I Bought A 2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-road, But Now, I Am Thinking Of Going Back To A 2019 Model, Because Of These Issues

As someone who is following what goes on in Toyota's kitchen, I am curious to learn about the experience of other owners. Toyota Tacoma is, currently, the most popular midsize truck in the US, despite some owners reporting various issues. That said, it appears the third-generation isn't without its faults either as my latest find on ToyotaNation.com discovered.

An older thread regarding 2023 Tacoma transmission issues is being revisited by members, and since, it has become a thread for various other issues that plague the Toyota truck. The latest addition is from March 4, 2025, where a member speaks of various issues that have become so annoying that he is considering (for the first time ever) changing the brand. Here's what deross68 says:  

“I love Toyota. I've owned the corolla, Camry Solara, Tacoma. Loved! 2019 Tacoma had a smaller screen than my phone was annoying. Bought my 2023 TRD Off-road and man do I regret it. Kinda stuck seeing the latest issues they're acknowledging with their newer models. Hope they get it together as I'm ready to get a better, less needy truck. #disappointed. 

First the bearing in my tailgate fails, little plastic bearing btw. Had to pay out of pocket although numerous postings of the same issue. Next, a message to bring to dealer asap for sensor issues, just cleared the code and again out of pocket. Transmission lags at random, of course not while being serviced therefore out of pocket again. Now I'm receiving messages that my battery is low. 2023 has 17,400 miles. Willing to bet this is out of my pocket too. I'm about to trade back down to a 2019. Ridiculous.” 

It seems the third-generation Toyota Tacoma continues to suffer from a variety of issues, even in its last model year. 

According to RepairPal, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma has a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, which is average for the midsize pickup truck segment, and far below the average for a Toyota. I recently reported on another Tacoma issue, this time a 2022 model, which isn't as serious at first glance but still enough to worry truck owners who depend on their Toyota to always perform. Traditionally, late model years are less prone to issues than their early counterparts, but it seems this may not be the case for the third-generation Tacoma. 

While some of these are known to be common issues for the 2023 Toyota Tacoma (like the sensor issues), it seems dealers are not willing to fix them under warranty, at least according to this owner. There are 25 common problems found on the 2023 Toyota Tacoma, but the plastic tailgate bearing is not among them. 

Some owners blame Tacoma's reliability on the manufacturing process 

To be more specific, many owners blame the fact that since 2005, some Toyota Tacoma variants have been built in Mexico - Apaseo El Grande and Tijuana. The third-generation Tacoma is also built in San Antonio, Texas, but only until 2021, so if you have a 2023 Toyota Tacoma, it is built in Tijuana, Mexico. Whether that's the main culprit for the reliability issues is academic at this point, but let's see what other owners are saying. 

Toto says: “At least some Tacomas have been made in Mexico since the beginning of Gen 2 or 2005. Some parts for all Tacomas (including the composite bed) were made in Mexico and shipped to the plant in the US where other Tacomas were made. 

COVID affected the quality of everything. I think all cars have suffered since then." 

Deross68 adds: “I agree. Mine was actually made in Mexico. I ordered it and watched its delivery progress online as it came via ship across the ocean. I was ready to upgrade as I'm not impressed with this truck. Unfortunately, they're now having transmission issues. I'm just waiting it out for now. 

I get it about the battery. I think it's odd to have battery issues already, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Nothing is made to last long nowadays. Soon we'll plugging them in anyhow”. 

Some of these problems are becoming more common and plaguing even newer generations, after less than a year of ownership. Even some 2024 Toyota Tacoma owners are experiencing battery issues, among others. 

The owner and thread-started mentions that he also uses LoJack, which is an aftermarket add-on system that utilizes GPS to help locate the vehicle in case it is stolen. 

Toto says: “Lojack is an aftermarket add-on that draws power, so maybe it's part of the reason why there's a battery issue. 

 

Batteries are made by maybe three companies in North America. No car maker makes their own batteries. And batteries are not exactly a precision piece of equipment. They're very much luck-of-the-draw these days.” 

The FAQ section on LoJack's website claims that the unit may draw a very small amount from your vehicle's battery power. Seeing that the product reviews are generally positive, it seems unlikely that this is the culprit.  

What are your thoughts on Toyota's quality in the past few years? Between the new Toyota V-6 engine having issues, does this shake your trust in the Japanee brand? If you own a newer Toyota model, I would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to drop a line or two in the comment section below so we can have more informative and helpful content for future owners.  

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: 2023 Toyota Tacoma