2016 TOYOTA TACOMA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
409
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
97
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA
The 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA has received a total of 409 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, ENGINE. 97 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Train (132 complaints), Unknown Or Other (49 complaints), and Engine (47 complaints).
Recalls for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA, potentially affecting up to 266,956 vehicles.
Recall 17V425000 — EQUIPMENT
| 3,547 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 17V425000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
| 3,547 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 17V356000 — ENGINE
| 31,824 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 17V285000 — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
| 227,732 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 15V656000 — AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER
| 306 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA
409 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 132 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 49 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control Esc | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiring | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingbrake Lights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingfog Lights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingheadlights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkageselectronic Locklatch Actuator | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
The rear passenger door lock actuator on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma failed prematurely, causing the door to no longer lock or unlock properly. The failure required replacement of the entire actuator assembly at a Toyota dealership at a cost of $727.19. This failure occurred without abuse or unusual use and is not consistent with normal wear and tear. I am aware of numerous similar complaints and pending class action lawsuits involving door lock actuator failures across multiple Toyota models, indicating this is a known and recurring defect. A door that cannot reliably lock or unlock presents a safety and security concern, particularly for passengers and children, and increases the risk of unauthorized entry or inability to exit the vehicle in an emergency.
2016 Toyota Tacoma – severe clear coat and paint failure on the hood and roof. The clear coat began peeling in 2022 and has progressively worsened. Large sections of the hood and roof show complete delamination, oxidation, and exposed basecoat. This is a widely reported defect for 2015–2017 Tacomas across multiple paint colors. Toyota Customer Care confirmed today that my VIN is not included in Customer Support Program 23TE08 and that no goodwill repair would be authorized, even though the defect is identical to the vehicles Toyota acknowledges as affected. This appears to be a manufacturing defect that compromises durability and corrosion resistance. Photos and documentation are available upon request.
Paint on hood and roof is fading significantly.
The seat heater pins have melted, leaving black residue. thus showing possibilities of a fire
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, there was a musty odor coming from the interior of the vehicle. The contact was unable to locate the source of the odor. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while vacuuming the vehicle, the contact noticed that the carpet and floor mats from the rear passenger’s side were wet. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear quarter duct vents had fractured, and water was entering the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Safety Rating for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA
The 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 97 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
K0D_TIS_Technica — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
TI: K0D expired on 10/31/2023. TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN K0D FRAME CORROSION RESISTANT COMPOUND (CRC) APPLICATION CERTAIN 2011 ? 2015 MODEL YEAR TACOMA
23TE08-1 — EQUIPMENT
RL: Toyota 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-0721-23 Rev — EQUIPMENT
TT: 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 SubAssembly (87107- #####
Service Campaign — STRUCTURE
DP: Toyota has received reports regarding frame corrosion perforation on 2011 ? 2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. In these reports, customers have indicated that vehicles operated in specific cold climate areas with high road salt usage may exhibit more-than-normal corrosion to the vehicle?s frame. This condition is unrelated to and...
21TD03 Remedy No — STRUCTURE
RL: The Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp on the involved vehicles has a seal between the lamp and the vehicle body which can deteriorate over time. If the seal deteriorates sufficiently, water from outside the vehicle could leak into the vehicle cabin through the seal.
ZKA-TI-16_17MY P — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZKA CERTAIN 2016 THROUGH 2017 MODEL YEAR TACOMA
T-SB-0098-20 Rev — BACK OVER PREVENTION
TSB: Some 2016 ? 2020 model year Tacoma vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FKS engine may exhibit a chirp noise from the main accessory drive belt. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
T-SB-0043-20 Rev — POWER TRAIN
TSB: Some 2016 ? 2020 model year Tacoma vehicles equipped with a 2GR-FKS engine and a manual transmission may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P211904 (ECM/PCM Throttle Actuator ?A? Control Throttle Body Range/Performance System Internal Failure) with vehicle entering limp mode. The Engine Control Module...
T-SB-0124-20 — STEERING
TSB: Some 2016 ? 2021 model year Tacoma vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission may exhibit a vibration under deceleration (coasting or braking) between 30 ? 10 mph. This vibration is felt in the seat, floorboard, and/or steering wheel. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
T-SB-0114-20 — EQUIPMENT
TSB: Some 2016 ? 2021 model year Tacoma vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the wireless phone charger assembly rubber pad is deformed. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
Showing 10 of 97 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the TOYOTA TACOMA
- 2011 TOYOTA TACOMA — 224 complaints
- 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA — 406 complaints
- 2013 TOYOTA TACOMA — 168 complaints
- 2014 TOYOTA TACOMA — 131 complaints
- 2015 TOYOTA TACOMA — 130 complaints
- 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA (current)
- 2017 TOYOTA TACOMA — 302 complaints
- 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA — 266 complaints
- 2019 TOYOTA TACOMA — 292 complaints
- 2020 TOYOTA TACOMA — 118 complaints
- 2021 TOYOTA TACOMA — 102 complaints
Other TOYOTA Models
- TOYOTA CAMRY — 23,209 total complaints
- TOYOTA PRIUS — 15,411 total complaints
- TOYOTA COROLLA — 14,342 total complaints
- TOYOTA RAV4 — 11,737 total complaints
- TOYOTA SIENNA — 10,769 total complaints
- TOYOTA TUNDRA — 8,997 total complaints
- TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 6,663 total complaints
- TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 6,405 total complaints