2016 Toyota Tacoma: recalls, complaints & known problems

Every safety recall and owner complaint on record for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, straight from the U.S. government's NHTSA database — so you know what you're buying before you message the seller.

High caution

Serious warning signs on record for this year — proceed carefully.

4Safety recalls
323Owner complaints
5Problem patterns
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Safety recalls

4 recalls on record. Recall repairs are free at the dealer — ask if they were done.

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
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 engi
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.
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

Most-reported problems

Recurring failures owners filed with NHTSA for this model year:

Stalling / loss of power while driving — 18 owner complaints
Transmission slipping / jerking / failure — 11 owner complaints
Overheating / coolant problems — 8 owner complaints
Paint peeling / rust — 4 owner complaints
Brake problems — 4 owner complaints

Complaints by area

Which parts of the car owners complain about most:

Power Train
136
Unknown Or Other
50
Engine
47
Electrical System
36
Structure
22
Seats
22

Is 2016 the bad year? Complaints by model year

Sometimes the same car one year newer or older has a far cleaner record. Complaint volume across the Toyota Tacoma years we track (click a year for its full report):

2013
124
2014
92
2015
100
2016 ◀ this
323
2017
237
2018
198
2019
209
2020
85
2021
76

Newer years have had less time on the road to accumulate complaints.

Frequently asked

How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have?

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma has 4 NHTSA safety recalls on record. Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers — always ask the seller whether the recall work was completed.

How reliable is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?

NHTSA has 323 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The most-reported issues are stalling / loss of power while driving, transmission slipping / jerking / failure, overheating / coolant problems. Compare it against nearby model years above.

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Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov). Informational only — not mechanical or purchase advice. Always inspect the vehicle and test drive before buying.