2016 Toyota TACOMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Toyota TACOMA has 416 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: on a cold start, after you put the vehicle in d (drive) there is up to a 7 second delay on engagement of the transmission. the accelerator can be pressed and the vehicle will not move for up to 7 seconds leaving me stranded for example if i have backed out of the driveway to the street. once i place. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 2 crash reports 2 injuries

416

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

136 complaints

33%

• ON A COLD START, AFTER YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN D (DRIVE) THERE IS UP TO A 7 SECOND DELAY ON ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE ACCELERATOR CAN BE PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FOR UP TO 7 SECONDS LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR EXAMPLE IF I HAVE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET. ONCE I PLACE
• TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN COLD OR AFTER THE TRUCK SITS FOR AN HOUR OR TWO. USUALLY ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE UP, REVERSING AND THEN GOING INTO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT BUT ACCELERATION IS NOT AS INTENDED. IT WILL THEN "BANG" INTO TO GEAR AND GO. FEAR IS THAT I
• 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. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE BACKING UP ONTO STREET, WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY WITH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON A COLD START, AFTER YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN D (DRIVE) THERE IS UP TO A 7 SECOND DELAY ON ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE ACCELERATOR CAN BE PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FOR UP TO 7 SECONDS LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR EXAMPLE IF I HAVE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET. ONCE I PLACE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

51 complaints

12%

• 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA EXHIBITS A SEVERE RESONANT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL FROM UNKNOWN SOURCE. THE BUZZING VIBRATION EMANATES THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL AT A SEVERITY AND PITCH THAT CAUSES DISCOMFORT, TINGLING IN THE HANDS, ARMS, AND RIGHT LEG'TO AN EXTENT I BECOME DI
• EVERY TIME THE SPEED IS GOING DOWNN ON 20 MPH...THE TRUCK SHAKES
• AS TRUCK WAS COMING TO A SAFE STOP, THE TRUCK QUICKLY ACCELERATED INTO A SMALL TREE AND CAUSED DAMAGE. SAME SYMPTOM LATER ON HIGHWAY AND ALMOST HAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SO I PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND CALLED FOR WRECKER SERVICE. TRUCK NOW AT PANAMA CITY TOYOTA STILL WAITING FOR CODE READING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“2016 TOYOTA TACOMA EXHIBITS A SEVERE RESONANT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL FROM UNKNOWN SOURCE. THE BUZZING VIBRATION EMANATES THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL AT A SEVERITY AND PITCH THAT CAUSES DISCOMFORT, TINGLING IN THE HANDS, ARMS, AND RIGHT LEG'TO AN EXTENT I BECOME DI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

47 complaints

11%

• AFTER 10,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT SAYING I JUST NEED NEW SENSORS. DROVE IT A COUPLE MORE DAYS AND NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NON EXISTENT. I DRIVE A LOT FOR WO
• IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I OWN TWO IDENTICAL 2016 TACOMA TRD OFF ROAD AUTOMATIC AND BOTH HAVE LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. ONE IS FINE AND THE OTHER HAS SERIOUS POWER TRAIN (ENGINE/TRANSMISSION) PROBLEMS RESULTING IN EXTREMELY SLOW ACCELERATION AND OVERALL SLUGGISH PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION CONSTANT
• NOTICED MY TACOMA BEING SLOW TO DOWN SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR IT WOULD UP SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING/MERGING RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN ACCELERATION. ALSO IF RIDING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH THE VEHICLE RIDES AT A VERY LOW RPM (~1100) AND SHIMMIES THE VEHI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER 10,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT SAYING I JUST NEED NEW SENSORS. DROVE IT A COUPLE MORE DAYS AND NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NON EXISTENT. I DRIVE A LOT FOR WO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

37 complaints

• MY ABS LIGHT FAILURE CAME ON AND SAID CHECK WITH DEALER. THREE DAYS LATER TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAD BEEN CHEWED BY RODENTS. IT IS REQUIRING $5000 TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ONE MONTH AND BRAND NEW. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY IN DRIVEWAY WHEN EATEN.
• AFTER 10,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT SAYING I JUST NEED NEW SENSORS. DROVE IT A COUPLE MORE DAYS AND NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NON EXISTENT. I DRIVE A LOT FOR WO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ESTIMATED MPG DISPLAYED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD WAS INACCURATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE COMPUTER WAS RESET. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE ESTIMA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“MY ABS LIGHT FAILURE CAME ON AND SAID CHECK WITH DEALER. THREE DAYS LATER TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAD BEEN CHEWED BY RODENTS. IT IS REQUIRING $5000 TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ONE MONTH AND BRAND NEW. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY IN DRIVEWAY WHEN EATEN.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

24 complaints

• THE REAR SEATS DO NOT LOCK. FOR EXAMPLE, THE REAR SEATS HAVE A LOCKING MECHANISM UNDER THE SEAT. WHEN SEAT IS PUT BACK INTO ITS NORMAL POSITION IT DOES NOT LOCK. I HAD A 2001 AND THE SEAT LOCKED ONCE PUT INTO ITS NORMAL SITTING POSITION.
• DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT IS GETTING WET DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE LEATHER WILL BE SWELLED UP.
• 3RD BRAKE LIGHT OVER TORQUED AT FACTORY RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SEAL AND EVENTUALLY CRACKED LIGHT FIXTURE. THIS RESULTS NOT ONLY IN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT SERIOUS LEAKING INTO CABIN - AFFECTING REAR SEAT, ROOF, AND FLOORING. LEAK NOTICED AFTER RAIN STORMS AND NOTICING WET FLOOR/SEATS AND DAMP FLOORS. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“THE REAR SEATS DO NOT LOCK. FOR EXAMPLE, THE REAR SEATS HAVE A LOCKING MECHANISM UNDER THE SEAT. WHEN SEAT IS PUT BACK INTO ITS NORMAL POSITION IT DOES NOT LOCK. I HAD A 2001 AND THE SEAT LOCKED ONCE PUT INTO ITS NORMAL SITTING POSITION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 416 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: ON A COLD START, AFTER YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN D (DRIVE) THERE IS UP TO A 7 SECOND DELAY ON ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE ACCELERATOR CAN BE PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FOR UP TO 7 SECONDS LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR EXAMPLE IF I HAVE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET. ONCE I PLACE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA EXHIBITS A SEVERE RESONANT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL FROM UNKNOWN SOURCE. THE BUZZING VIBRATION EMANATES THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL AT A SEVERITY AND PITCH THAT CAUSES DISCOMFORT, TINGLING IN THE HANDS, ARMS, AND RIGHT LEG'TO AN EXTENT I BECOME DI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AFTER 10,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT SAYING I JUST NEED NEW SENSORS. DROVE IT A COUPLE MORE DAYS AND NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NON EXISTENT. I DRIVE A LOT FOR WO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MY ABS LIGHT FAILURE CAME ON AND SAID CHECK WITH DEALER. THREE DAYS LATER TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAD BEEN CHEWED BY RODENTS. IT IS REQUIRING $5000 TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ONE MONTH AND BRAND NEW. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY IN DRIVEWAY WHEN EATEN.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)