What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?

The biggest group is the power train, with 136 complaints. Engine has 47 and electrical has 37.

Does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have recalls?

Yes. The recall count is 4. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma reliable?

Owner reports are mixed. The file holds 324 complaints, with the power train group the largest at 136. Read the problems section and check the recalls before you decide.

What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

2016 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have?

NHTSA has 324 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 324 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma^[1]. The biggest group names the power train, with 136 complaints^[2].

324owner complaints^[1]

4recalls^[3]

18–21MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups on file, biggest first.

Power Train. 136 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe a pause when they shift into drive or reverse on a cold start. The truck then lurches forward or back, and some owners call it a safety worry.
Unknown Or Other. 50 complaints^[6]. These do not fit a single named part.
Engine. 47 complaints^[7]. Owners describe hesitation, stalling and a sluggish feel when they speed up.
Electrical System. 37 complaints^[8]. Owners describe warning lights, sensor faults and wiring damage. Some say the dashboard lit up with several alerts at once.
Structure. 22 complaints^[9].
Seats. 22 complaints^[10]. Owners describe rear seats that will not latch and water getting into the cabin. Others report seat heater parts that failed and melted.
Brakes. 19 complaints^[11].
Exterior Lighting. 17 complaints^[12].

These are owner reports to NHTSA and are not verified. One complaint can name more than one part.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2016 Tacoma is necessarily included.

Equipment (17V425), July 2017. About 3,547 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Engine (17V356), June 2017. About 31,824 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit (17V285), April 2017. About 227,732 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Air Bags › Knee Bolster (15V656), October 2015. About 306 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Tacoma 2WD, 2.7L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	19 / 23 / 21	$3,200
Tacoma 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[17]	19 / 24 / 21	$3,200
Tacoma 4WD, 2.7L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive^[18]	19 / 22 / 20	$3,350
Tacoma 4WD, 2.7L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive^[19]	19 / 21 / 20	$3,350
Tacoma 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive^[20]	18 / 23 / 20	$3,350
Tacoma 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive^[21]	17 / 21 / 19	$3,550
Tacoma 4WD Double Cab, 3.5L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive^[22]	17 / 20 / 18	$3,700

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
PU/EC 2WD^[23]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	14.7%
PU/CC 2WD^[5]	4	4	5	4	14.7%
PU/EC 4WD^[24]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	19.1%
PU/CC 4WD^[25]	4	4	5	4	19.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2016 Toyota Tacoma with 2.7L 4-cylinder^[26]	159 hp
2016 Toyota Tacoma with 3.5L 6-cylinder^[27]	278 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
TACOMA ACCESS CAB L/BOX 4WD^[28]	212 in	75 in	70 in	128 in	4,129 lb
TACOMA ACCESS CAB L/BOX 4WD V-6^[29]	212 in	75 in	70 in	128 in	4,248 lb
TACOMA ACCESS CAB L/BOX RWD^[30]	212 in	74 in	70 in	128 in	3,913 lb
TACOMA DOUBLE CAB L/BOX 4WD (AUTO)^[31]	225 in	75 in	70 in	141 in	4,354 lb
TACOMA DOUBLE CAB S/BOX 4WD (MANUAL)^[32]	212 in	75 in	70 in	128 in	4,374 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Tacoma model year. The 2016 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	177	2
1996	253	1
1997	131	0
1998	300	1
1999	249	0
2000	211	0
2001	396	4
2002	333	3
2003	360	3
2004	414	3
2005	707	10
2006	782	11
2007	541	10
2008	449	11
2009	519	13
2010	294	13
2011	186	9
2012	295	7
2013	125	6
2014	93	4
2015	101	4
2016	324	4
2017	243	5
2018	209	3
2019	219	4
2020	90	1
2021	81	0
2022	59	3
2023	54	4
2024	154	6
2025	111	5
2026	11	0

NHTSA's counts for the Tacoma show 324 complaints and 4 recalls for 2016^[3]. Among the 32 model years listed, 22 have fewer complaints than 2016 and 9 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (11) and the most are for 2006 (782)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2016 Tacoma?

The complaint file for this year is fairly large, with 324 complaints in all^[1]. The power train group stands out at 136 complaints^[2]. Electrical and seat complaints each mention fires, three apiece^[8]^[10]. Overall, 4 complaints mention a crash and 0 report deaths^[1]. The counts are not adjusted for sales, so check the recall list on this page and have a mechanic look over any used truck before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?: The biggest group is the power train, with 136 complaints^[2]. Engine has 47^[7] and electrical has 37^[8].
Does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have recalls?: Yes. The recall count is 4^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
How many complaints does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have?: NHTSA has 324 owner complaints on file^[1].
Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma reliable?: Owner reports are mixed. The file holds 324 complaints^[1], with the power train group the largest at 136^[2]. Read the problems section and check the recalls before you decide.
What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Toyota Tacoma

2005 707 complaints, 10 recalls
2010 294 complaints, 13 recalls
2015 101 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 this page
2017 243 complaints, 5 recalls
2025 111 complaints, 5 recalls
2026 11 complaints, 0 recalls

Compare all model years of the Toyota Tacoma

Other Toyota models from 2016

2016 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 Toyota Prius 155 complaints, 5 recalls
2016 Toyota RAV4 257 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 Toyota Sienna 76 complaints, 5 recalls
2016 Toyota Tundra 120 complaints, 5 recalls
2016 Toyota Avalon 25 complaints, 4 recalls

All Toyota models

Similar cars from 2016: pickup trucks

2016 Chevrolet Colorado 712 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 GMC Canyon 271 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Nissan Frontier 43 complaints, 1 recall
2016 Ram 1500 1,554 complaints, 16 recalls

All pickup trucks we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 324 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma (4 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
136 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 11,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Tacoma model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Tacoma 2WD, 2.7L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 23 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, PU/CC 2WD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
50 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,104). NHTSA vehicle records
47 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
37 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 32,500). NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 32,000). NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 43,000). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 4,925). NHTSA vehicle records
17 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 17V425, filed July 3, 2017: Equipment. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V356, filed June 1, 2017: Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V285, filed April 27, 2017: Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V656, filed October 14, 2015: Air Bags › Knee Bolster. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Tacoma 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Tacoma 4WD, 2.7L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 22 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Tacoma 4WD, 2.7L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 21 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Tacoma 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Tacoma 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 21 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Tacoma 4WD Double Cab, 3.5L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 20 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, PU/EC 2WD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, PU/EC 4WD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 19.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, PU/CC 4WD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 19.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Toyota Tacoma with 2.7L 4-cylinder: rated 159 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Toyota Tacoma with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 278 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TACOMA ACCESS CAB L/BOX 4WD: length 212 in, width 75 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 128 in, curb weight 4,129 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TACOMA ACCESS CAB L/BOX 4WD V-6: length 212 in, width 75 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 128 in, curb weight 4,248 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TACOMA ACCESS CAB L/BOX RWD: length 212 in, width 74 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 128 in, curb weight 3,913 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TACOMA DOUBLE CAB L/BOX 4WD (AUTO): length 225 in, width 75 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 141 in, curb weight 4,354 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TACOMA DOUBLE CAB S/BOX 4WD (MANUAL): length 212 in, width 75 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 128 in, curb weight 4,374 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2016 Toyota Tacoma: problems, recalls and fuel economy