Home › Cars › Toyota › Tacoma › 2016
2016 Toyota Tacoma problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
58% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 77% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 21 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 54%).
Does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 174 of 302 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%), and the largest group is filed under power train (136). For comparison, the 2015 scores 23% and the 2017 scores 52%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Toyota Tacoma years
Of the 14 Toyota Tacoma years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (58%). The worst is the 2012 (65%), the best the 2011 (11%). By volume, the 2016 drew 323 complaints (174 drivetrain), against 101 for the 2015 and 239 for the 2017.
Toyota Tacoma years to avoid and best years →
2010 Tacoma problems · 2011 Tacoma problems · 2012 Tacoma problems · 2013 Tacoma problems · 2014 Tacoma problems · 2015 Tacoma problems · 2016 · 2017 Tacoma problems · 2018 Tacoma problems · 2019 Tacoma problems · 2020 Tacoma problems · 2021 Tacoma problems · 2022 Tacoma problems · 2023 Tacoma problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 174 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Toyota Tacoma engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Toyota Tacoma? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 174 of 302 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (58%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is power train: 136 of 323 complaints (42%) name it, followed by engine (47) and electrical system (36). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 58% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 77% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Toyota Tacoma years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 17V356000 (engine), 17V285000 (power train: driveline: differential unit). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Toyota Tacoma years are better?
Among the Toyota Tacoma years we track, the 2011 (11%), the 2010 (17%) and the 2015 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (58%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/toyota-tacoma
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.