Third gen still bulletproof?

Your 100% right. None of us know except for toyota. It does say something though when a service writer says he sees them often. He said a few per month.

 

JD Power mostly pulls their data from the number of warranty claims per capita. A dealer visit for wind noise or a glitchy infotainment carries the same weight as an engine failure. They do zero to gauge long term 100k, 200k reliability.

 

Based on what? Real or imagined facts? Look at the subject matter in the 3rd Gen section. CEL threads and serious HW issues are absolutely minimal, and we're 7yrs in.

As I noted earlier in this thread, the 3rd Gen release was not good, but even there, the issues were correctable. Toyota just needed to step up faster than they did.

Some sources from a limited search:

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Tacoma/

https://www.cars.com/research/toyota-tacoma/

https://www.copilotsearch.com/posts/most-reliable-year-model-of-toyota-tacoma/​

Consumer Reports and JD Power had some good data also, but I consider them biased. Not sure if I would trust their raw data even though it is favorable.

 

Bought window deflectors for this issue which helped me. Heard newer Tacomas use a thicker window to mitigate this issue

 

That's not true at all.

Ratings Methodology | How J.D. Power Ratings Work | J.D. Power (jdpower.com)

 

So they collect data for the first three months of ownership to gauge initial quality and then use the first three years of ownership. Three years is definitely not enough time to gauge long term reliability. They also lump in minor problems with serious issues like drivetrain problems to create an overall reliability score. That’s not a very sound or smart way of compiling data. When a squeaky glovebox has the same weight on the score as catastrophic engine issues. JD power is a marketing company. They’re problematic data collection is the least of their problems. Car companies pay them to be given praise and awards. All they’re reviews read like the car manufacturers wrote them. The fact that they rank the jeep gladiator above the tacoma and even ridge line for reliability should be enough for any educated buyer to steer clear of their reviews.

 

"And kills men with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse."

 

The 3rd gen is 6 years in.

Is it bullet proof? Id say as much as most other Toyota engines. At 6 years I'd say we know well enough that's its not a lemon. Good enough for me.

Good luck to those who buy any new electric vehicle technology being forced through R&D.

 

I agree. I was just pointing out the fact that their data is not collected by warranty claims. Only Toyota knows their amount of warranty claims.

 

A week ago, I stopped by my local dealer’s service department to pick up a TRD intake that I ordered. While there, I got a chance to talk to some of the people behind the counter and some of the mechanics/techs in the shop.

I decided to ask them about the head/valve issues with the 3.5 that I’ve been reading about on this forum. They looked at me like I was from Mars. They all said that they hadn’t heard of any such issues and that none had come through the shop.

 

Same here.

Other than the paint falling off it's been OK. I had the rear diff and a couple other things but shit happens with chevy, ford, dodge etc too.

It doesn't have that magical "never gonna die" vibe that my 97 camry had though (which is still being daily driven by it's current owner lol).

 

Cant verify longterm yet. I traded both my 2nd gens in before 60k miles. 06 had the overhead temp gauge/compass stop working shortly after warranty expired, 09 had the radio unit go bad.

Currently at 66k miles on my 2019 and nothing but the 3 small recalls.

 

My 07 camry did that! Radio display turned black. Replaced it myself with an ebay one.

 

my 2020 V6 booboo at 65k miles. Obviously not bullet proof and I say not reliable

 

You mean the 05’s motor mounts haven’t caved in yet?

Been here since 2008 and remember all the 05s that had motor mounts caving into the frame. Not a small thing. 2nd gen launch didn’t go well, either.

People talk like the 2nd gens were bomb proof. They weren’t.

 

I have a 2016 as well and I'm only at 70,000. It's extremely nice to hear yours is at 164,000 without issues.

I've done the similar maintenance intervals. 5K oil change, 60K transmission fluid/radiator fluid & spark plugs, brake fluid every 2-3 years, etc.

Rock on 2016 brotha!

 

Ya mine was still under warranty. There was a bad batch of radios back in 09

 

in 5-10 years, i suspect the 3rd gen tacoma will have done nothing to improve the overall reliability reputation of toyota. at best, it will have no effect.

one thing is certain, having owned a 1st gen and currently still own a 2009 camry, and driven, rode in and looked at many other toyota vehicles, the fit and finish of the 3rd gen tacoma is the worst of them. i hope this is not an indication of what is to come with drivetrain reliability as these trucks age.

if toyota hits it out of the park with the next gen tacoma, a used 3rg gen will be less desirable and the value will drop considerably.

 

The Hilux isn't...


So I doubt the Tacoma is...

 

My 2nd gen was bulletproof?! Now you tell me.