OEM Battery Life

Have a 2018 double cab Sport 4x4, which I purchased brand new in January 2018. Approaching 70k miles. Still on original OEM battery. Each time I take it in for service, battery checks out fine. Starts good, too. Truck is stock - no electrical mods.

However, my experience over the years with other vehicles has been that once you get to 3-4 years into a battery, the end can come quickly. So, I'm thinking about replacing battery before winter, because cold weather is when I've had most battery failures in the past.

What are other 2018 Tacoma owners seeing regarding OEM battery life?

 

My first one made it 26 months and crapped out

 

Wow. That sucks. At 4 1/2 years, I'm way ahead of the game, then.

 

Batteries usually give you a warning. Hard starting in the morning. Get yourself a NOCO jumpstart battery pack for emergency starts.

 

Just replaced original oem from my 2016 last week. Still started the truck but the cranking amps were low on a battery tester so I decided it was time.

 

Yeah, sucks even worse is I wasn't at home. I walked a few miles to the closest Auto zone and had to walk back with a battery that had no handle.

I keep spare tools in my truck for just such things, popped the new one in and drove back to to get the credit for the old one.

 

My truck is a 2019 (purchased new Jan 19)...I replaced my battery last month, no issues starting or anything but my test showed it was near the end of its life...I had around 180K miles at the time.

 

We usually get a really long life with batteries. Like 10yrs. The Taco battery made it about 3yrs or so. When it decided to let go, it went fast. One slow start, then just flatness. We all have jump packs, so that was no issue.

IMHO, it would not replace it early, but just get a well-reviewed jump pack because they are quite useful for other things also.

 

Had one for a couple years. Never used it on my truck but have on other things. Great piece of equipment.

 

Mine had a bad cell in the factory battery and failed at about the two year mark.

 

Toyota gave me a new free battery under warranty at 33 months. My Wife’s Corolla battery died at 6 years. My Daughter’s Scion battery was 7.5 years old and still strong but I put a new Interstate battery in because she was going on a long road trip. Quality of Toyota batteries are hit or miss. If you carry a jump box and don’t mind jumping it if it won’t fire up you could milk it a little longer.

 

Just curious what everyone else considers the vest brand for replacement?
I've sworn by Interstate for years. Not so sure any more.
I know that anything with a Chain Brand Tire Store name is a bad choice. They mishandle batteries because it's not their main product or interest

 

I like the WallyWorld EverStart batteries for motorcycles and such since I was the one dropping in the fluid.

For the Taco, I went with Costco / Interstate. For over two years now, it's been cranking over way faster than the original battery ever did. It was a tough choice to not go with AGM, but no regrets yet.

 

Going on 4 years in Florida heat. I probably jinxed myself.

 

In Arizona about 2 years max.

 

I have a 2018 with 20k miles and I thought it was time to switch it out for a new one. I went with another Toyota true start 27f. Got a new battery tray for a 2015 Tacoma with tow package. Johnson control is who makes an interstate so they also make the true start.

 

My 2017 battery is still working fine, no mods and no winter driving.
When it goes the replacement will be a DEKA, the only brand of batteries I have bought in over 25 years, made in Pennsylvania.

https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/about/history/

 

Replaced mine at three years but found out the battery was fine. The parasitic draw was not.

 

I don’t replace them until they start failing and I’ve replaced very few over 30 years of owning automobiles. Keep a set of jumper cables or a jump box in the truck. Know how to jump star it if it is a manual transmission.

 

I replaced the OEM battery after coming back from vacation and the truck barely started. It was only 9 days that it was parked. OEM was 3 years and 8 months old.

I just put the Costco Interstate 27f in with a new battery tray a few weeks ago. I probably would have bought the AGM, but they didn't have it in 27F, only the original 24F. It really does seem perkier starting now than it ever was before.