Is 3rd Gen 3.5 Tacoma really a good truck?

I just rolled over 20,000 on my 2023 so far no mechanical issues what so ever. I do agree with others do your maintenance and treat it right and it should last a long time.

 

Complaint threads are good for information only. Unfortunately, you only get one side of the story.
Several years ago, there was a thread started by a guy complaining of high engine temps. It was a popular thread and all the wannabee "engineers" piled on about Toyota cheaping out, too small a radiator, etc. After many pages, I suggested he make sure the radiator was clean. Turned out (pics were posted) he had silt built up almost to the edge of the fins. He cleaned it and had zero problems. However, most people got the initial complaint and did not stick around to find out the problem was the complainer, not Toyota!
We both have been here awhile. I habe a question....
How many people have posted about an electrical problem that owned a bone stock Tacoma?
How many people with modded Tacomas post about electrical problems?
The answer is, almost no one has an electrical problem that was caused by Toyota, but how many casual readers know that aftermarket mods cause 95% of the electrical issues?
That is the problem with complaint threads.

 

It’s more dependable than everything else in its class, but it’s not good at being a truck.

engine need torque down low…doesn’t have any

seats are uncomfortable

auto trans with the V6 is almost unbearable to drive

m/T you have to either smoke the clutch or shift to 4 Low to get a trailer going on any type of a hill.

it honestly might as well be a car.

I’d dump it and get something else but they’re all worse in different ways.

the 1st gen V6 was a good truck.

the 2nd gen with the 4L was OK but the interior was crap and fell apart before 100K miles

the 3rd gen would be good with the OG 4L and a disc brake rear axle and 2nd gen seats under 3rd gen seat covers…

 

Words from the wise.. i'm no longer actively practising the trade at the moment and have only worked as a Chev mechanic and at an aftermarket shop. Yes all vehicles have issues but I've always said that Toyota's are honestly a pretty reliably safe bet and reading these forums(or any other for that matter) will lead you to believe that for every 100 vehicles made, 113 will have the exact same issues.

Everything has common faults. Some bigger than others but it's usually not every or even the majority of vehicles sold that will have issues. Especially when they're stock. Plus (not always) but usually common faults are rectified via tsb... there's new tsb's issued almost every day for issues people don't even know about

 

When I was a young whipper snapper back in the 70s, a vehicle that started at the end of your shift was considered "reliable".

I have had a Toyota truck / ⁹SUV rolling under my ass for about four decades now. And I drove them all into the ground. So why wouldn't I go with yet another one with my 19 OR? Hopefully this one will see me to my celestial dirt nap.

 

Gen 2.5 (2012-2015) Tacomas were the peak. All downhill since then.

 

My 2017 Kia has 70000 trouble free miles.
If this tells you about vehicles now days. Some have issues, some don’t.

My 20 Tacoma 22000 trouble free miles.

 

At a minimum they're good information. Sometimes it is legit, others not so much.

I'll take the electrical challenge. Got mine almost new. The electric mods I've done:

Added OEM fog lights.
Added driving lights.
Added intermittent wipers.
Added aftermarket stereo.

All were done properly, IE the stereo was done by a professional shop I'd done business with prior. I did have a couple of stereo issues over the years but it wasn't a Toyota issue. My driving lights kicked out but they just wore out.

Sage advice re TSB/recall stuffs. Mine got recalled for the airbag and catalytic converter. I knew about the TSB on the frame and did my due diligence..was already aware of history as I said above, plus this forum, plus Toyota sending a letter with clear instructions to follow. I followed them..it rotted..I got a new frame. Easy enough.

I could have just kept driving with my head in the clouds and bitched when things went wrong, or I could have chosen to be engaged. I chose the latter.

 

The truck does what I needed it to do, so yeah it's a good truck

 

Had an '81 Toyota Truck, an '09 TRD Sport, and now a '23 TRD Sport. All new. Never an issue with any of them. Always maintained but never babied any of them.

Great trucks from my point of view.

 

They are the best made small trucks on the road. Very reliable but they have many quirks and annoyances that seem to bother some people more than others. Many of the quirks do bother me over my course of owning 5 3rd gens. The 2gr-fks engine is incredibly reliable and well built. The truck overall is really simply put together for the most part and shares most of its dna with the “legendary” 2nd gen

 

Been a year and a day with my used 2021 TRD Sport 4x4 access cab 6MT. Got it with 27k, will turn 50k tomorrow or Tuesday. Only issues I've had are the AC compressor crapped out right after I got it (warranty) and the left side bed light filled with water and died. Oil change every 6-7k miles, swapped all the trans/axle/transfer case lubricants at 30k with synthetics and will do that every 30k for hopefully a very long time.

Would I like a little more low end torque when I have half a cord of fresh-cut oak on the trailer? Yes. But I can also use the "VTEC kicked in yo!" to work through traffic on my daily commute. Could it get a little better mileage? Yes, but it's the same as my old Volvo 850 was, and on regular instead of premium. The seats are actually pretty good for my frame, and for handling, it's a truck, not a sports car...but it does GREAT for a truck.

Maybe I'm just used to driving junk, but I like my 3rd gen.

 

I drove a couple 2024 Tacomas. Getting back into my 2020 felt great. It felt SOLID. I’m not just saying that as a 3rd Gen owner… it really did drive better compared to the 2024. The test drives made me want to keep my 3rd Gen. The new ones drive worse for me… noticed an odd shimmy over large bumps like the rear end is walking away. The interior felt cheaper minus the huge new screen. The digital gauge cluster was lame compared to even our 2022 Civic Sport Touring.

I’ve actually thought about adding a 2024 4Runner to our family to get the final year of that legendary machine before it changes forever like the Tacoma did.

 

Great truck, lots of miles and no issues. I have a 2023 and I love it. I’ll keep it until the engine/transmission goes and then I’ll put another one in. Keeping it rust free so it’ll be with me the next 30 years. I don’t even have the “common” issues others complain about. Last “simple” truck you could buy so I did, we’re getting a 4Runner too before they massacre my boy with the redesign.

 

I’ve found that most of the people who post on forums have issues with their truck and are looking for help. Your brain has a sort of confirmation bias to see things a certain way when the information it’s constantly fed tilts a certain way. I love my truck. Not many miles on it yet but so far I’ve had no problems.

 

My 3rd gen has been great. Even with me beating on it off roading.

I’m be been thinking about buying a 23 for a new daily.

 

Same here.

Man, I would love to buy a 23 PRO or Sport I would keep using my truck for work/camping and keep the 23 long term. Money is the problem though

 

Ha

 

Yes. It is an excellent truck.

Forums be forums. Humans complain rather than complement.