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severe Owners of the 2019 Toyota Tacoma have filed 34 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 5,100 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Tacoma | 7 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 13 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 26 |
| 2018 Tacoma | 34 |
| 2019 Tacoma (this page) | 34 |
| 2020 Tacoma | 11 |
| 2021 Tacoma | 11 |
| 2022 Tacoma | 6 |
Of the 34 brakes complaints filed for the 2019 Toyota Tacoma, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
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.
Of the 19 model years of Toyota Tacoma we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 34.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Reduced brake performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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 2014 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ?DTC P0171 and/or P0174 (System Too Lean Bank 1/Bank 2) ?DTC P0087 Fuel Rail / System Pressure ? Too Low Techstream data list analysis may reveal positive fuel trims including a no pressure condition verified by a manual fuel pressure gauge. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address these conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2014-2020 model year (MY) vehicles originally equipped with low pressure fuel pumps repaired under Safety Recall 20TA02, Safety Recall 21TA03, Safety Recall 21TA05 or Special Service Campaign 21TC03. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2015-2020 model year (MY) vehicles that were not previously involved in a Safety Recall or Special Service Campaign related to the low pressure fuel pump. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of 2019 Toyota Tacomas are reporting brake failures serious enough to create collision risk. The most common issue involves the brake master cylinder: internal seal defects allow brake fluid to leak into the driver's footwell, and the pedal loses pressure, sinking to the floor under steady application. Early reports come in at 900 to 6,900 miles.
Multiple owners describe sudden total loss of braking power while driving, forcing them to pump the pedal repeatedly or use the emergency brake. One driver collided with another vehicle when the brakes failed to respond. Others report the brake pedal feels abnormally soft and spongy, requiring excessive travel before any response.
Brake rotor warping is also chronic: one truck needed replacement rotors three times by 22,000 miles, with severe pulsation returning within 3,000 miles each time. Some owners witnessed multiple new Tacomas on the dealer lot exhibiting identical brake behavior.
Brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder into the cabin is documented by independent mechanics as a defective seal in the master cylinder assembly—the same failure mode cited in NHTSA Recall 18V888000. However, many owners find their VINs excluded from the recall window despite matching the defect exactly. Toyota dealers have repeatedly told owners the behavior is "normal" or "functioning as designed," and some have refused repairs outside the narrow recall dates even with matching symptoms.
Same Toyota Tacoma brakes reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021
Defective internal seals in the brake master cylinder allowing brake fluid to leak into the cabin and causing loss of braking pressure. The leak occurs internally through the seal and exits into the driver's footwell near the pedal assembly.
When: Early ownership; reported as low as 900 miles, 1500 miles, 6900 miles; some cases at 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake fluid dripping onto driver-side floorboard or inside cabin near pedal; Brake pedal feels soft and sinks to floor with constant pressure; Loss of braking power when pressure is held on pedal; Pedal requires excessive force or fails to stop vehicle; ABS and brake warning lights illuminated; Brakes fade and require re-pumping to regain stopping power
Codes mentioned: C1422 (master cylinder pressure sensor zero point high)
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement (part # 47050-04180). Dealers have also replaced brake pads, rotors, shoes, drums, and rear brake cylinders before identifying master cylinder as root cause. Reported costs around $1600–$2000 for replacement out-of-pocket when not covered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 18V888000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) issued for certain 2018–2019 Tacomas with improper machining of the brake master cylinder. Recall 20V012000 mentioned (Fuel System). Owners report Toyota has denied warranty coverage and assistance on vehicles with assembly dates slightly outside the recall window, despite identical failure symptoms. Some owners claim Kelly Blue Book shows recall eligibility by VIN but Toyota and NHTSA websites do not reflect it.
Sudden complete or near-complete loss of braking capability while the vehicle is in motion, forcing drivers to use emergency brakes or pump the pedal repeatedly to regain stopping power. Can occur during routine driving or emergency stops.
When: Early ownership; 4000 miles, 5000 miles, 900 miles, 1500 miles reported; also at 64,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor with little to no braking effect; Inability to stop or slow vehicle in timely manner; Loss of braking power occurs suddenly with no warning; Emergency brake must be used to bring vehicle to stop; Brake pedal feels soft initially, then firm pressure does not slow vehicle; Problem may be intermittent across multiple incidents
Repairs/costs cited: Root cause typically identified as brake master cylinder failure. Some repairs involved replacing multiple brake components (pads, rotors, shoes, drums, cylinders) before master cylinder was diagnosed. One case noted independent brake shop diagnosed internal master cylinder leak.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners mention NHTSA Campaign 18V888000 as applicable but VINs not included in recall list. Dealers have sometimes stated no problem found or that behavior is 'normal' or 'functioning as designed.' Toyota corporate and dealer service have refused assistance on vehicles with assembly dates outside the recall parameters.
Brake pedal exhibits excessive travel, feels spongy or soft, and gradually sinks toward the floor under steady pressure. Some owners report the pedal goes 50–75% toward the floor even in stationary conditions with engine running.
When: Early ownership; 6200 miles, within months of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal feels spongy or soft on initial application; Pedal gradually sinks to floor under constant pressure; Pedal travel excessive (50–75% toward floor); Problem occurs in stationary vehicle with engine running; Symptoms similar to vacuum power brake failure; Braking distance extended due to soft pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostics often inconclusive at dealer level; some dealers claim behavior is 'normal' or 'functioning as designed.' Owners with mechanical experience recognize symptoms consistent with master cylinder seal failure. Independent shops may diagnose internal seal failure in master cylinder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealer service has stated the condition is 'normal' and 'functioning as designed' on multiple occasions across different dealerships, despite owners' complaints and comparison to other 2019 Tacomas exhibiting the same behavior.
Front and rear brake rotors warp repeatedly within 3000 miles of replacement or cutting, causing severe vibration and pulsation during braking, particularly at highway speeds.
When: Recurring issue; rotors warp at approximately 3000 miles after replacement; one truck at 42,000 miles on third rotor replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking and vibration while braking; Pulsing sensation in brake pedal and vehicle; Shaking severe when slowing from 65–70 mph; Rotors warp and require replacement every 3000 miles; Front rotor warping more pronounced than rear
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors repeatedly cut or replaced at dealer. One owner resolved issue on previous vehicle by switching to non-OEM rotors. Dealer service has not identified or addressed root cause of premature warping.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response noted. Dealers have replaced rotors multiple times without addressing underlying cause.
Brakes lock up while vehicle is moving, or ABS system triggers unintended braking and extended stops, locking calipers and creating smoke. Can occur on highway at speed or during low-speed maneuvering.
When: Early ownership; 1000 miles, during low-speed maneuvers in reverse
Symptoms owners cite: Both front and rear brakes lock up simultaneously; Vehicle slides or skids due to brake lock; ABS light and traction control light illuminate; Vehicle forced to complete stop by brake lock-up; Calipers smoke due to sustained brake pressure; Yellow warning triangle with exclamation point on dashboard
Codes mentioned: C1422 (master cylinder pressure sensor zero point high)
Repairs/costs cited: Occurrences documented at dealer; multiple service manager and management personnel witnessed lock-up event. Vehicle retained for diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed one incident to 'traction control issue with the truck's program' rather than brake failure. No recall or repair offered.
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
My 2019 tacoma 4x4 dbl cab sr5 has 22000 miles on it and has a history of the brakes pulsing. The dealer has replaced both front and rear brakes at 5k and 11k miles, and now again at 22k miles. At each service appointment I complained that the brakes pulse badly, and they confirm that the rotors and back drums are warped. So they replace the rotors & drums, and the problem is relieved for a…
When applying the power brakes at a stop the pedal after a few seconds starts to fade to the floor if released and reapplied they come back up to stop position and will fade again. When backing up and brakes are applied and backing slowly to house garage the brake starts to fade to the floor and has to be reapplied to stop the truck. Yesterday in a shopping mall I had to go around a parked car…
Vibration in seat/cab while applying brakes between 35-15 MPH that worsens the more you drive it. Vehicle was purchased brand new and has 5000 miles on it and dealer states normal characteristic of vehicle- no problem found.
Tl* the contact owns 2019 Toyota tacoma. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to stop in a timely manner. The contacted stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would vibrate as well as the brake warning light would be illuminated. The vehicle was taken to northridge Toyota (19550 nordhoff st, northridge, ca 91324)…
Brake pedal went to floor as I tried to stop truck from hitting a VW that rear ended a truck in front of them. I can still press brake pedal to floor taking just a few seconds to do so. I have forward this fact to my insurance adjuster, along with the dash camera footage of the accident.
It's a meaningful issue. 34 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 2,600 and 21,000 miles, with the median around 5,100. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,600; a quarter make it past 21,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.