A corroded weld on a Toyota Tacoma's shock absorber can let the whole external oil reservoir break off and land on the road while the truck is moving. That's the defect behind NHTSA campaign 26V514, filed this month and covering 48,280 trucks.
What NHTSA campaign 26V514 covers
The recall targets the front and rear Bilstein shock absorbers fitted to certain 2024 and 2025 Tacoma trucks. Untreated metal surfaces between the shock body and its external oil reservoir corrode as moisture works into the joint over time. The buildup stresses the welds holding the reservoir in place, and once a weld fails, the reservoir can separate entirely, according to Toyota's filing. A detached reservoir means reduced suspension damping for the driver and a loose metal part in the road for everyone behind the truck.
Here's how the affected population breaks down:
| Segment | Units affected |
|---|---|
| 2024-2025 Tacoma (non-hybrid, with Bilstein shocks) | 43,827 |
| 2024 Tacoma Hybrid TRD Off-Road | 4,453 |
| 2025 units (additional match) | 2 |
| Total | 48,280 |
Toyota notified dealers on August 6, 2026. Owner notification letters start going out September 21, with most affected owners contacted by early October. The remedy is a free dealer inspection of the front and rear shock assemblies, with replacement of any unit showing corrosion. No crashes or injuries have been reported so far.
Where this lands on the used Tacoma market
Both model years already carried recalls before this one. The 2025 Tacoma has three prior campaigns on file: an instrument panel software glitch, a rear brake hose wear issue, and a front driveshaft CV joint defect. The 2024 truck, the first model year of the current-generation redesign, has one: the same rear brake hose issue. Neither of those totals is unusual for a truck's first two model years, but 26V514 is now the biggest campaign either year has seen individually.
CarScout's August 23, 2026 snapshot shows what's actually for sale in that range right now:
| Model year | Prior recalls | CarScout listings | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 2,661 | $16,980 to $68,991 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3,087 | $21,480 to $86,515 |
Not every 2024 or 2025 Tacoma has the affected Bilstein shocks. TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims are the most likely to carry them, since Bilstein units are part of those off-road-oriented suspension packages rather than the base setup. A base SR or SR5 on standard shocks is less likely to be in scope, but "less likely" isn't the same as "cleared."
How to check a specific truck before you buy
Trim level narrows things down, but it doesn't confirm anything on its own. Toyota assigns recalls by VIN, and build variations within a single trim mean two trucks off the same lot in the same month can land on opposite sides of the recall. Get the VIN before you negotiate, not after you've shaken hands on a price.
Run the VIN through NHTSA's own recall lookup or a free VIN-based tool before you commit. If a seller hesitates to hand over the VIN, treat that as the bigger red flag. A truck's recall history follows the VIN forever, whether or not a previous owner ever brought it in for the fix, so a private-party seller's word that "it's fine" is worth exactly as much as they can prove with paperwork.
FAQ
What is NHTSA recall 26V514? It's Toyota's August 2026 campaign covering 48,280 2024-2025 Tacoma trucks, including the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid TRD Off-Road. Front and rear Bilstein shock absorber reservoirs can corrode and detach from the shock body, reducing suspension performance and dropping a metal part onto the road. Dealers will inspect and replace affected units at no cost.
Is it safe to drive a used Tacoma with this recall open? There's no stop-sale order, and Toyota hasn't reported any crashes tied to the defect yet. The truck remains driveable, but a corroded reservoir can fail without warning, so don't put off the free inspection once your dealer has parts available. Buying one now is fine as long as you schedule the check promptly.
Does this recall affect every 2024-2025 Tacoma? No. It's limited to trucks built with Bilstein shock absorbers, most commonly TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims, plus the 2024 Tacoma Hybrid TRD Off-Road. A base SR or SR5 on standard shocks is unlikely to be included, but VIN lookup is the only way to know for certain.
Shopping a used Tacoma and want to check a specific VIN against every open NHTSA campaign, not just this one? CarScout's recall lookup tool pulls the full record for free.