2014 Toyota Tacoma Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around rear-end frame and bumper corrosion, jumpy or inconsistent braking, and a secondary air injection system that can leave the truck sluggish or stalling. Brake and driveline complaints often arrive at low mileage, while frame and air injection reports tend to come at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pulsation, grabby or soft pedal

   • 12 complaints (13%)
   • median 8,750 mi at 2.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2019

   Complaints describe brakes that grab sharply just before a stop, pedals that need extra pressure or feel like they fade at a light, and pulsation or squealing that persisted after rotor and pad work. Several also describe ABS warning lights or an ABS event where the pedal went dead, and some report a low-speed impact when the truck did not slow as expected. Reported across the range from near-new (under 1,000 miles) to around 88,000 miles, often in normal stopping and low-speed driving.

   What to check: Test braking from a range of speeds and in a parking lot, listening for squeal and feeling for pulsation or a pedal that sinks. Ask for brake service records and whether ABS-related codes have been read.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brakes are fading after stopping at a light. By fading , I mean that the brake pedal will require more pressure after the vehicle has been sitting for at a stop for a time. This is another huge safety issue, because this is causing me to inch forward (so slow), that I don't recognize it, right away, sometimes, and I'm drifting into the stopped vehicle in front of me. I have had multiple drivers, drive the same vehicle, and they can (also) confirm that this is happening with the above vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10638280, filed 2014-09, 150 miles

   “I purchased this vehicle, used, on 3-8-2018. Odometer was 65716. Because of brake (pulsation & squeak) and tire balance issues, asked the Toyota dealer to repair prior to purchase. The technician completed four wheel brake inspection. Technician turned front rotors and cleaned pads. Lubed, and cleaned caliper and slices. Problem was not solved. I took vehicle to another repair shop in august of 2019 replaced rotors, pads, adjusted left rear brake and balanced wheels. Problem still not solved. Current odometer is 74869.”

   NHTSA complaint #11245990, filed 2019-08, 65,716 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy or deployed unexpectedly

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 70,300 mi at 4.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2023

   Complaints describe airbags that failed to deploy in a collision, including side and curtain airbags after a direct side impact, and one case where curtain airbags deployed after a pothole strike. Some also report a passenger-seat sensor that does not detect an occupant, which owners say would prevent deployment. Reported from about 13,000 to roughly 90,000 miles, in collisions, pothole strikes and ordinary driving.

   What to check: Check that the airbag and seat-belt warning lights behave normally with and without a passenger in the seat, and ask whether the truck has any accident history or airbag-related repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Waiting at stop light, when light turned green proceeded into intersection. At that time a minivan struck the driver side door (90 degrees) of my 2014 Toyota Tacoma. ...updated 05/11/15 the minivan was traveling 40 miles per hour and did not apply brakes (no skidding) when it hit the driver side door. The airbags on the minivan deployed...the curtain and side airbags did not deploy on my 2014 Toyota truck and the accident was a direct impact to the two sensors that deploy the airbags on the driver side. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10706298, filed 2015-04, 13,000 miles

   “The seatbelt/airbag sensor in the front passenger seat is malfunctioning. The vehicle will not detect a person sitting in the seat, and in turn will not deploy the airbag in the event of an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11186810, filed 2019-03, 88,000 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Secondary air injection pump failure

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 113,885 mi at 5.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the check engine and traction-control lights coming on together with sluggish acceleration, hesitation, or a stall, traced to the secondary air injection pump and switching valve. Some say the repair was expensive and that a dealer referred them to a Toyota service campaign rather than covering it outright. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 170,000 miles, often while accelerating at moderate speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the air injection pump and valve have been replaced or addressed under any service campaign, and scan for stored codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air injection pump and air switching valve assembly. Vehicle generated an obd code of p0418 and p2441. Vehicle only has 66k miles. Vehicle is unable to accelerate to normal driving speeds, very sluggish. Cost to repair is $2k. This is the same problem on 2012 Toyota Tacoma and experienced on 2013 - 2015 being reported. This is dangerous to drive!”

   NHTSA complaint #11173703, filed 2019-02, 66,000 miles

   “Electronic stability control turns off when check engine light turns on. Vehicle stability is compromised. Almost rolled the truck over. Dealer technician reports that rodents ate the hose connecting fuel injector air pump to valve which triggers the ecu to fault and cascades failure to stability control. Technician reports that Toyota is using edible soy-based plastics for engine hoses and wiring harness and rodents are causing extensive damage in Toyota vehicles. Toyota does not cover related repairs under manufacturers warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10661583, filed 2014-12, 17,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Harsh vibration and shake at highway speed

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 500 mi at 0.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2021

   Owners describe cab vibration, steering-wheel shake and a driveline shudder at highway speeds that persisted after tire replacement, rebalancing, driveshaft work and suspension parts. Some reports involve rear-end hop or bounce, and some say the dealer called the vibration normal for the truck. Reported from near delivery (under 500 miles) up to about 42,000 miles, typically above 55 to 60 mph.

   What to check: Drive the truck at highway speed on a smooth road and watch for wheel shake or seat and floor vibration. Ask for tire, wheel-balance and driveshaft service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were driving home after the purchase of the truck. There was severe vibration inside the cab and it felt like the driveshaft was going to fall out. We have had back to the dealer numerous times for this issue and have been told it is a characteristic of the vehicle by the dealer and 2 other representatives from Toyota. The dealer has changed different components on the suspension and motor mounts, no change. Tires have been balanced, re-balanced and replaced no change. The drive shaft was trued and balanced, no change. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10631148, filed 2014-09, 30 miles

   “My 2014 Toyota Tacoma when driving on the fwy over 60 MPH has vibration and steering wheel shake,dealer has replaced tires, re-aligned and road force balance all wheels and problem still persist. Vehicle is now at 5000 miles and being bought back after arbitration, oh it took 2 Tacoma's with same issue and 2/1/2 years to get to this point.”

   NHTSA complaint #10654144, filed 2014-11, 500 miles

Buying note. Have a used 2014 Tacoma inspected underneath for frame and bumper rust, and drive it at highway speed and brake firmly from a few speeds before deciding. Ask for records on brake work, air injection system repairs and airbag-related service.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.