This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Toyota Tacoma engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Toyota Tacoma have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Tacoma | 4 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 4 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 18 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 20 |
| 2018 Tacoma (this page) | 14 |
| 2019 Tacoma | 15 |
| 2020 Tacoma | 5 |
| 2021 Tacoma | 7 |
| 2022 Tacoma | 4 |
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine complaints filed for the 2018 Toyota Tacoma, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) website.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2019 ? 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 ? 2023 model year Camry, 2017 ? 2022 model year Highlander, 2017 ? 2020 model year Sienna, and 2016 ? 2023 model year Tacoma vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FKS engine may exhibit a knocking noise from the vacuum pump at idle. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: This Service Bulletin provides a procedure to properly perform the Techstream ?Control the Injection Mode? active test in some 2016 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an FKS engine
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Tacoma has generated 14 complaints centered on engine reliability and drivability. The most common complaint is check engine light illumination paired with hesitation, surging, or limp mode that restricts acceleration—some owners describe it as an extreme lean-running condition happening since day one, especially under load or on hills. One owner found the culprit was a malfunctioning intake manifold component holding the intake valve open; the Toyota dealer initially pushed a $12,000 engine replacement without identifying the real problem.
Misfire codes appear in multiple complaints, with one truck stalling and unable to restart at low mileage. An owner at 1,000 miles found metal shavings in the oil and filter, but the dealer claimed it was normal—the owner kept evidence and reports seeing the same issue in other 2018s. At 70,000 miles, one truck had all motor tensioner bearings fail completely. Cold-start idle surging (200–300 RPM jumps when backing out or turning the wheel) has persisted since new on at least one truck despite dealer inspection finding nothing. An engine ticking sound that worsens with speed, catalytic converter failure at 106,000 miles, poor oil circulation on hills, and unexplained engine seizure at 39,000 miles round out the failures. Dealer response has been inconsistent: some cannot duplicate issues, others charge diagnostic fees without finding causes, and one was unaware of a known intake manifold defect.
Same Toyota Tacoma engine reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Check Engine Light with Engine Hesitation/Limp Mode
Check engine light illuminates accompanied by engine hesitation, surging, or limp mode that prevents normal acceleration. Owners report the truck either runs rough or goes into reduced-power mode when accelerating, particularly during passing or hill climbs.
When: Varies from day 1 to various mileage points; complaint #3 states issue since new; #1 at unknown mileage; #7 at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light blinking or steady illumination; Engine hesitation and surging during acceleration; Loss of power/limp mode activation; Slow or no acceleration (capped at 40 mph in one case); Engine shaking; Difficulty shifting gears; 1–2 second delay before accelerating from stop
Codes mentioned: Cylinder 3 misfire (complaint #2), Cylinder 2 misfire 47 times, Cylinder 3 misfire 3 times (complaint #9)
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #2: Owner declined $12,000 full engine replacement; found intake manifold defect (malfunctioning part holding intake valve open) via forum research and repaired it. Dealer was unaware of the issue. Complaint #7: Dealer reset/upgraded computer without resolution. Complaint #3: No repair documented; issue persists.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #1: Toyota roadside assistance slow to respond (nearly 4 hours); issue undiagnosed at dealer after 3 days. Complaint #7: Dealer able to replicate but computer reset/upgrade did not fix. Complaint #9: Dealer unable to identify cause; charged diagnostic fee regardless.
Intake Valve Leakage (Intake Manifold Defect)
Intake valve leaks open due to a malfunctioning component in the intake manifold, causing misfires and preventing engine restart. Owner research identified this as affecting multiple 2017–2018 model-year trucks across a range of mileages.
When: Unknown mileage in complaint #2; owner notes issue is common in 17–18 model years
Symptoms owners cite: Misfires (cylinder 1 in this case); Engine will not restart; CEL and TRAC OFF lights illuminate; Limp mode activation
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes
Repairs/costs cited: Owner found the defective part via TacomaWorld forum and repaired intake manifold component. Toyota dealer initially recommended full $12,000 engine replacement; owner declined and had the manifold repaired instead.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealer proposed entire motor replacement ($12,000) without identifying the actual intake manifold defect. Dealer was unaware of the problem even after owner presented forum evidence.
Metal Shavings in Engine Oil
Metallic particles appear in engine oil and oil filter as early as 1,000 miles. Dealer claims this is normal despite owner objections and filter evidence.
When: 1,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Metal shavings visible on dipstick; Metal shavings in oil filter after oil change; Ongoing metal debris in oil at later checks
Repairs/costs cited: Owner requested and retained the oil filter and oil as proof. Dealer service report claimed no metal shavings were found despite owner finding them in the filter.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated metal shavings were normal; no action taken. Owner reports finding the same issue in other 2018 Tacomas.
Engine Stalling at Low Speed
Engine stalls while driving at low speed (approximately 40 mph), then restarts successfully. Failure recurs multiple times. Unknown warning light illuminates.
When: 10,100 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving at 40 mph; Unknown warning light illuminates; Vehicle able to restart after stall; Failure occurs three times
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure; no repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and provided case number; no further action documented.
Catalytic Converter Failure
Check engine light illuminates and diagnosis confirms catalytic converter failure. Issue confirmed by two independent mechanics and Toyota dealer.
When: 106,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: All three diagnostic sources (two independent mechanics and dealer) recommended catalytic converter replacement; vehicle not repaired as of complaint filing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure; no response documented.
Idle Speed Surging Under Load from Cold Start
Engine idle speed management is erratic when cold. Idle jumps 200–300 RPM when backing out of garage or turning steering wheel at creep speed, accompanied by jerking. Issue present since new but only occurs when coolant temperature is very cold.
When: Since new; issue persists
Symptoms owners cite: Idle speed jumps 200–300 RPM when reversing from garage; Idle speed jumps 200–300 RPM when turning steering wheel at idle; Engine jerks before settling; Issue only occurs at cold start
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer inspection (8/7/19) found no problem.
Engine Ticking Sound
Ticking noise audible from engine that worsens with increased speed. Cause and severity not detailed by owner.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Ticking sound from motor; Sound increases with vehicle speed
Motor Tensioner Bearing Failure
All motor tensioner bearings fail completely, creating risk of motor seizure and other grave safety issues.
When: 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete bearing failure in all motor tensioner bearings
Repairs/costs cited: All bearings required replacement to prevent motor seizure.
Poor Oil Circulation on Hills
Engine does not properly circulate oil when ascending hills, identified as a manufacturing defect and safety hazard.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Oil circulation failure when ascending hills
Unexplained Engine Failure
Engine fails at low mileage (39,000 miles) on a vehicle with complete maintenance records and no abuse. Owner reports numerous online reports of the same issue and believes it qualifies for recall.
When: 39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle owner has all scheduled maintenance records; no repair details provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota refused to cover repair costs under warranty.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Found metal shavings in the engine when checking oil level on the dip stick when the car only had 1,000 miles. The next day I went to tell them and they said it was normal but I asked for an oil change and asked for my filter and oil back when they were done. On the report they gave me they said they did not find any metal shavings but on my filter I found many, I still have the filter and oil…
Driving down the road and was passing a truck. CEL and TRAC OFF lights came on and truck went into limp mode. Could not accelerate and truck was slowing down. Had to pull over turn truck off and restart and it ran fine until I duplicated the passing and push on the accelerator. Had codes check and was showing misfires on cylinder 3. I changed the spark plugs and checked the coils which were good.…
While driving I can here a ticking sound coming from the motor and it gets worse while I pick up speed
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, who determined that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was also diagnosed and determined that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced.…
When accelerating on highway check engine light started flashing and engine running rough. Pulled over and stopped vehicle turned off ignition. Restarted vehicle and light was out no longer running rough. Toyota dealer checked computer, cylinder #2 misfired 47 times & cylinder #3 misfired 3 times. They said they could not find what had created this problem and still charged me for engine…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2018 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 29,426 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.