Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
18–21 mpgcombined; city 17–20, highway 20–24; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$15,470–$18,050U.S. average; Ohio $13,820–$16,120 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2020 Tacoma. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Tacoma. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Fuel/propulsion system
21
0
0
0
Power train
15
0
0
0
Engine
14
1
0
1
Service brakes
12
0
0
0
Electrical system
9
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
9
2
0
2
Unknown or other
9
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
9
0
0
0
Air bags
4
3
0
4
Steering
4
0
0
0
Back over prevention
3
0
0
0
Structure
3
1
0
1
10 more parts
Fuel system, gasoline
2
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
1
0
2
Seat belts
2
0
0
0
Seats
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Suspension
1
1
0
1
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Tacoma over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 198 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Tacoma, the latest on Jan 30, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (78), structure (50), electrical system (46), power train (14), engine and engine cooling (11).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2020 Tacoma.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data