Toyota Tacoma Lemon Law

The defect drawing the most attention on the redesigned Tacoma is its 8-speed automatic transmission. Owners have reported delayed and harsh shifting, gears slipping, the truck suddenly dropping into neutral, being stuck in a high gear, and a sluggish or hesitant power delivery — some of it within the first few thousand miles. Toyota has responded with a technical service bulletin and software updates rather than a safety recall, which means many owners return to the dealer for the same shifting complaint more than once.

The new Tacoma has also seen safety recalls. Toyota recalled certain trucks over an instrument-panel software error that could leave the speedometer and the brake and tire-pressure warning lights blank at startup, and it issued recalls covering rear brake hoses that can be damaged by mud and debris and load-capacity labels showing inaccurate values. Owners also report smaller gripes with the new powertrain and electronics as the redesign works through its early production.

A problem doesn't have to be part of a recall to make your Tacoma a lemon. Under California's Lemon Law, if a defect that substantially affects the use, value, or safety of your truck can't be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts — or your Tacoma is out of service for an extended time — you may be entitled to a buyback, a replacement, or a cash settlement, with Toyota paying your attorney fees. Whether it's the transmission, the gauges, or the brakes, document every dealer visit for the same issue.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your Tacoma has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Toyota Tacoma qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Toyota pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.