Help choosing what year to avoid buying used

A general google search shows tacomas 2011 to 2017 have the worst frame rust. Are 2018 and newer significantly better?

 

2018+ has different welding on the frame a revised caps and plugs to block holes to help prevent frame rust. there was a "recall" on 16s and 17s to have the frame seam sealed and the new plugs added but toyota kept this pretty hush hush and almost nobody had done. hell barely nobody even knows the frame was updated in 2018. unfortunately toyota stopped doing this frame service in 2022. in general 16s and 17s have the most issues anyways. not saying you should stay away but just know there are more known issues with those years

 

My neighbor has a last year gen2 Tacoma ('15?) with a 150k miles. Several weeks ago I was under it helping to replace u-joints. Noticed a waxy substance in the main c-rails. He said Toyota applied that a few years ago. Overall, his frame looks really good. Been in the TN/KY area.

 

2018 super white unless the paint job doesn’t matter to you

 

“Welding” is the same throughout the 3rd Gen years. What they did do 2018+ is apply yellowish waxy stuff where C channel and boxed frame sandwich together and they added plastic caps at the front section of frame, like you mentioned. No other changes were made.

 

2020+ can have LED headlights and Android auto/carplay.

Don't get super white. They have a nasty reputation for peeling. That's my only regret though no issues thus far.

I freakin LOVE my headlights though and I've had around 16 different vehicles with OEM xenons and LEDs as well as having done several proper, projector retrofits. My affection isn't without significant context in all weather. There are pics somewhere in the bowels of my profile and this site.

 

i cant find the old threads proving me right. or wrong. but i distinctly remember seeing the 2 frames being compared here at some point and there was a few spots on frame with revised welding.

 

Sounds kind of personal!!

 

My 2017 has been solid. HVAC blower motor and battery were replaced under warranty. HVAC blower motor eventually was redesigned and a tsb was issued.

2016's had leaky diff recalls, first year of the 3rd gens. 2018-2019 had build quality/panel alignment/bed alignment issues as Toyota really ramped up production during that time. 2020 and on seems to be pretty decent aside from the flat/crappy paint quality on the front bumpers. I think Toyota did some software revisions on the shifting of the 2020+ models too?

LED headlights can be added to any of the TRD/SR5 versions, but it's significantly cheaper to buy the truck with them from the factory.

I'd be more concerned with frame/undercarriage condition, mileage, maintenance logs, ect. than a specific year.

 

bro the paint is only getting worse on my 2018 it sucks

 

Super white paint recall fix....

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ailure-thread-with-toyota-corp-update.689940/

 

My 17 had been trouble free until just last week when the radio started to act up (two resets within a couple of minutes) but nothing since.

 

I hear you!!
My 2021 white also has paint flake on the inner fender by the A pilar. Pissed me off but imho the white is the best looking Tacoma for years to come.

 

I wouldn't get anything used, you should go for brand fuckin new!
I have a 2016 and my cloth seats have rusted and that has made my elbows rust. GOD life sucks unless you have a NEW truck.

 

What?

 

So hush hush that they mailed me (and every other owner) a letter about it.

 

I'd avoid 16-23

rust is caused by environmental factors
-where it's from/lives
-rust belt area. Instead of sand (no rust), mag chloride in Rocky Mtns (some corrosion) they use salt (most rust)
-salt, snow, winter
-not garage kept
-not maintained/washed
-not underbody treated such as Fluid Film
visible in pics or looking underneath

I'm pretty sure they're all metal frames, probably painted
and not galvanized

Audi is galvanized. Why they have a 12yr anti corrosion perforation warranty.
That also costs more. And is not weld-friendly, creating toxic gas. Nobody welds on them.
As opposed to a Tacoma frame that's not galvanized, that many people weld on.

 

My 17 Tacoma has 0 rust issues underneath and it has been through 5 Ohio winters where they use crap on our road's that reaks havoc on frames, rockers ect. The reason my frame is still "as is from the factory" is because I park it when the first major snowfall approaches and i don't drive it again until spring rains wash the brine off the roads. I also don't drive it on wet roads in the summer.
My bitch with Toyota is the paint. Mine is Barcelona Red and I took it in last at 5 years with 31000 miles on it because I see the paint is getting ready to separate on the roof in places. For a truck that is always garaged and kept as clean as mine is there is no excuse for this, and the fact Toyota won't address it. Instead of a RAV4 I bought a new Mazda CX5. I've driven nothing but Toyotas since 1989. I did just read something about the new Tacoma's coming out now have a modified Tundra frame under them. I still plan to keep my Tacoma forever. I'm 64 so I'm not sure how long that will be.
My winter mule is a 13 Sienna with 80000 miles that is still rust free including underneath and has no paint issues. What was Toyota doing right then?

 

i mean if you say it like that no ahaha. but yea there were very few statements made about this. almost no articles at all. compared to other issues at the time like the fuel pumps and rear diffs outside of this forum youl probably find it hard to find somebody that knows about the 16-17 frame rust

 

i'd suggest buying only certified pre-owned. if that is not an option, i would make sure i knew how the truck was used, the maintenance history, and have a mechanic check it out.

although it seems to be a small percentage, some of these trucks particularly with the V6 have coolant leaks, oil leaks, excessive diff whine, vibrations and shudder, as well as burnt valves. these of course are all very expensive to repair out of warranty.

from what i read here as well as elsewhere, the odds of getting a truck that is free of major defects may be slightly better with years 2020-2023.