Water leak into the rear of the cab. Toyota knows is a known issue but they decline warranty on it. They only have a t-sb-0055-18 but if the customer doesnt research for it online they will not even tell the customer. The water leak cause mold in the car and everything is wet on it. Our car has now 38000 miles. This is an expensive car and the mold will cause people to get sick. Toyota wants a…
2017 Toyota Tacoma body problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 21 body complaints filed for the 2017 Toyota Tacoma, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2017 Tacoma body complaints center on premature factory paint failure (especially Super White and MGM colors), water intrusion into the cab from seals and pressure vents causing mold, and rare but dangerous sunroof shattering. Toyota's warranty coverage is inconsistent, parts availability for water-damage repairs can be extremely long, and the manufacturer has declined recalls despite acknowledging design flaws.
Paint failure dominates these narratives. Owners report peeling, chipping, and cracking paint on doors, fenders, hood, and roof beginning as early as 6 months after purchase. Super White and MGM paint colors are specifically cited. Multiple owners note this is a widespread, documented issue online and in Toyota's own service bulletins, yet Toyota initially refused coverage on Tacomas while acknowledging the problem on other models. One owner's repaint failed again shortly after completion. Customer Support Program 23TE08 was issued for four-door Tacomas, but one owner reports extra cabs were excluded.
Water intrusion is the second major complaint. Owners describe water pooling under cabin carpet and saturating headliners from a cabin pressure vent located between bed and cab, and from the rear brake light housing. The water triggers black mold growth, creating a health hazard especially where infants rode. Toyota cites TSB T-SB-0055-18 but does not volunteer this information; customers discover it by researching online. Repair costs exceed $5,000–$10,000, parts remain backordered for months, and Toyota declines warranty despite a 2019 recall for the third brake light on the same issue.
Two owners reported sunroofs shattering spontaneously at highway speed on clear days with no impact or obstruction—glass broke outward, not inward. One owner also reported a cabin howling noise that Toyota's own representative confirmed was a design flaw with no planned fix.
Same Toyota Tacoma body reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Factory Paint and Clearcoat Failure (Super White and MGM colors)
Paint peeling, chipping, flaking, and cracking prematurely on exterior panels including doors, fenders, hood, and roof. Issue particularly documented on Super White and MGM paint variants. Owners report Toyota acknowledges paint issues on other models but not Tacoma, despite widespread online documentation of the problem. Clearcoat fading also reported.
When: Begins 6 months to 2+ years; some noticed within 8 months of purchase (December 2017 on April 2017 purchase)
Symptoms owners cite: Paint peeling and chipping around doors and fenders; Clearcoat failure and fading; Paint cracking on roof; White spots and residue on windows from paint runoff; Oxidation on front glass upper section
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota initially refused coverage on most claims. One owner received full repaint plus partial cash reimbursement and service extension after escalation; however, repaint also failed. Repair costs cited at dealership collision centers; one estimate mentioned but Toyota later refused to complete repairs. Parts/labor costs not specifically stated by other owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota CSD (Customer Service Department) acknowledged issue on some models but initially refused Tacoma coverage. Customer Support Program 23TE08 issued for four-door Tacomas but excludes extra cabs per owner report. TSB/bulletin references available but dealerships do not volunteer information to customers. One manufacturer representative confirmed design flaw acknowledged but stated no corrective action would be taken (separate howling noise issue).
Water Intrusion—Cabin Pressure Vent and Rear Cab Area
Water leaking into truck cab from cabin pressure vent located between truck bed and cab, and from rear exterior cab light/third brake light housing. Water saturation of floor, carpet, and headliner leading to black mold growth. One owner cited parts backordered 2+ months with no ETA.
When: Timing varies; one owner experienced issue at unspecified mileage; another at 38,000 miles with newer vehicle experiencing it sooner
Symptoms owners cite: Floor and carpet soaked without visible cause; Water pooling under carpet in cab; Black mold growth under carpet; Water stains on headliner and seats; Mold odor and contamination
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership quoted $5,800 for repair and suggested insurance claim. Parts backordered indefinitely; one owner reported nine customers at single dealership dealing with same issue. Another owner reports repair cost over $10,000 for cabin pressure vent correction.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB T-SB-0055-18 exists but Toyota does not proactively inform customers; customers must research online. 2019 recall for third brake light water leakage into cabin issued, but Toyota refuses to recognize cabin pressure vent as recall-worthy despite identical failure mode. Warranty declined on water intrusion claims.
Sunroof Spontaneous Shattering
Sunroof glass shattering outward without impact or external cause while vehicle traveling at highway speed on smooth road. Two separate incidents reported; both at approximately 65 mph on freeways with clear weather and no obstructions.
When: Occurs during normal highway driving; no mileage information provided
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden very loud noise from sunroof area; Glass pieces falling into cabin; Outward/convex break pattern rather than inward impact pattern; Air rushing into cabin from sunroof area
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided in narratives.
Cabin Howling Noise—Design Flaw
Abnormal howling noise in cabin occurring without warning at low mileage. Dealership and manufacturer representative both confirmed the noise; manufacturer stated it resulted from design flaw.
When: Approximately 3,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal howling noise in cabin
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer representative confirmed noise due to design flaw and stated no corrective action would be taken.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Not a safety issue. The clear coat seems to be fading on a lot of the 3rd gen tacomas from the factory. Fades much faster than it should.
Excessive peeling/flaking paint on all 4 doors, hood, gas cap, all over.
Had body trouble with your 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 21 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 24,280 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Toyota/Tacoma.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.