TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Toyota Tacoma cruise control problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: Some 2016 ? 2023 model year Tacoma vehicles may exhibit a condition where snow or ice builds up between the right or left front door and front fender, preventing the front door from fully opening. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2016 ? 2023 model year Tacoma vehicles may exhibit a condition where snow or ice builds up between the right or left front door and front fender, preventing the front door from fully opening. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with Entune? Audio (version 01013E), Entune? Audio Plus (version 010156 or 01015C), or Entune? Premium Audio (versions 010171, 010170, or 01017D) may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Head unit reboots at a specific location. ?Abnormal Destination Search app operation. ?Rebooting caused by no songs on the USB-connected iPhone. ?A one-time reboot after ignition is cycled to ACC-ON. ?Audio stays muted after the key is cycled. Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with Entune? Audio (version 010144), Entune? Audio Plus (version 01015E), Entune? Premium Audio (version 010182), or earlier may exhibit one or more o
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2018 Tacomas describe recurring safety failures in the adaptive cruise control and Toyota Safety Sense systems. The most alarming: sudden hard braking during highway driving with no vehicle ahead—one owner reported eight or nine instances over ownership. Dealers initially couldn't reproduce the issue; Toyota eventually issued a recall for a millimeter radar sensor and water intrusion at the front grill, sealing the sensor with rubber foam, but that temporary fix failed and braking faults recurred.
Equally dangerous: multiple owners report the truck accelerating uncontrollably to over 100 mph while cruise is set to 65–75 mph. Dealers have diagnosed faulty sensors but haven't completed repairs. The pre-collision system also triggers false braking when vehicles in adjacent lanes turn off or slow—one owner with young children aboard experienced a sudden decelerate that nearly caused a rear-end collision.
Engine response is sluggish: owners report 5–8 second delays between throttle and acceleration, particularly at takeoff (0–30 mph), sometimes with stalling. An open recall for this has sat unresolved for months. Transmission shift quality is poor, with sticking at high RPM and power surges on vehicles with fewer than 10,000 miles. One owner notes the truck "does what it wants." Toyota has stated some issues are normal operation and refused repairs.
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended braking with adaptive cruise (radar-based)
Laser/radar cruise control triggers hard braking with no vehicle ahead, sometimes multiple times per ownership. Dealers report water intrusion into front sensor; Toyota applied temporary rubber/foam seal that failed to resolve issue. Some owners report sensor malfunctions causing erroneous deceleration or collision-avoidance braking on vehicles in adjacent lanes or turning off road.
When: During highway driving at various speeds (50–75 mph); occurs intermittently, 8–9 times reported by one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Hard brake engagement with no traffic ahead; Vehicle suddenly decelerates after cruise deactivates; PCS/collision-avoidance system brakes for vehicles not in path; Water intrusion visible at front grill sensor
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer applied rubber/foam seal over front sensor to block water; temporary fix did not resolve recurring issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB/Recall for millimeter radar sensor and water ingress documented; Toyota initially claimed issue not reproducible; sensor sealed under recall but problem recurred
Unintended acceleration while cruise control active
Vehicle accelerates rapidly to over 90–100 mph without driver input while adaptive cruise is engaged at lower set speeds (65–72 mph). Occurs on multiple occasions. Dealers have diagnosed faulty sensor; no repairs completed in reported cases.
When: During cruise control operation at highway speeds; multiple occurrences per owner
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden speed increase to 90+ mph; Vehicle accelerates despite no driver acceleration; Occurs while cruise control is active
Repairs/costs cited: Suburban Toyota diagnosed faulty sensor as cause; vehicle not repaired
Engine overspeed during cruise on grades (downshift behavior)
When set to cruise at highway speed (75 mph) on an uphill grade, transmission downshifts to third gear, running tachometer to 5,800 rpm (300 rpm over the stated 5,500 rpm redline). Toyota claims this is normal operation and a governor prevents actual over-rev. Owner disputes, citing manual guidance against running to redline.
When: During uphill driving at sustained cruise (75 mph set speed)
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission downshifts unexpectedly to third gear; Engine runs 300 rpm above redline; Occurs when holding cruise on incline
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota claims behavior is normal and governed; refused repair
Engine response delay (5–8 second lag)
Engine exhibits significant delay in responding to throttle input, taking 5–8 seconds to ramp RPM or accelerate. Can occur from standstill (0–30 mph). Some reports note stalling during acceleration from stop. Owners report open recalls for this issue remain unresolved.
When: During acceleration from idle or low speed (0–30 mph); intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: 5–8 second delay between accelerator input and engine response; Stalling when pressing accelerator from stop; 2–7 second lag before RPM climb; Vehicle stalls or surges during low-speed acceleration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Open recall exists for this problem; Toyota has not completed repairs despite months-long notice
Transmission shift/response anomalies
Transmission fails to shift smoothly, sticks at high RPM (3,500 rpm), exhibits delay before acceleration, then surges power. Described as timing issues on an automatic. Occurred on vehicle with under 10,000 miles. One report notes vehicle loses power and idles very low in traffic.
When: At low mileage (under 10,000 miles); city and highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission sticks at 3,500 rpm; Delayed shift response; Power surge after delay; Loss of power and low idle in traffic
Brake and accelerator conflict warning (loss of power)
Dashboard warning states brake and accelerator are depressed simultaneously; vehicle loses motive power. Occurs during normal driving/acceleration. Failure is intermittent. No diagnostic follow-up reported.
When: During acceleration; intermittent at 21,039 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Warning: brake and accelerator depressed together; Loss of motive power; Intermittent occurrence
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2018 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 cruise control problem on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 6,500 and 19,500 miles, with the median around 17,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,500; a quarter make it past 19,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2018/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.