Looking for the best year, have a few questions.

I'm in the market for a used Tacoma. I've sat in the 16+ and don't fit well. So I'm leaning towards 2012 to 2015. I've driven both, and like already mentioned, fit more comfortably in the 15 and older. I'm set on 4x4 cause dammit, mom and dad aren't talking me out of it this time, and a four door for the kiddo and old lady... I'm a Toyota guy at heart, and owned an '04 prerunner back in 04 for 12 years.. got rid of it cause the kid was only getting bigger. Put 175k on it.... So help a brother out. What to look for, any quirks? Known issues? I see that it's possible to move the back up camera image from mirror to stereo screen. Is that limited to certain years? Any mods that are truly worth doing, besides going straight rock crawler! Again, just need some pointers. Thanks for taking the time... Flamers, flame on..

 

12s had some emissions quirks

13-15 are all about the same. Finding modest miles and good records in a private sale are the key IMHO.

 

Short Answer. Buy a 13-15.


Don’t buy an 05-06.

07’-08 are basic. They used a mechanical Limited Slip differential, or open Differential. And didn’t have the Auto-LSD.
The mechanical LSD can be expensive to fix or replace.
They don’t preform as well off-road, but by no means are they bad. They can get you there.
It just takes a little more work.

09-11 are fairly simple and basic. They don’t the Secondary Air Injection System. (SAIS)
12’ had issues with the SAIS. You can’t “upgrade” it to the 13’+ system. I’d avoid the 12’.
They do have the Auto-LSD which helps a lot compared to earlier models.

13’-15’ are GREAT trucks. The best of the 2nd Gen truck, IMO.
The only down side there is the extra SAIS components that are in the way if when working on them.
(They aren’t really in the way all that much)

 

I intentionally looked for a 14-15 because my thinking was the last few model years would mean all of the growing pains and kinks would have been worked out by then. Bought it with 50k miles in 2020, about to hit 90k, haven't had a single issue. Just maintenance as you should across the way. I vote 13-15 as well. Seems to be a winner.

Also not sure if people hate the SAIS or something, never had a problem with it. I did the uni filter mod within a week of owning it and never touched anything relating to it again.

 

So i figured I'd let the thread stew a couple days. im sure this question gets asked daily. But for those who did respond, Thanx. I did do some research, and found some interesting things. Like bad steering wobble. Is that a 13-15 thing? Read up on the sais thingy... May look into deleting it entirely, though I do live in north bay, CA. Not sure, still gotta pick one out.. again, thx

 

Did you consider or test drive a 2020+ or newer 3rd gen due to the available power adjustable seat?

 

Yes, they are just WAY too expensive for the lowest sr5 package. Otherwise I would.

 

In my case, the steering wobble was just a bad alignment. I think the majority of the time that's what it ends up being. If you live in CA, probably shouldn't delete the SAIS since it is emissions. Just my 2 cents, I don't live there, and SAIS doesn't bother me.

Good luck!

 

2015 here, no wobble.

Obvious stuff but check the frame carefully.

When I was searching a few years ago it was important to me to have a 14 or 15,
for a few reasons. Likely the lowest mileage, better looking front end, nicer head unit. So much else is the same, so it came down to some unimportant aesthetic things.

Once you buy, start all the maintenance fresh. Change all the fluids, filters, etc.

 

Yeah, I really feel for those trying to purchase a vehicle in these crazy times. I didn't want a new Tacoma back in 2020. I thought I could get a good used one. They were almost as much as a new one back then around here. So I made the tough decision to go new. Needed a newer vehicle and really couldn't wait either.

Now it's gotten even worse. My nephew just bought a average shape 2013 with 150K KM's (94K Miles) for $30K CDN. I was blown away. He was lucky to get that even. I dunno, this is stupid crazy.

 

The SAIS system in 2012 is the same as 2013-2015 with the exception that the 2013+ have a software modification to run the pump on shutdown as well as startup.

The 2012 however is the only year to have a warranty extension and special service campaign where all the valves were replaced and the pump serviced and/or replaced. So when your 2013-2015 system croaks you are on the hook for an expensive repair which isn’t the case for 2012.

 

Plenty of good points above. I've been happy with my 2013 for 8 years now, just rolled 100K mi. I bought it new in Jan. 2014 as a leftover so was considering 13s and 14s. The only differences between them were some picky personal preferences. I wanted a 2013 since it still had its own constant exterior temperature readout. I actually prefer having the backup cam display in the mirror and it still had that too. It replaced a 2009 DCLB Sport that I rolled, some glitchy things the 09 had like the radio issue, were resolved in the 13s. It was a nice if subtle upgrade I wouldn't have otherwise made without the accident.

 

I bought a 2012 ACCESS CAB TRD Off Road about six weeks ago. 158,000 miles. I took it to Toyota and asked them to check the SAIS. They determined it needed to be replaced. They ordered the parts and provided a loaner when they did the repair. Their bill showed just over $600. But everything was covered by the campaign so no cost to me.

Love the truck. Spent six months looking for it and was lucky enough to find the color I wanted…white.