ToyotaTacoma2021Overview/toyota/tacoma/2021/base/

2021 Toyota Tacoma

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Tacoma.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma is specified to take 6.2 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil and enters the reliability record with zero recalls and 77 total owner complaints, a count led by Service Brakes concerns. Within the nameplate's complaint history spanning 1995 to 2026, that 77-complaint figure sits well below the model's peak year of 2006 (782 complaints) and in the lower band of the documented range, far closer to the 2026 floor of 5 than to the historical high. For a researcher building a longitudinal view of the Tacoma, 2021 reads as a notably quiet service year — a useful benchmark for separating genuine trends from the noise of the model's earlier, complaint-heavy era.

Model year202620252024202320222021201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque83.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnDRIVEROEM · verified
Tire sizeP265/60R18 109HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010P100 alt 178010C040
Spark plug9091901263 alt 9091901287
Front wiper blades852120E050 alt 8522204040
Serpentine belt90916A2037 alt 9091602708
Thermostat9091603157 alt 1632631050
Cabin air filter8850804010 alt 8850801010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length212.2 in
Overall width74.8 in
Overall height70.5 in
Wheelbase127.6 in
Curb weight4295 lb
Track (front / rear)63 / 63.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Tacoma of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.8–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.80 sec — 2016 SR5 V6 Double Cab (5 ft. Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2022TRD Pro V6 Double Cab (5'0.5" Bed) 3.5L V69.21 sec17.14 sec278 hp4x4
2019TRD Pro V6 Double Cab (5'0.5" Bed) 3.5L V67.70 sec16.00 sec278 hp4x4
2023TRD Off-Road V6 Double Cab (5'0.5" Bed) 3.5L V67.90 sec16.10 sec278 hp4x4
2018TRD Off-Road V6 Double Cab (5'0.5" Bed) 3.5L V67.60 sec15.90 sec278 hp4x4
2017TRD Pro V6 Double Cab (5 ft. Bed) 3.5L V67.70 sec16.00 sec278 hp4x4
2016SR5 V6 Double Cab (5 ft. Bed) 3.5L V66.80 sec15.20 sec278 hpRWD
2016TRD Off-Road V6 Double Cab (5 ft. Bed) 3.5L V67.10 sec15.40 sec278 hp4x4
2016TRD Off-Road V6 Double Cab (5 ft. Bed) 3.5L V67.30 sec15.80 sec278 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.2 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, SAE J1703 · Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 83.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.3 qt
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.6 qt
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · Dot 3
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity9.1 qt
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)6.6 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts83.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)600 In Park or Neutral rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)550 In Park or Neutral rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 In Neutral rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug TypeFK20HR-A8

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant CapacityR1234yf
Oil TypePS-D1
Refrigerant CapacityR1234yf
Oil TypePS-D1
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure MinimumStandard: 28.0 @ Idle psi
Fuel Pump Pressure MaximumStandard: 85.0 @ Idle psi
RPMHigh Pressure: 261.0-406.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum44.0 @ Idle psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum50.0 @ Idle psi
RPM44.0-50.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe ThicknessRear: 0.039 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 127 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-2011 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°18 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
129.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°29 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
127.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90° Left Side: Step 1: Recessed Head: 27. ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°, Step 4: 14mm Head: 22.027 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°22 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
129.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°29 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
At 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 20,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Tacoma sits at the low‑point of the generation’s complaint and recall curve, recording just 77 consumer complaints, zero recalls, and the fewest technical service bulletins (165) since the 2020 model year. Across the full record, complaints peaked in the mid‑2000s (up to 782 in 2006) and again in 2016 (323), while recalls generally ranged from 3‑13 per year until a sharp drop to 1 in 2020 and none in 2021. The trend shows a steady decline in both complaints and recalls beginning around 2018, with 2021 representing the nadir of that downward arc. The top complaint categories in 2021—service brakes, “unknown or other,” power‑train, and electrical system—are modest in number, and there were no fire‑related complaints. This data‑driven pattern suggests that the 2021 model year experienced minimal federal‑recorded issues, making it a strong candidate for a reliable used purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
165
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
77
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 77 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes9
Unknown Or Other8
Power Train6
Electrical System4
Engine4
Structure4
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Forward Collision Avoidance3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 165 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0106-22 Rev22026-01-30Electrical SystemOBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
T-SB-0001-262026-01-28Electrical SystemSome 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic…
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
23TE082025-11-11StructureToyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames…
23TE082025-07-31StructureToyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tacoma. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 Tacoma take?

6.2 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 Tacoma have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.