UsedScore

2016 Toyota Tacoma: Use caution

Owners filed 241 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma in its first five years on the road, about 128 for every 100,000 sold: 1.7× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (51% of complaints, median 10,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.7×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Tacoma year
Rank
12th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
241
first five years; 128 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
3rd generation, 2016–2023 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab

Photo: 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain51% · 122 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  2. Engine13% · 32 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  3. Electrical9% · 21 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  4. Brakes7% · 16 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  5. Fuel and propulsion5% · 11 complaints · median 21,000 miles
  6. Seats and belts5% · 11 complaints · median 36,000 miles
  7. Suspension5% · 11 complaints · median 26,000 miles
  8. Body and structure4% · 10 complaints · median 27,000 miles
  9. Speed control3% · 8 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  10. Lights4% · 10 complaints · median 51,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Electrical

Owners of this Tacoma commonly describe rodent damage to wiring harnesses and driver seat heaters that melt, arc, or stop working, along with occasional stalling and infotainment glitches. Repairs vary, with some dealers fixing the issue and others unable to find or resolve the cause.

Warning signs:
Owners report check engine, ABS, traction control or BSM warning lights, burning smells, melted seat heater connectors, infotainment freezes, or sudden stalling while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced chewed wiring harnesses, sensors, or seat heater components, though some could not diagnose or fully resolve the issue, sometimes charging owners out of pocket.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 50,000 miles, among 24 complaints that give it

“The electrical module for the heated seat had malfunctioned and melted”

“the moisture collected travels down into the backside of the various female connectors and corrodes the conductors”

Engine

Owners describe their Tacoma's engine stalling or losing power suddenly while driving, sometimes preceded by rough idling or warning lights. Repairs ranged from sensor or injector replacement to long waits for recall parts, and some faced costly oil leak fixes.

Warning signs:
Some report rough idle, hesitation, knocking or ticking noises, misfires, and warning lights such as check engine or traction control before the stall.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced sensors, injectors or catalytic converters, though several owners say recall parts were unavailable for months; oil leak repairs sometimes required extensive engine teardown.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 45,000 miles, among 20 complaints that give it

“I lost all power while on a highway. I would lose power even with my foot all the way down the rpm would not rise at all.”

“Fuel injector(s) leaked without any warning, causing engine to loose power on freeway.”

Powertrain

Many owners of this truck report a leaking rear differential along with rough or delayed transmission shifting, sometimes accompanied by noises or vibration. Several say their trucks were held for extended periods awaiting recall parts, with some describing stalling or hesitation during driving.

Warning signs:
Owners report clunking or grinding noises, vibration through the steering wheel or truck bed, delayed shifting into drive or reverse, and dashboard warnings such as check engine or high transmission temp.
What shops did:
Dealers often diagnosed a leaking rear differential or crankshaft sensor and ordered parts, but many owners say parts were on backorder for weeks or months, leaving trucks held at the dealership; some had software updates or sensors replaced.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 20,000 miles, among 83 complaints that give it

“Rear differential is leaking oil. Was informed of a recall nearly 2 months ago and also informed that it would be unsafe to continue to drive it.”

“Transmission has a delayed engagement on a cold start. When shifting from park to either drive or reverse, the truck moves slightly then a hard lock up is felt.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 17V425000July 20173,547 vehicles

    Equipment · Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments

    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.

    Risk: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V356000June 201731,824 vehicles

    Engine

    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.

    Risk: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crank position sensor with an improved design, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V285000April 2017227,732 vehicles

    Power train: driveline: differential unit

    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.

    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.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear differential for oil leakage.

  • NHTSA 15V656000October 2015306 vehicles

    Air bags: knee bolster

    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.

    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.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct driver's knee air bag module mounting bolts, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 410 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2016 Tacoma. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 23TE08 · September 2024 · Warranty extensionToyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames and front inner fenders under the hood on certain Tacoma vehicles with 040 Super White paint color.
  • T-TT-0790-25 · August 2025Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free.
  • T-SB-0103-20 Rev1 · June 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
  • T-TT-0754-24 · April 2024Customers have expressed concerns about the performance of Qi Wireless Chargers.
  • T-PANT-2024-004- · March 2024This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024.
  • TSB011219 · August 2023TSB: Some 2005 ?
  • T-SB-0057-18 · May 2023TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost.
  • T-TT-0721-23 Rev · March 2023TT: Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) does not include notes requiring ordering the Protector Heater seals when replacing the air conditioning Evaporator Core (88511- #####) or Radiator Heater Unit…

All 2016 Tacoma bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Owners filed 241 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma in its first five years on the road, about 128 for every 100,000 sold: 1.7× the rate of a typical Tacoma year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare Tacoma years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2016 Tacoma problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (51%), the engine (13%) and the electrical system (9%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2016 Toyota Tacoma been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, the most recent in July 2017 (equipment). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2016 Toyota Tacoma on NHTSA.gov · How we rate