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Toyota Tacoma · 3rd gen (2016–2023)

2018 Toyota Tacoma

Learn

What changed

  • Toyota Safety Sense P, with automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise, becomes standard. The four's manual is dropped.1

What it came with

  • 2.7L four-cylinder2,1

    159 hp. SR and SR5

  • 3.5L V62,3

    278 hp

Transmissions
6-speed automatic2,4, 6-speed manual2,4
Drivetrains
2WD2, 4WD2
Trims
SR2,1, SR52,1, TRD Sport2,1, TRD Off-Road2,3, Limited2,1, TRD Pro (2017–2023)3,4
Packages
SR Utility Package5,6, SR Convenience Package5,6, SR5 Appearance Package5,6, Premium and Technology Packages5,6

Colors

  • Super White 2016–2023 5,7
  • Magnetic Gray Metallic 2016–2023 5,8
  • Black 5,9,8
  • Midnight Black Metallic 2018–2022 10,11
  • Silver Metallic 5,6,12
  • Silver Sky Metallic 2017–2018 9,10
  • Barcelona Red Metallic 2016–2020 5,12
  • Quicksand 2016–2020 5,12
  • Inferno 2016–2018 5,10
  • Blazing Blue Pearl 2016–2018 5,10
  • Cement 2017–2021 9,12,13
  • Cavalry Blue 2018–2019 10,6 Rare
  • Windchill Pearl 14 Rare

Interiors

  • Cement Gray Fabric, SR, SR5, 2016–2018 5,9,10
  • Black with Caramel stitching Fabric, SR5, 2016–2018 5,9,10
  • Black with Red stitching Fabric, SR5, 2016–2018 5,9,10
  • Graphite Fabric, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, 2016–2018 5,9,10
  • Black with Orange stitching Fabric, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, 2016–2018 5,9,10
  • Hickory Leather, Limited, 2016–2018 5,9,10
  • Black Leather, Limited, 2018–2023 10,14,8
  • Black Leather, with red stitching from 2022, TRD Pro, 2017–2023 9,14,8

Compare with another year

Buy

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

  • Rear differential leak or howl All years One source so far

    What to check: Look for oil on the rear differential, and listen for a howl at highway speed.

    Two members of a TacomaWorld thread on 3rd gen problems report rear differential trouble: one a leak, and the other a howl that a service bulletin did little for.

    Sources 15

Rare catches

Rare options, colors and interiors to look out for, and whether finding one is good news.

  • Rare Cavalry Blue Color

    TRD Pro only for 201810

  • Rare Windchill Pearl Color

    The 2021 Nightshade Edition14

Recalls

  • 18V888000 2018–2019

    A badly machined brake master cylinder can damage a seal and reduce braking.16,17

  • 20V012000 2018–2019

    The low-pressure fuel pump in the tank can fail and stall the engine.16,17

  • 20V682000 2017–2020

    The low-pressure fuel pump in the tank can fail and stall the engine. This widens recall 20V012000.18,16,17,19

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

  • Sought after: 2018 to 2023 2018–2023 One source so far

    The same dealer says Toyota had addressed most of the early faults by 2018, with a recalibrated automatic and standard safety aids.20

  • Sought after: 6-speed manual All years One source so far

    Four members of a TacomaWorld thread on 3rd gen problems recommend a manual, and three of them name the 2017 6-speed manual 4x4.15

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.

Sources

  1. Edmunds 2018 review
  2. Edmunds 2016 review
  3. Edmunds 2017 review
  4. Edmunds 2020 review
  5. Toyota Newsroom (2016 Tacoma)
  6. Toyota Newsroom (2019 Tacoma)
  7. Toyota Newsroom (what's new for 2023)
  8. Toyota Newsroom (2023 Tacoma packages)
  9. Toyota Newsroom (2017 Tacoma)
  10. Toyota Newsroom (2018 Tacoma)
  11. Toyota Newsroom (what's new for 2022)
  12. Toyota Newsroom (2020 Tacoma)
  13. Toyota Newsroom (2021 Tacoma pricing)
  14. Toyota Newsroom (2021 Tacoma)
  15. TacomaWorld (3rd gen problems)
  16. NHTSA recalls (2018 Tacoma)
  17. NHTSA recalls (2019 Tacoma)
  18. NHTSA recalls (2017 Tacoma)
  19. NHTSA recalls (2020 Tacoma)
  20. FLEX (Tacoma years)