12 complaints reported

2018 Toyota Tacoma Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
12
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2025

While driving I can here a ticking sound coming from the motor and it gets worse while I pick up speed

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2025
Jan 2024

Motor tensioner bearings. All of the motor tensioner bearings have completely failed on this vehicle at 70,000 miles. All have to be replaced in an effort to avoid motor seizure and or other grave safety issues

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2024
Aug 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, who determined that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was also diagnosed and determined that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2023
Dec 2021

Driving down the road and was passing a truck. CEL and TRAC OFF lights came on and truck went into limp mode. Could not accelerate and truck was slowing down. Had to pull over turn truck off and restart and it ran fine until I duplicated the passing and push on the accelerator. Had codes check and was showing misfires on cylinder 3. I changed the spark plugs and checked the coils which were good. Next day was I was driving and truck had the same problems and eventually died and would not restart. I took it to the toyota dealer and they checked numerous things and had found #1 cylinder intake value was leaking. They suggested to replace the entire motor at a cost of $12,000. I declined and took it to another mechanic to see if the head just needed replacing. In that time I found others were having the same problem and it was a malfunctioning part in the intake manifold. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-tacoma-in-limp-mode-fixed.659782/ This is the forum were I found the problem and it fixed it. A piece of it was holding my intake valve open and that was the cause of it not starting and the leaking valve. I went and showed the Toyota dealer and they were not aware of that problem. I would like it to get posted so others don't get con into putting a new motor if it has the same problem. It seems everyone that has this issue is around 17 and 18 year models and all ranges of mileage.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2021
Sep 2020

ROUGH START WHEN ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2020
Jun 2020

2018 TACOMA TRD SPORT MANUAL TRANSMISSION - THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE DAY 1 - ENGINE HESITATION IN 1ST AND MOST NOTICEABLE IN SECOND GEAR. THE TRUCK HESITATES AND SURGES DURING LIGHT AND MODERATE ACCELERATION - FEELING LIKE AN EXTREME LEAN RUNNING CONDITION. THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND YOU AT RISK WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC OR HIGHWAY. IF YOU SHIFT A TOUCH EARLY INTO SECOND GEAR THE TRUCK OCCASIONALLY BOG ( STARVE FOR FUEL )HEAVILY - WHERE YOU MUST EITHER BE PATIENT, SLIP THE CLUTCH PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR HARDER, OR DOWNSHIFT. THE HESITATION IS THERE ALL THE TIME AND MORE NOTICEABLE WITH ANY LOAD UP ANY INCLINE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THE DRIVER MUST BE PREPARED AT ALL TIMES TO DOWN SHIFT, SLIP THE CLUTCH, AND MUST KNOW ABOUT THE HESITATION. MY CO-WORKERS AND FRIENDS HAVE DRIVEN WITH ME AND CAN'T BELIEVE TOYOTA HASN'T FIXED IT YET. MY SON CAME HOME FROM DRIVING IT - SAYING ITS HESITATING SEVERELY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE DAY 1 AND GETTING WORSE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2020
May 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHNSTONS TOYOTA LOCATED AT (5021 NY-17M, NEW HAMPTON, NY 10958) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,100.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2019
Jan 2020

WHEN SLOWING DOWN BEFORE MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC, AFTER THE VEHICLE COMES TO A CRAWL OR STOP AND THEN I ACCELERATE TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE HESITATES FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING. I TOOK MY 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA TO MY DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A RE-SET OR UPGRADE TO THE COMPUTER HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE AT HTTPS://WWW.TACOMAWORLD.COM/THREADS/3RD-GEN-STALLING-IN-INTERSECTION-UPDATE.459540/.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2020
May 2019

HE TRUCK IDLE SPEED MANAGEMENT UNDER LOAD FROM COLD START IS ERRATIC. IF I PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE IDLE SPEED JUMPS 200-300 RPM AND JERKS BEFORE SETTLING DOWN. IF I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT CREEP SPEED (ENGINE AT IDLE) IDLE SPEED JUMPS 200-300 RPM. I TOOK TO DEALER 8/7/19 AND DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM FOUND. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN COOLANT TEMP IS STONE COLD. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE NEW.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2019
Feb 2019

2018 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ENGINE NOT PROPERLY CIRCULATING OIL WHEN ASCENDING HILLS. *AS *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2018
Dec 2018

FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE WHEN CHECKING OIL LEVEL ON THE DIP STICK WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 1,000 MILES. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO TELL THEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL BUT I ASKED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED FOR MY FILTER AND OIL BACK WHEN THEY WERE DONE. ON THE REPORT THEY GAVE ME THEY SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ANY METAL SHAVINGS BUT ON MY FILTER I FOUND MANY, I STILL HAVE THE FILTER AND OIL JUST INCASE I NEED PROOF. TILL THIS DAY I STILL CAN SEE METAL SHAVINGS WHICH WORRIES ME I FOUND THIS IN OTHER TACOMAS TOO AND I DONT KNOW WHY THEY ALWAYS SAY IT'S NORMAL WHEN IT'S NOT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2018
Jun 2018

AROUND 12:30PM ON 6/28 MY TOYOTA TACOMA 2018 VIN# [XXX] STARTED TO BLINK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT WAS FOLLOW BY THE ENGINE SHAKING AND NOT TAKING GEARS UP THEREFORE VERY SLOWLY ACCELERATING UP TO THE 40MPH. SEEING ALL THIS I DECIDED TO HEAD TO THE DEALERSHIP BIG HORN IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO AT ABOUT 1:00PM FROM MY HOUSE IN BASALT, CO. BUT AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED I HAD TO STOP IN EL JEBEL, CO AND CALL BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO RECEIVE SERVICE FROM BOB ADAMS TRUCKING RESULTED IN A TWO HOUR WASTE OF TIME, BY THEM CANCELING SERVICE AND SAYING IT WAS ME WHO CANCEL. BY THIS TIME I ALREADY SPOKE TO BOTH DAWN AT SERVICE AND GUEST RELATIONS. 3:30 HOURS HAVE PASSED BY AND HERE I AM STILL SITTING BY THE SIDE OF A DANGEROUS BUSY HIGHWAY STARVING AND THIRSTY IN A 95 DEGREES SUMMER DAY AND TOYOTA HAS NOT STILL DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO TAKE ME OUT OF THIS SITUATION. A BRAND NEW $38,000 TRUCK THAT I HAVEN?T EVEN MAKE THE FIRST PAYMENT IS STUCK IN THE ROAD. MY TRUST AND LOVE FOR THE BRAND AND ITS SERVICES HAS BEEN LOST. HOW CAN I TRUST TO DRIVE MY FAMILY SAFE THINKING IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD THAT THIS CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN AGAIN? VALLEY TOWING 24HR IS FINALLY HERE TO PICK UP THE TRUCK AT 4:30PM ALMOST 4 HOURS AFTER I MADE MY FIRST CALL TO TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. 3 DAYS HAS PASSED BY AND THEY STILL HAVE THE TRUCK IN THE DEALER NOT KNOWING WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Toyota Tacoma has 12 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.