There are 14 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 14 of 14 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)The engine in my 2018 Toyota Tacoma failed at 39000 miles and Toyota is refusing to cover the repair costs. I have records of all regularly scheduled maintenance performed and I have never done anything that would put additional stress on the engine such as off-roading or towing. This engine is defective and should be recalled. There are numerous reports online of the same issue.
While driving I can here a ticking sound coming from the motor and it gets worse while I pick up speed
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
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.
When accelerating on highway check engine light started flashing and engine running rough. Pulled over and stopped vehicle turned off ignition. Restarted vehicle and light was out no longer running rough. Toyota dealer checked computer, cylinder #2 misfired 47 times & cylinder #3 misfired 3 times. They said they could not find what had created this problem and still charged me for engine diagnostics.
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.
ROUGH START WHEN ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM
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
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/.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.