ToyotaPickup1986Overview/toyota/pickup/1986/base/

1986 Toyota Pickup

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Pickup.

The 1986 Toyota Pickup is a pickup truck that, according to its overview, requires four quarts of oil and accepts viscosities of 15W‑40, 20W‑40 or 20W‑50 meeting API SL specifications. In the complaint record it registers 18 total owner complaints, with tires identified as the primary issue and no recalls documented, while the adjacent model years from 1990 to 2002 show complaint volumes ranging from a single report in 2002 up to 105 in 1994. Thus, the 1986 model year precedes the period of higher complaint activity and sits at the low‑end of the reliability pattern observed in the later data.

Model year198919881987198619851984198319821981

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SLOEM · verified

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Pickup of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.0–14.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.02 sec — 1989 SR5 Xtracab V-6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989SR5 Xtracab V-6 3.0L V610.02 sec17.69 sec150 hpRWD
1979Regular Cab 2.2L I-414.30 sec19.80 sec90 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SL engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.8 Pints
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine OilAPI · 15W-40 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.1 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect)
Every 20,000 miSuspension System (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
At 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 40,000 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (replace)
At 120,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1986 Toyota Pickup sits at the tail end of a generation that, according to the federal record, saw complaints climb steadily from 30 in 1990 to a peak of 105 in 1994, then drop sharply to single digits by 1996. Recalls followed a similar arc, with three in 1990–1991, four through 1994, and none thereafter, indicating that most safety issues were addressed before the mid‑1990s. The 1986 model’s top complaint areas—tires (6), structure (5), seat belts (2), and a combined service brakes/hydraulic/tire category (1)—mirror the broader trend of increasing structural and tire concerns during that era. With only one crash complaint and zero fire complaints in 1986, the vehicle appears to have fewer acute safety problems than later years, but the high number of structural and tire issues suggests potential wear or design weaknesses. Overall, 1986 represents a transitional year: many recalls had already been issued, yet lingering structural and tire complaints persist, so a used 1986 Pickup may be acceptable if thoroughly inspected for those components.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
18
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 18 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Tires6
Structure5
Seat Belts2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Tires1
Steering1
Fuel System, Gasoline,Structure1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 Pickup take?

4 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SL, ABOVE -10 degrees F 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SL, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Pickup have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.