FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD
The 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD has no open NHTSA safety recalls on file, 76 owner complaints, and gets about 21 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
SPECS
2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD at a glance
- Engine
- 6-cyl 3.5L
- Cylinders
- 6
- Displacement
- 3.5 L
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Body
- Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
- Fuel
- Regular
Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 12, 2026.
SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA
No safety recalls on file with NHTSA for this year and model. That's a good sign.
NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.
Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 12, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA
76 filed- 10
SERVICE BRAKES
when I push the brake pedal, it goes to the floor. I have had the brakes and master cylinder replaced. after about one month the brakes started failing again. I am going to take it back to the mechanic to have them re-evaluate the brakes. N
- 10
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, after depressing the accelerator pedal and then attempting to depress the brake pedal to make a left turn, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. An in
- 10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AC compressor pressure release discharges gas. Dealer states new compressor needed. Vehicle is only 4 years old.
- 7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Multi-Information Display (MID) on the instrument cluster (combination meter) has failed completely. The display shows full-width horizontal RGB scan lines across the entire screen with no readable information. The analog gauges (speedo
- 7
AIR BAGS
Vehicle was in car accident where airbags did not deploy.
- 5
ENGINE
The plastic coolant crossover valve or pipe failed at 66,000 miles and 5 years of usage. This led to the radiator cracking. After researching online, I read about thousands of Tacoma 3rd generation users with the same issue. Also, the same
Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 12, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.
CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP
- Overall
- ★★★★☆
- Frontal
- ★★★★☆
- Side
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★★☆
Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 12, 2026.
FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA
- Combined
- 21 mpg
- City / Hwy
- 19 / 24
- Est. fuel / yr
- $2,950
- CO₂ / mi
- 431 g
EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 12, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.
All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
-
Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
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Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
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Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
Quick answers
Are there any recalls on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD? +
No open NHTSA safety recalls are on file for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD. Recalls can be issued at any time, so confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD get? +
The EPA rates the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD at 21 mpg combined (19 city / 24 highway), about $2,950 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD? +
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 2WD, including 9 involving a crash. The most-reported area is service brakes.
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