2025 Toyota Tacoma Driveshaft Recall (25V656)
Toyota Motor Corporation · 5,960 vehicles · Reported October 1, 2025
Toyota Motor Corporation is recalling 5,960 2025 Toyota Tacoma; 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid vehicles. The front driveshaft constant-velocity (CV) joint may deform and break. A broken driveshaft can impair steering. Vehicles with full-time 4WD may experience a vehicle rollaway while parked without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V656 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V656000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25TB11 / 25TA11 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 1, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Toyota Motor Corporation |
| Vehicles | 2025 Toyota Tacoma; 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid |
| Units affected | 5,960 |
| Build dates | January 23, 2025 to March 5, 2025 |
| Component | Power Train > Driveline > Driveshaft |
| Safety risk | A broken driveshaft can impair steering. Vehicles with full-time 4WD may experience a vehicle rollaway while parked without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Toyota Tacoma in recall 25V656?
The front driveshaft constant-velocity (CV) joint may deform and break.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025 Tacoma and Tacoma Hybrid vehicles. The front driveshaft constant-velocity (CV) joint may deform and break.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 Tacoma with recall 25V656?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A broken driveshaft can impair steering. Vehicles with full-time 4WD may experience a vehicle rollaway while parked without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A broken driveshaft can impair steering. Vehicles with full-time 4WD may experience a vehicle rollaway while parked without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Tacoma shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the driveshaft, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V656?
Recall 25V656 covers 5,960 vehicles: 2025 Toyota Tacoma; 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid.
NHTSA lists 5,960 vehicles in this campaign, built January 23, 2025 to March 5, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Toyota | Tacoma |
| 2025 | Toyota | Tacoma Hybrid |
What is the fix for the Tacoma driveshaft recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace both front driveshaft assemblies as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace both front driveshaft assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 11, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB11 and 25TA11.
Manufacturer recall number: 25TB11 / 25TA11.
When was recall 25V656 announced?
Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 25V656 to NHTSA on October 1, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Toyota Motor Corporation's filing). |
| March 5, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| October 1, 2025 | Toyota Motor Corporation filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V656000. |
| August 11, 2026 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 12 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 41 days. If your Tacoma was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Tacoma is part of recall 25V656?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V656 is open on your Tacoma, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V656000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Tacoma owners do about recall 25V656?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V656000 applies to your Tacoma.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Toyota dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any driveshaft symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Tacoma owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 20 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 25V656 was reported on October 1, 2025, owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after October 1, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 100 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 20 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Toyota Tacoma: 100 complaints in total, 20 about the transmission
- 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Vehicle was set in tow/haul mode. Tow/haul mode provides higher acceleration by changing the operation of transmission. Vehicle was towing 2500lb cargo trailer on interstate. Driver stopped at rest area and turned off engine and left vehicle. Driver returned to vehicle 5 minutes later. Driver started engine and proceeded to leave the rest area.
2025 Toyota Tacoma owner, NH, NHTSA complaint 11658635, filed May 3, 2025
Turning a corner my left axle broke and I only have 3100 miles on this vehicle. Still is not fixed because of warranty issues. When I do get it back I don’t know how I’m suppose to feel safe driving it.
2025 Toyota Tacoma owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11681892, filed August 20, 2025
The vehicle was being operated in 4-wheel-drive, mode 4H, and when turning to the left at low speed, there was a grinding noise from the front of the vehicle and it would not proceed.
2025 Toyota Tacoma owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11699826, filed November 17, 2025
Can recall 25V656 make my Tacoma a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Tacoma been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Toyota Tacoma recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V656
Did the recall 25V656 fix work?
Since recall 25V656 was reported on October 1, 2025, owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 25V656000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Tacoma is part of recall 25V656000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V656000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.