks
- Crawl Control
Limited is the most luxurious model which has:
- 18-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Leather Seats
- Low-Profile Tires
- Body-Colored Fender Flares
- Sunroof
- Parking Sensors
- Dual-Zone Climate Control
- Heated Seats
- JBL Stereo System
TRD Pro is the flagship off-road model with:
- Unique Front Grille
- Fox Internal Bypass Socks
- Higher Suspension
- Wider Body Kit
- Upgraded Cloth & Leather Interior
What Engines Come In the Toyota Tacoma?
- The base engine is a fairly weak 2.7L 4-cylinder which makes 159 horsepower at up to 21 MPG. It comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission.
- An available upgrade is the stronger 3.5L V6 which produces 278 horsepower while getting up to 21 MPG as well. It’s offered with either a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. The towing capacity is up to 6,800 pounds, which is good for a truck its size.
What Colors Does the Toyota Tacoma Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Toyota Tacoma?
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma is a reasonably comfortable small truck with seating for up to five passengers depending on the configuration. It’s offered as either a small four-door extended cab, called the double cab, or a larger four-door crew cab. Seating is supportive, yet it’s not as plush as some competitors.
Passenger room is good in the front seats, although the rear seats are very cramped for taller adults, making them best suited for smaller children.
How Much Storage Space Does the Toyota Tacoma Have?
The 2018 Toyota Tacoma is offered with two bed lengths. There’s a 5-foot short bed which is found on the crew cab model, or a longer 6.1-foot bed found on the smaller extended cab.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The third generation of the Toyota Tacoma came out in 2016, and is still in production as of 2022.
2015: Regular cab model discontinued, new TRD Pro package added.
2016: Fully redesigned for the third generation with a new exterior, interior, and technology.
2017: TRD Pro model added, available power sliding rear window.
2018: Toyota Safety Sense technology standard on all models, manual transmission removed from the 4-cylinder version.
2019: TRD Pro model has more off-road equipment, more USB ports added to all models.
2020: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto added to models, surround-view camera with underbody visibility, as well as more adjustable driver’s seat.
2021: Trail and Nightshade models added to the lineup, TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road models have a better stereo.
How Does the Toyota Tacoma Compare to the Competition?
The Toyota Tacoma is the best compact truck offered in 2018 since it’s extremely dependable, has excellent off-road capabilities, as well as low ownership costs as they age.
The Honda Ridgeline is another small truck which is available in the same price range. Passenger room is better in the Honda Ridgeline since it’s built on an SUV platform, while the Toyota Tacoma is more capable off-road. We recommend the Toyota Tacoma since it lasts longer and is more capable as a truck.
The Chevy Colorado is another competitor, which costs $3,000 less. Fuel economy is better in the Chevy Colorado, while the Toyota Tacoma has significantly better reliability ratings. We recommend the Toyota Tacoma since they have lower ownership costs.