Toyota 86 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Toyota 86 options? We analyzed 4 model years (2017–2020) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota 86 has 14 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls across model years 2017–2020. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2017 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- 86
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2020 (4 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 14
- Safety recall campaigns
- 4
- Crash-related complaints
- 2
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (10 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2017 (2 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Good
By model year
Toyota 86: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
GoodThe TOYOTA 86 has 14 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. 2 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 14 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 4 federal recall campaigns
- 2 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
4 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2020. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 14 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
14 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END SHIMMIES AND SHAKES WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS. PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT THE FORUM THREAD REGARDING THIS ONGOING ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE MODEL AT THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T60099_DS754672?SNTEMLID=4482627649#MSG1069173 A REPAIR IS ALSO DESCRIBED IN THE FORUM CONVERSATIONS. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO RECALL.
Right and left strut mounts struts are making noise popping noise when turning the wheel also transmission is very hot in cabin. Back up camera blanks out on hot says
On [XXX], my 2019 Toyota 86 experienced a sudden engine failure while I was driving, causing the vehicle to lose power and become undrivable. The vehicle was towed to Camelback Toyota in Phoenix, AZ. The dealership initially diagnosed the failure as being caused by an “overfilled oil” condition. However, the vehicle was then inspected by Costa Oil (the shop that performed my most recent oil change). Costa Oil confirmed in writing that the oil level was within Toyota specifications, directly contradicting the dealer’s diagnosis. Camelback Toyota later today stated that the cause of failure was “undetermined unless the engine is disassembled.” Toyota corporate has denied goodwill repair coverage, despite the fact that the vehicle was properly maintained and the failure occurred suddenly without warning. This type of failure presents a safety hazard because the car lost power unexpectedly while in motion. It appears consistent with known engine defects in Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ models related to oil starvation and RTV sealant contamination. I have written documentation from both Toyota and Costa Oil available to NHTSA upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota 86. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH with her grandson inside the vehicle, the contact heard a tapping sound coming from engine and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the right side of the road while awaiting tow truck assistance. The contact was unaware of a warning light being illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then towed to a dealer and the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
My SRS warning light keeps coming on every time I Start my vehicle. THE WARNING LIGHT ON MY DASH BORD IT READS CHECK SRS AIR BAG SYSTEM.IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR AT LAST 4 WEEKS IT WON'T GO AWAY REGARDLESS.
MY DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER THEN NOTICED WATER COMING FROM DASH ONTO MY FEET. BROUGHT MY CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. 1 MONTH AND 1/2 LATER CAR CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUE BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. I AM HOLDING ALL STAR TOYOTA LIABLE.
Read 8 more owner reports
TOYOTA KNOWINGLY & WILLFULLY HAS MANUFACTURED AND SOLD DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO CONSUMERS WITH A KNOWN SAFETY RISK DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAKING THE VEHICLES UNSAFE TO DRIVE, HAVE NOT NOTIFIED CONSUMERS OF THIS MAJOR SAFETY RISK, HAVE NOT COMPENSATED OWNERS FOR THE LACK OF USE & THE DECREASE IN VALUE OF SAID CAR. THE MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE FINED & POSSIBLY HELD PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA 86 WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS RELEASED UPON IMPACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED BURNS AND WRIST INJURIES THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST AND HEAD INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED FOR BOTH OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER OF THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. THE DRIVERS, PASSENGER AND SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
I WAS STILL AMD GOT HITBY CADILLAC SU
BRAND NEW CAR LIST THEN 1000 MILES SHUTS OFF GAS LEAKS FROM UNDER THE HOOD TO THE GROUND AND CATCHES ON FIRE WITH THE LESS THAN 5 SECOND.
TOYOTA HAS BEEN CLAIMING THAT: "...EVERY 2019 TOYOTA 86 COMES STANDARD WITH TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE P (TSS-P) AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE P (TSS-P) IS A SUITE OF ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES THAT INCLUDES: PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM WITH PEDESTRIAN DETECTION FUNCTION, DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL, AUTO HIGH BEAMS, AND LANE DEPARTURE ALERT WITH STEERING ASSIST FUNCTION. CLICK FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS EXTRAORDINARY VALUE (PLEASE BE PATIENT WHILE THE PAGE LOADS)." THIS IS A FALSE STATEMENT, AS A 2019 TOYOTA 86 OWNER, IT DOES NOT COME WITH ANY OF THE SAFETY FEATURES LIKE IT WAS CLAIMING IN THE TSS-P SESSION.
VALVE SPRINGS ON CYLINDER TWO HAVE NOT ENOUGH TENSION CAR ISN'T WORKING RIGHT NEEDS NEW VALVE SPRINGS
AS MY SON WAS DRIVING FROM DAVENPORT ON I-4 TO CONNECT WITH I-75 ON HIS WAY TO NAPLES, ON THURSDAY JANUARY 10, 2019 AROUND 10:50 AM, HE SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED A LARGE METAL OBJECT ON THE ROAD. HE HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO TO MOVE OVER AS THERE WHERE MANY OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND HE HAD NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUT TO DRIVE OVER IT CAUSING MULTIPLE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED MY SON TO EXPERIENCE CHEST PAIN AND HIS FIANCEE SUFFERED A PANIC ATTACK. WHEN THEY STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS HECTIC AND THEY DECIDED TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THEY WERE ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND DECIDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BUT ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND STOPPED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO CHECK IF ANY LIQUIDS WHERE LEAKING OR ANY ENGINE DAMAGE HAD BEEN CAUSED. AT THE DEALERSHIP THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. AFTER THAT, THEY THOUGHT THEY ONLY HAD TEMPORARY ATTACKS AND RETURNED TO THE HOUSE TO REST AND PROCEEDED TO CANCEL ALL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE DAY. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT PAST THE AUBURNDALE EXIT. MY SON IS 45 YEARS OLD AND WAS RIDING THE CAR WITH HIS FIANCEE WHO WAS GOING TO A MEDIATION AS SHE IS A MEDIATOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PICTURES IN THE EVENT THAT MORE ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW THE DAMAGES AS THERE ARE ONLY 5 SLOTS FOR DOCUMENTATION ON THIS FORM.
Note: even though this is a Toyota vehicle, it has a Subaru Boxer 4 engine. This issue has happened twice this year, once at a stoplight back on May 20 and again Oct. 16 while in line at a Chic Filet. In both cases pressing the brake harder helped keep me from moving forward. During the second instance, I put the car in neutral and it redlined for two more seconds before coming back down to normal. Until then, the tires were trying to grab and started squealing. Now I have also tried to press the brake with my left foot and press the gas with my right and the fail safe does indeed kick in and prevent the car from engaging the tires. But these two cases my right foot was firmly on the brake and I had been sitting idel for 10 seconds or longer before the sudden acceleration started. As I write this review, my car is in the shop getting new brakes and I've askd them to review the EDR. If there is a way to update this post I will with any additional findings. With my car sitting so low to the ground, I could have been injured as the car in front of me was an SUV sitting higher than my front end. It could also have given occupants of that vehicle whiplash potentially.
Showing 14 of 14 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Toyota 86
These pages show model-year patterns across 4 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Toyota 86, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Toyota 86 has 14 complaints on record across 4 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Toyota 86 has 4 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 2 of the Toyota 86's 14 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Good) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Toyota 86 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Toyota 86 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Toyota 86 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Check a Toyota 86 by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Toyota 86.
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Toyota 86 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota 86 reliable?
Good. The Toyota 86 has 14 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Toyota 86 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (10 complaints), 2017 (2 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Toyota 86 problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (5 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (3 complaints).
Does the Toyota 86 have recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Toyota 86. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.