Toyota · Tacoma · 2016
2016 Toyota Tacoma: problems & reliability
NHTSA has logged 324 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The most-reported problem area is the transmission & powertrain (42% of complaints), followed by engine and electrical system. Make sure every open recall has been fixed by a dealer before you buy.
Common 2016 Toyota Tacoma problems
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Transmission & powertrain problems
136 owner complaints to NHTSA (42% of all complaints for this model year) involve the transmission & powertrain. One owner reported: “The contact owns a 2024 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking while driving. The contact noticed there was fluid emerging from the rear of the vehicle near the tire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The…”
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Engine problems
47 owner complaints to NHTSA (15% of all complaints for this model year) involve the engine. One owner reported: “Bought 2016 Tacoma in 2022 w/ 53k miles. Hit 58,850 (ish) and had an noticable oil leak… apparently this was a “Well Known” issue, as the mechanic @ Surprise, AZ Dealership (Toyota of Surprise, 13543 N. Auto Show Ave., Surprise, AZ 85388)…”
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Electrical system problems
37 owner complaints to NHTSA (11% of all complaints for this model year) involve the electrical system, including 3 fires. One owner reported: “While driving down the road with my driver seat warmer on, the heating element and/or associated electronics burned a hole in the seat canvas and through the jacket I was wearing. I think a small fire started which I put out with my finger…”
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Body & structure problems
22 owner complaints to NHTSA (7% of all complaints for this model year) involve the body & structure, including 1 crash, 1 injury. One owner reported: “Recent in December wife said there’s a musty odor in truck. While vacuuming carpet on Friday 1/6/23 water came to surface. Searched everywhere for leak and found the 2 vents behind back seats had bad gaskets and leaking bad. After getting…”
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Seats problems
22 owner complaints to NHTSA (7% of all complaints for this model year) involve the seats, including 3 fires. One owner reported: “Heated seat had stopped working, checked and found the problem. The module that controls the heated seats had a melted connector and wires, causing the seat to no longer be able to have heated seats.”
Owner complaints by area
| Area | Complaints | Share | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission & powertrain | 136 | 42% | |
| Engine | 47 | 15% | |
| Electrical system | 37 | 11% | |
| Body & structure | 22 | 7% | |
| Seats | 22 | 7% | |
| Brakes | 18 | 6% | |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 5% | |
| Fuel system | 14 | 4% |
324 complaints filed with NHTSA in total, reporting 4 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury. A complaint can involve more than one area.
2016 Toyota Tacoma recalls
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Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and attachments
Risk: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Full recall summary
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
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Engine
Risk: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crank position sensor with an improved design, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0H.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles equipped with a six-cylinder engine. The affected vehicles have a crank position sensor that may malfunction, potentially resulting in an engine stall.
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Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
Risk: If the vehicle is operated with an insufficient amount of oil in the rear differential, the differential may seize and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear differential for oil leakage. Based on the inspection, dealers will either tightening the fastening nuts or replace the fastening nuts and gasket. If the rear differential components are damaged, the rear differential carrier assembly will be replaced. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall June 19, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0G.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles. Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.
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Air bags › Knee bolster
Risk: The incorrect bolts may loosen over time and affect the performance of the driver's knee air bag, increasing the risk of driver injury during a crash that necessitates deployment of the air bags.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct driver's knee air bag module mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is F0T.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tacoma trucks manufactured August 20, 2015, to September 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, incorrect bolts were used to install the driver's knee air bag module.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. To check whether a specific car’s recalls have been repaired, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2016 Toyota Tacoma crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma PU/CC 4WD. Ratings can differ between body styles and drivetrains (4 versions tested or listed).
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Specifications
- Drivetrains
- 2WD, 4WD
Other Toyota Tacoma years
About this data
Problems, complaint counts, recalls and crash-test ratings come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public databases, last checked 2026-11-03. Complaints are reports from owners and have not all been verified by NHTSA.
How we score reliability: every model year starts at 100. Points come off for the number of owner complaints (on a log scale, up to 40 points), for each safety recall (2 points each, up to 15) and for complaints involving crashes, fires, injuries or deaths (up to 15). Popular vehicles get more complaints simply because more are on the road, so compare scores between similar vehicles. More about our method.
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