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2016 Toyota Tundra problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Toyota Tundra. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 15% of relevant complaints.
Better than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 19 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 13%).
Does the 2016 Toyota Tundra have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 101 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tundra concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (15%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 27% and the 2017 scores 37%. 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 Tundra years
Of the 13 Toyota Tundra years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the best on engine and transmission share (15%). The worst is the 2023 (72%). By volume, the 2016 drew 120 complaints (15 drivetrain), against 49 for the 2015 and 78 for the 2017.
Toyota Tundra years to avoid and best years →
2010 Tundra problems · 2011 Tundra problems · 2012 Tundra problems · 2013 Tundra problems · 2014 Tundra problems · 2015 Tundra problems · 2016 · 2017 Tundra problems · 2018 Tundra problems · 2019 Tundra problems · 2020 Tundra problems · 2022 Tundra problems · 2023 Tundra problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Toyota Tundra
- 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 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Toyota Tundra engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2016 Toyota Tundra, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.
6 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 Tundra? 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.
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Does the 2016 Toyota Tundra have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 101 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tundra concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (15%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Toyota Tundra?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Toyota Tundra is service brakes: 34 of 120 complaints (28%) name it, followed by electrical system (26) and structure (21). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 15% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Toyota Tundra reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 15% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Toyota Tundra years we score, it ranks best. 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 Tundra?
No. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2016 Toyota Tundra, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Toyota Tundra years are better?
The 2016 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Toyota Tundra years we track (15%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/toyota-tundra
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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.