2023 Toyota Tacoma Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2023 Toyota Tacoma most often describe recall repairs that are still waiting for parts or cannot be scheduled. Airbags that did not deploy in crashes and brakes that lock, judder, or fail to hold are the next most common concerns, followed by surging at low speed and wiring damage from rodents or electrical smoke. The model year is recent, so few complaints state mileage and the trend is too early to judge.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Recall repairs delayed, unavailable, or incomplete

   Mentioned in 7 of 52 sampled complaints

   Owners describe waiting for recall repairs, including the driver airbag, the rear axle shaft (24V152000), and the steering column clockspring (23V480000), with parts not yet available. Several say the dealer could not schedule the repair or give a date, and some say the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for a remedy. A recall repair was marked complete, but the owner says the nuts had to be replaced and the torque spec was wrong, and a separate airbag repair has been at a body shop while parts are on backorder. Mileage is mostly not stated in these complaints, and where it is given it is about 21,000 miles.

   Recall 24V152000Recall 23V480000

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check the VIN against recalls 24V152000 and 23V480000 and to confirm in writing whether a remedy is available and when the repair can be scheduled. For any recall repair already marked complete, ask for the work order and have the rear axle fasteners and torque checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a recall notice saying that welding debris on the rear axle could cause bolts to loosen resulting in parts falling off the truck and crashing. I have called servco Toyota Honolulu service department 3 separate times. Talked to a number of managers and representatives. The first time they said they cannot do the recall yet and are waiting for parts and procedures, would not give me a date and said I cannot schedule a service appointment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11575419, filed 2024-03

   “Air Bags (Driver and Passenger Curtain Airbags) no other airbags deployed. Been in repair since 3/8/26. Currently 4/21/26. Insurance already sent Body Shop money. Parts on National Backorder and Manufacturer Switch has not been determined yet by Toyota. Truck will not be released back to me until the repair is completed per email. I need adequate transportation provided to continue going to and from work. My insurance has maxed its coverage and cannot extend. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11732718, filed 2026-04
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy or show a fault

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 18,844 mi at 0.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe airbags that did not deploy in serious crashes, including a head-on collision, a crash into a tree, and a case where only the side or curtain airbags went off. A few report an airbag system fault message or a warning light that stayed on, and a dealer said the airbag problem fell under the drivetrain warranty. Mileage is mostly not stated in these complaints, and where it is given it is about 18,800 miles.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan the airbag system for stored fault codes and to confirm whether any airbag recall is open for the VIN. Before buying, confirm that no airbag warning light is on during a key-on check.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2023 Toyota Tacoma creates an error message on my console screen A Malfunction in the SRS Airbag System has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. In 2024, the first error message appeared. Same as above. By January 2025, there also appeared a red indicator light on the dashboard displaying something about the seat belt or airbag. It stayed continually on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11650273, filed 2025-03

   “Only the side window airbags deployed during a collision. There was no protection from the front impact. Insurance representatives have the vehicle and we are waiting to hear about the outcome. While in the car pool lane traveling approximately 65mph, a Honda civic left the lane to the right of us and veered directly into our lane. I applied the brakes as hard as I could, but did not swerve due to fear of rolling into the opposite direction of traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11747822, filed 2026-07
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brakes lock, judder, or fail to hold

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 31,218 mi at 2.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe brakes that lock up when backing out of a driveway, a sudden loss of braking with stability and collision warnings showing, and a brake pedal that buzzes or clicks when held. A complaint describes judder when braking, with rotors resurfaced several times without a lasting fix, and another says the dealer turned the rear drums and then replaced the rear brakes. Some report the stability control engaging several times during cornering and braking on dry pavement, and a case where the brakes would not engage before a crash. Mileage is not stated in these complaints, and several describe the problem during ordinary driving, such as braking on dry pavement or backing out of a driveway.

   What to check: On a test drive, brake from low and moderate speeds, forward and in reverse, and watch for lock-up, pulsing, or a buzzing brake pedal. Ask the dealer for the repair orders on the brakes and stability control, including any rotor or drum work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Over the past several months, I have encountered the Vehicle Stability Control system engaging approximately 6 times when cornering and braking on dry pavement. It is a startling event that I feel causes a hazard. If I encountered a problem while this was happening, I am not sure I could control the vehicle. I have taken the truck to the dealer three times. The first time they turned the rear drums, stating that was the cause of the vibration I reported. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11537882, filed 2023-08

   “This vehicle has had judder issues since new when braking. It has been in the shop over 10 times for this issue with the last being this week. I conducted an internet search and see other new owners complaining about the same issue with no resolve. I was told I would be getting new rotors and when I picked my vehicle up from Toyota of Las Vegas on 10/24/24, however, they are only resurfaced, not new. They have been resurfaced 3 times, with the first being performed around 500 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11621966, filed 2024-10
4. 4
   Engine

   Surging or lunging at idle and low speed

   Mentioned in 4 of 52 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine surging or lunging forward at idle or at low speed, in drive or reverse, sometimes when the steering wheel is turned slightly. A complaint says the dealer could not diagnose the problem because no warning light was on, and another says the dealer told them the failure was not covered. An owner believes the engine computer overcorrects when the truck is in gear and idling. Where mileage is given, these complaints are from about 300 to 2,000 miles, and several describe surging at idle or while turning at low speed.

   What to check: On a test drive, idle in drive and reverse with light steering input and check for surging or lunging. Ask the dealer whether any service bulletins for idle surge or engine computer issues apply to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After initial start of engine and at idle there is surge of the engine and lunge forward while in drive. The danger is unexpected forward movement of the truck when pulling forward at idle by lunging forward with risk of hitting that which is directly in front such as a parked car or the front of my garage. This is an ongoing event.”

   NHTSA complaint #11760451, filed 2026-08

   “When starting the truck and warming up a minute or so and then putting in reverse to back out or forward to pull into a carport, idling in gear with your foot only on the brake, the engines surges/revs up with just the slight turn of the steering wheel causing an unintended speed increase. I believe that this could cause a minor accident. It does not appear to be caused by the engine having a fast idle when cold as the idle drops when you shift into a gear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11584324, filed 2024-04
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Wiring damaged by rodents, smoke, or fire

   Mentioned in 4 of 52 sampled complaints

   Owners describe rodent damage to wiring, with a complaint describing soy-based wiring that attracts rodents and another describing a dealer replacing the whole harness. A steering column fire was reported with white smoke and ashes while driving on the interstate, and a heater blower bearing failure burned out the fan motor and filled the cabin with toxic electrical smoke. Mileage is not stated in these complaints, and the steering column smoke was reported while driving on the interstate.

   What to check: Inspect the wiring behind the dash and near the steering column for chewed or brittle insulation, and ask the dealer about any rodent-damage or harness repairs. Ask whether recalls 23V480000 and 25V040000 on the steering column spiral cable are complete for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Wiring harness on the vehicle is being completely replaced due to rodent damage according to the dealer. I am not an automotive engineer but if compromised wiring finally fails while driving I suspect a number of systems could be affected. There was no indication of this problem during vehicle operations. My insurance company agreed to pay for this about $7200. I have owned the vehicle for ten months.”

   NHTSA complaint #11572480, filed 2024-02

   “This Toyota Tacoma's soy based wiring attracts rodents and I have had to have repairs for the wiring. My 2 other older vehicles in the same location that does not have the soy based wiring there no problem. This is a world wide issue and no one has done nothing about. This is a safety issue that can be potentially dangerous, if some of the safety systems fail due to soy based wiring attracting rodents.”

   NHTSA complaint #11558608, filed 2023-12

Buying note. A buyer should ask the dealer for the status of recalls 24V152000, 23V480000, and 25V040000 on the VIN, and whether parts are in stock, before agreeing to purchase. Brake behavior, airbag warning lights, and surging at idle are worth testing on a drive, and the steering column wiring is worth inspecting for rodent damage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 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.