Fuel system, brakes and engine issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
While many people are focused on the Big Three when it comes to trucks, it’s hard to overlook the 2020 Toyota Tacoma. The company claims owners can “play harder” with this model. However, the engine, fuel system and service brakes leave a lot to be desired.
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Behind any good truck is a powerful engine. After all, it’s very difficult to tow and haul goods if the engine doesn’t hold up. Yet, owners have some concerns.
Here is one from Cars.com. “I do not feel safe driving my brand new truck. Engine has stalled twice and cut off while backing up in the road, dealership cannot identify to fix, the truck shows an engine stall code. I should not have to worry when buying a new vehicle that it may cut off at any time.”
Toyota hasn’t said a lot about engine troubles, but there was one communication that’s interesting. Service Bulletin #T-TT-0521-19 talks about the trouble with the direct injectors. Without properly working injectors, the engine is not able to run correctly, causing trouble on the road. In fact, it not only becomes difficult to “play harder,” but also impossible to do just about anything with reliability. Maybe it’s time for the Tacoma to take a rest instead. It might be nap time.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Air Bags | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
Working in conjunction with the engine is the fuel system. These components are responsible for supplying gasoline to the engine. However, this is an area of further complaints.
Here’s one from the NHTSA. “The vehicle smelled of gasoline. After driving the vehicle, whether it was 2 miles or 20 miles, once reaching the destination you could smell gasoline. The smell lingered for at least 30 minutes after the vehicle was parked.”
Again, Toyota has remained quiet. Maybe the company thinks that the gasoline smell promotes playtime or adventure. However, there has never been a gasoline-scented air freshener because customers don’t want to smell this odor. It seems that Toyota needs to go back to the drawing board and learn better what the customers are looking for.
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While the previous systems help the truck go, the service brakes are used to stop the pickup. Sadly, the truck has just as much trouble stopping as it does going.
One more NHTSA complaint states, “The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. While driving at 40 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but pulsated. There were no warning lights illuminated. [Dealership] was contacted by phone however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 1,800.”
Again, anyone searching for help from Toyota won’t find it. The automaker is only concerned with how it looks at this time. In fact, the only communications that remotely talks about brakes is Service Bulletin #T-SB-0009-19_Rev. In this bulletin, dealerships are told what to look for before delivering a vehicle after it has been in storage. Other than that, the company doesn’t seem concerned with the brakes at all. After all, bumper cars are a great way to “play harder,” but it’s probably not safe with a truck.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Toyota pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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