Are Tacomas ACTUALLY reliable?

Saw an older blue Ford ranger extended cab with a beige and maroon full size Chevy truck bed bolted on, yesterday. Did I like it? Mmhmm

 

Did you buy one used years down the road or what?

 

I have a 2016 and the battery blew up on me caused a ton of damage. 2016 had a couple other suspension problems. Right now my 2017 already has a squeaky timing belt at 50k miles.

 

Your truck doesn't have a timing belt...

 

A friend still has his powder blue 86 stx danger ranger with a 6'' lift. Those little v6's are pretty tough.

 

complaining about a squeaky serpentine belt at 50k, in this thread is pretty ridiculous don't you think.

I am sure he meant serpentine belt

 

No, in general Toyota's aren't reliable at all. I have a history with these models: 1979 FJ 40, (chews up tires and I did have to re do the top end after 160K miles) still on the road with 273K miles. 2006 Sienna, sold it with 85K miles, only needed tires but got rid of it for my next Toy, 2008 FJ Cruiser Trail Teams. Only has 240K miles an had to replace tires every 50K miles.Then I got the wife a 2016 4Runner, then traded that for a 2018 Tundra TRD Sport, the 4Runner had 45K miles on it and I had that same problem I have with the FJ Cruiser, tires. The Tundra has 36K miles and it looks like it too will need tires soon. And of course between all of this my daughter bought a 2018 86 (Subaru, but tagged as a Toyota) She has put 65K miles on it, same Toyota problem, tires at 45K. Then my wife decided she wanted a road car so she has the 2018 Camry Limited, only has about 12K miles, but I know I better save up for tires there too. And the other daughter just picked up a 2021 Taco TRD Sport. I know she will have that "tire reliability issue" too. And a few months back, I got a "wild hair" and picked up a Tacoma TRD Pro and I know I will have that "reliability issue" of tires at about 55K.

So, long story short, if you are tired of supporting tire manufacturers and gas and oil producers and want to spend your money on stuff like fuel pumps, top end rebuilds, starter motors all before your first 100K, get a Mopar. If you like dropping $65K on a new truck and just after you turn the key in the ignition to leave the dealer lot, owing $65K for a $35K valued truck, get a Silverado. And if you like to drive what everyone else drives and park it in the shopping mall parking lot, get a Ford.

 

Your M3 was obviously not reliable if you had redo it 3-4 times. I have a buddy with a 2001 911 Turbo that he averaged 20- 30k miles a year in Denver for almost 12 years and his car had 250k+ miles on it and all he did was routine upkeep, no repairs. 8 years later and he has since retired but the car still runs and is pushing 300k. But that car has the metzger engine which is likely the best engine porsche has ever made.

I do agree with you that todays cars as a whole are very reliable compared to going back to the 90's and even 2k.

However, Toyotas and Hondas routinely go over 300k miles with little upkeep. I see an american truck/suv with 150K+ miles and I am not sure I would buy it. I see a toyota with 200k+ miles and I do consider it.

 

Correction on the Camry (that happens when the wife reads my posts), it was an XLE and she says she doesn't need tires. She is just waiting for me to ceramic coat the car. And, I forgot to mention that we sill have that 2018 4Runner Limited. It only has 14K miles on it but I got it because I wanted to keep a 4Runner in the second garage next to the FJ 40 and the FJ Cruiser (secretly called my "bay of pigs" because they are always muddy).

 

My 1st gen Taco has been the most reliable (and durable) vehicle I've ever owned and my vehicles don't get the easy life. It's almost 20 years old and the only issues with it are my fault. Other vehicles have been Hondas. They're great too, but not old Taco great.

I think about trying out a 2nd Gen now and again, and may eventually, but really just because I want an auto for the city and don't wanna swap the tranny in mine. I plan to hang on to the 1st gen 'till I croak. I dig it that much! Haven't warmed to the 3rd gens yet. They're too big. And canbus WFT.

 

As I've stated in a few threads, being reliable doesn't mean problem free. But there's a reason Toyotas are consistently named the most reliable vehicles. It mainly comes down to how they compare to the competition. But there are many testimonials of people having to do very little to theirs at 200k and also several vehicles over 1M miles (long highway miles are usually involved.)

 

You are unlucky. I don't know anyone who has had your bad luck with Toyotas. If I were you I would rid myself of toyota and stick with Hyundai. I have two friends who have owned way more toyotas than you and never had 1/10th the issues you did in fact, their other cars had issues but toyotas never did. So I think you are just jinxed and probably should dump your latest one before it goes bad.

As for me, my 2017 is my first Taco and so far it does everything right. I have owned many toyotas in that past, mostly trucks. Never a problem. Funny thing is I see more old Toyota trucks and suv's than any other brand. Hard to find old rangers or S10's that are not in a junkyard

 

I think part of it is where you live, the condition of the roads etc. I live in inland San Diego... pretty good roads, no bad weather, no salt air, no salted roads etc. My 2003 5 lug, 387,000 miles on the chassis. I put a new motor in her 3 years ago. My 96 3.4, 4X4... 176,000 miles, my 98 Prerunner, 3.4, 165,000 miles. My 87 D21, 250,000 miles. I was laughing with my brother the other day... if I were to sell all of my mini trucks and get stupid money for them I dont think that it would be enough to put down on a new truck to really make it worth it.

 

I work all over the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Nepal and many other 3rd world countries. Toyotas dominate the roadways and mountain trails (places where humvees couldn’t make it - many from the 60s and 70s and still moving. Once saw a 70s Corolla with a live juvenile camel strapped to the roof in downtown Kabul. In Afghanistan and Iraq we gave their police and military Ford Rangers, which I believe are Rebadged Toyotas. Convinced me. My 2016 OR has been bullet proof.

 

I believe the 86's and prior were brought to port disassembled (for import tax reasons), with the beds stacked seperate on the tops of the freighters. Allowing these parts to get weathered prior to assembly and sale

 

FWIW - had a RAV4. Sold it with 300k and the only thing I ever replaced was a water pump aside from oil changes and brakes.

have a 17 taco….
HP Fuel pump
Rear diff replaced
Leaking timing chain cover
2 ECU reflashes
AC compressor
Blower motor replaced
Rear drum warped from factory

has it ever left me stranded, no. Has it been a pain in the ass to keep that way? Yes! Would I buy another? Probably lol

 

My 85's bed was pretty much gone when I bought it in '98, but so were the floorboards of the cab. I had to do quite a bit of sheetmetal work to not feel like I was driving a Flintstones car. That truck lasted to 384k, before my uncle bought it and promptly threw a rod.

My 91 is still on the road, the farmer that bought it for his son took it back and he hauls feed in it daily. It's approaching 600k, and still looks great. My 2000, sold to a coworker to be his farm vehicle, had a bunch of patches welded on to strengthen the rusted out frame and is still kicking about. I haven't put enough miles on my 21 to even get an oil change yet.

 

I sold my 91 5 spd to my nephew. He drove it for a couple years and them traded it on a new Carolla as he was moving/ driving across the country. It was cash for clunkers and they destroyed it. Apparently the salesman told him after pouring in the goo, the truck continued to run. They had to go back and repeat the process two more times. That truck would be worth a mint today. Sad. My 89 auto was sold to a guy who sent it to the Middle East it had 290,000

 

The old ones are for sure,
But it’s all about the maintenance
I’m at 665,000
Have not had a truck payment in 18 years,
Bought it new,

If there’s a weak point on a new Tacoma it’s in the electrical part that will come up

My brothers newer Tacoma’s immobilizer system went hair wire and would randomly not let the truck start and stranded him many times at the gas station refusing to start.

3,000.00 later after ECU and every part of the immobilized part was replaced it still did the same thing with 65,000 miles on the truck.
Had to trade it off, Toyota could not fix it.

 

One had 30k on it when I bought it, one 60k. I’ve always driven a lot. I’m still in communication with the original one with 30k’s owner. He still has not had an issue, but it’s in weekend warrior status now. Second one, I have no idea of the status.