The 2019 Tacoma is generally reliable but the 3.5L V6 has a catastrophic oil-consumption defect causing premature engine failure, while transmissions suffer from cooler and mount issues that Toyota has struggled to address adequately.
3.5L V6 Piston Ring Failure and Severe Oil Consumption
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 miles), Blue smoke from exhaust on cold starts or acceleration, Check engine light for misfire codes, Knocking or ticking noises as oil starvation progresses, Complete engine seizure if oil level drops unnoticed
Fix: TSB exists but often requires complete engine replacement or rebuild with updated pistons and rings. Toyota warranty extension covers some cases to 150k miles, but outside coverage requires full tear-down: 25-35 labor hours for engine R&R and rebuild or reman engine installation.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under vehicle (red/pink fluid), Low fluid warning or slipping transmission, Lines corrode or crack at connections to radiator, Fluid level drops quickly if leak progresses
Fix: Replace cooler lines and fittings, flush system, refill with WS fluid. Common enough that many shops stock the lines. 2-3 labor hours plus fluid and parts.
Estimated cost: $400-750
Rear Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive drivetrain movement felt through cab, Vibration at idle or during acceleration, Visible cracking or separation of rubber mount
Fix: Replace rear transmission mount and crossmember bushings if deteriorated. Access is straightforward but requires supporting transmission. 1.5-2.5 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $300-500
Fuel Pump Recall and Premature Failure
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: No-start condition with cranking but no fuel pressure, Stalling at idle or under load, Rough running or hesitation, Check engine light with fuel pressure codes
Fix: Two separate NHTSA recalls for fuel pump failures (low-pressure pump in tank). If recall wasn't completed, do it immediately. Non-recall failures also occur: fuel pump module R&R requires dropping tank. 3-4 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Master Cylinder Brake Fluid Leakage
Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Soft or spongy brake pedal feel, Brake pedal slowly sinks to floor when holding pressure, Fluid leak visible at rear of master cylinder, Low brake fluid warning light
Fix: NHTSA recall exists for specific VINs with defective master cylinder seals. Outside recall, replace master cylinder, bench-bleed, install, and bleed entire system. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Head Gasket Failure (2.7L I4)
Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust (coolant burning), Overheating with no external leaks, Milky oil or oil in coolant reservoir, Bubbles in radiator when running
Fix: The 2.7L I4 can develop external head gasket leaks or internal failures. Requires cylinder head removal, resurface, new gasket, timing components. 12-16 labor hours. Less common than V6 piston issues but still appears in repair data.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000
Owner tips
3.5L V6 owners: check oil level every 500 miles religiously — if consumption exceeds 1 quart per 1,000 miles before 150k, pursue Toyota warranty extension immediately
Change transmission fluid every 30k miles despite Toyota's 'lifetime' claim — prevents cooler line blockage and extends transmission life
Verify fuel pump and master cylinder recalls completed using VIN lookup on NHTSA site before purchase
Consider extended warranty on used purchases specifically covering engine internal components if buying a 3.5L V6
Buy the 2.7L I4 without hesitation; approach the 3.5L V6 with extreme caution and verified service records or warranty coverage for the piston/ring defect.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020.
On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 19V244000
2019-03-27
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · 18V888000
2018-12-13
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma vehicles. Improper machining of the brake master cylinder may result in internal damage of one of the seals, affecting brake performance.
Consequence: Reduced brake performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began January 28, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J16/J06.
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