Most common problems with tacomas

I am new to the forum and have been looking at getting a tacoma for some time now I have researched a lot but just want some opinions if there is anything I have missed. I have narrowed down what I want to get which is a newer preferably 2012-2014 tacoma trd offroad dcsb auto trans in magnetic grey. Buying a used tacoma what should I look for as far as common problems and in general what are some of the more serious common problems with this gen tacomas that maybe I missed in researching. I am sure there are threads already on this but I am unsure how to search for them on the forum.

 

I HAVE 2012 TACOMA TRD . NO PROBLEM SO FAR ... 32000 MILES 0 PROBLEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Blower motor / fan squeak or clicking. (the A/C fan that blows the air)
Turn the blower on LOW speed and listen under the passenger floor board.

Check the DTRL to see if they are starting to melt the lenses.
DTRL = Day Time Running Lights

Not sure the years you are looking at have the over head Temp display?
But they are know to go out fairly often.

Check for a spare tire. They seem to be missing on a lot of used trucks these days.

There are few to star with.

 

Piss-poor gas mileage, hands down the most common problem.

 

No fucking heated mirrors

Blow me Toyota

 

I've never known any 4x4 Tacoma to get "good" fuel mileage.

And I see you have a new Tacoma. Wait until about 20,000 miles you should get around 19.5 MPG on the interstate going 70 mph.
You haven't even broke the engine in yet.
If you keep it below 60 mph you can do in the low 20's pretty easy.

 

well it's no corolla but the 4cyl gets decent mpg's for a 4x4 truck.

the v6 on the other hand is almost as bad as a v8. slightly better.

 

Exactly...they're mid-size trucks, with mid-size power, but full-size gas mileage. I like my Tacoma a lot, and filling the tank is no sweat, but Toyota needs to do something to modernize their V6 one of these years.

 

The DBs driving them.

 

The AC long bed 4cly with Auto trans my neighbor had never did get in the 20's.
Traded back in for a V6 4.0 and got back the towing capacity and "slightly" better MPG.'

I will agree with the latter part of your statement.
The 4.0 is on par with some v8 for MPG.
Why aren't we seeing the cylinder cut off like Dodge and Honda does?
Where they kill fuel to certain cylinders when not under load?
Come on TOYOTA.

 

The fucking rear view mirror placement

Good thing I've got an ImMrYo relocator

 

I have an auto AC 4x4 4cyl and I average about 22-23.....

 

I'd never buy a car with multiple displacements/cylinder shutoff

 

yeah the rear view mirror is down too low. if you look at an angle to the right it blocks your view out of the front window. you have to lean your head down to see in that direction.

also i went through 2 radios before i got a good one that wouldn't turn off by itself. 3rd time was the charm but they were all free of charge so not a big deal.

also the mud flaps are too long on every tacoma but you can get new ones or cut them shorter.

 

must have done all city driving? or drove with a heavy foot?

it's easy to get 24mpg highway and 18 city. all around about 22mpg average.

 

Dang, My neighbor never even broke 19 mpg. I even drove it on a 190 mile trip
with him and it was the same for me.

I still think the 4.0 is the way to go in A/C Long bed

 

For some people. Personally, I like the 4cyl because of the good gas mileage. More power would also just get me in trouble haha.

Not trying to thread jack, so I'll add this too: the mudflaps were way too damn long! The truck looks so much better after you take them off.

 

Yeah, if you plan to hit any off road trails the flaps have to go.
I learned the hard way.

 

I have an 07 and I've had nothing major..... bought it new. Currently 66K miles.

Window washer motor quit the day I picked it up (warranty)
3 of my alloy wheels were bubbling (warranty)
Weak leaf springs (got TSB under warranty)
Overhead console display (my husband re-soldered it)
Climate Control lights stopped working and short circuit (ended up buying a used unit)
Radiator cap kept leaking (2 replaced under warranty and ended up buying an aftermarket one)
Had all the recalls done (pedal cut, seatbelt extractor, can't remember others)

On the older trucks, the tailgates are weak....I'm not sure if they fixed that with newer trucks or not. Mine has been fine - although, I'll remove it completely to prevent putting heavy loads on it.

You've already read about frame concerns......(I think mine is OK, haven't looked recently)

Can't complain......it's been a great truck (knock on wood), still looks great, and I hope it continues this way until I'm ready for a 3rd gen!