Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma a bad year?
324 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 136, 11× a quiet Tacoma year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 3k–20k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 0 of 136 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Tacoma owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 12,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 136 (42%) | 3k–20k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 47 (15%) | 5k–55k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 37 (11%) | 10k–55k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 22 (7%) | 4k–48k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 18 (6%) | 3k–33k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 10 (3%) | 5k–55k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 10 (3%) | 6k–36k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 14 (4%) | 13k–61k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seats | 22 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 17 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 14 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 12,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 324 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 1 reports an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
11 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Toyota recall #17V-356. The crankshaft position sensor needs to be replaced and Toyota has done nothing to fix the problem.
Brought my 2016 Toyota tacoma in for 20,000 mile service to right Toyota on may 5th 2017. Was told by service manager my truck rear differential was leaking and was under recall.
Safety issue - when starting cold and engaging reverse, the truck sometimes fails to engage the reverse gear causing a delay of 3-6 seconds, then engages suddenly causing truck to surge in reverse.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 12,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma: 4
The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle. If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles have a crank position sensor that may malfunction, potentially resulting in an engine stall. An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing. 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.
In the affected vehicles, incorrect bolts were used to install the driver's knee air bag module. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 190
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some vehicles may exhibit a squeak or creak noise from the clutch pedal when it is depressed or released
Some vehicles may exhibit a knocking noise from the vacuum pump at idle
Some vehicles may exhibit a vibration under deceleration (coasting or braking) typically between 30-10 mph
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Electrical overstress
Neighbouring years
2015 Tacoma: 102 complaints, keep it · 2017 Tacoma: 245 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Toyota Tacoma year
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Questions
Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma a bad year?
324 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 136, 11× a quiet Tacoma year. At 12,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 3k–20k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 0 of 136 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (136), engine (47), electrical system (37), body structure (22), brakes (18). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 3k–20k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 17V-425), Engine (NHTSA 17V-356), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 17V-285), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-656). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.