Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Accelerated by itself. Unintended acceleration. My wife was driving our 2006 4x4 Toyota Tacoma on a 55mph road with or 3 year old and 1 year old children on March 2017 at around 12:00 noon, when she started to decelerate to turn onto side road she depressed the brakes but they didn't work, she pressed harder and there was no change; then the truck accelerated on its own while she still only applied the brake pedal, the brakes finally worked and she was able to navigate the turn, yet much too fast. Overt the next two miles to our house on a 35mph road, she stopped the truck fine (once at a stop sign, and once at our mailbox). However, as she pulled into our garage she stepped on the brake pedal and again the brakes did not work, and the truck again accelerated on its own and hit a tool cabinet which hit the garage wall. Thankfully she and the kids were OK. …
2006 Toyota Tacoma double cab has had acceleration when brakes were being applied, and episodes where the brake pedal can be pushed completely to the floor with no brake action what so ever. Have taken vehicle into Toyota dealer on 5 occasions with the complaint, but each time have been told that they couldn't find anything wrong (I think their investigation involved driving it around and seeing if the brakes worked--and they did at those times). The problem is episodic, and so is difficult to recreate. I believe that there has been a defect in the braking/cruise control/acceleration system since shortly after I purchased it. Today I was driving at a low speed and tried to stop at a red light. I pushed the brake pedal, it went to the floor and the truck did not stop, causing me to crash into another vehicle. I see that there are multiple similar complaints about this vehicle. …
Took truck in for frames inspection--dealer says I get a new frame--no cost. Dealer is backing out of their word because campaign ended 3 months later--was told campaign would be good for several more year. Service adviser never checked ending date. Emergency brake cables are rusted again--fixed several times--poor product. Rear differential cover plug rusted beyond able to remiove to change fluid--another huge rust issue with Tacoma trucks--not just the frame. The steering mechanism, timing belt pulleys, wiring supports, etc --anything that is metal is corroded because of the poor quality of steel--just not the frame. The timing pulleys were so corroded that they cut my bel--lucky for me it still had 50% of it remaining and did not blow engine--truck had 63,000 miles on it at time. …
I was creeping--2 or 3 MPH--up to an intersection in my 06 Tacoma. When I tried to stop, I could feel the anti lock brakes shifting around, but the truck would not stop. It "drove itself" into the path of a mack dump truck, totaling my truck & sending me to the chiropractor twice so far. If my truck had managed to get another 2 or 3 feet into the intersection, the dump truck would have hit my driver's side door instead of the front tire. Odds are, I would not have survived that crash. My insurance is finding me at fault, Toyota offered to run diagnostics on the truck after it was fixed. My truck was hit so hard, it busted the engine block, so it won't be fixed, it's considered totaled. So I'm ?!@#$% unless you folks can get something done!
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH when he started to brake the brakes did not engage.the vehicle accelerated on its own and hit a vehicle in front of him . There were no damages to the vehicle, the police was not contacted. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where they tested the brake system and could not duplicate the failure. This failure has occurred about to 4 to 5 times in one year. There had been no repairs done to the vehicle to date. The failure mileage was 50800 and current mileage was 50902.
On November 09, 2009, about 19:21 p.m. I was driving my vehicle Toyota Tacoma 2006. I was unable to stop at the red signal due to brake failure and my car was going down the grade totaly out of control without brakes and unable to stiring the wheel and after this I struck another vehicle. The accident happened in paterson, passaic county, new jersey. The police report # 09-141205. The next day after the accident Toyota sent me a recall letter about floor mat interference with accelerator pedal.
Excessive corrosion and rusted through frame that is unable to support weight of vehicle. Had a brake line bust due to being rusted or corroded out. Also suspension shows excessive rust and corrosion. Cooling lines corroded. Power steering lines corroded. Transmission lines corroded. Any metal line is that's attached to this vehicle are corroded. And all brackets and hardware attached to frame and even the metal pulleys all excessively corroded.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Tacoma. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed through a fence. There were no injuries. He was able to pump the brake pedal and the vehicle gradually slowed down and came to a complete stop. The contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 4,900 updated 8/10/09
2006 Toyota Tacoma quad cab 4wd. On 02/10/2010 brakes failed to work and vehicle rear ended a car. No injuries. On dry pavement vehicle started to stop and ABS felt like they were deploying. Vehicle stopped slowing down and brakes failed at approximately 3mph and ran into rear of vehicle in front. Toyota says they can not replicate situation. Will it take a death to have NHTSA investigate and hold Toyota accountable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Tacoma. While driving at approximately 20 MPH, the brake pedal failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.
Brake complaints in other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Toyota Tacoma, 6% of the model year's 782 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Tacoma brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2006 Toyota Tacoma, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Tacoma brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.