2016 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
323 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
15,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 189 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 134 of 323 complaints (41.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 50 | 15.5% |
| Braking behavior | 38 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 134 |
| Unknown Or Other | 50 |
| Engine | 47 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Structure:Body | 21 |
| Seats | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 18 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 |
Power Train: 134; Unknown Or Other: 50; Engine: 47; Electrical System: 36; Structure:Body: 21; Seats: 19; Service Brakes: 18; Exterior Lighting: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 118 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 118; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (118). 134 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 57 |
| 2017 | 105 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2015: 2; 2016: 57; 2017: 105; 2018: 36; 2019: 18; 2020: 26; 2021: 16; 2022: 19; 2023: 14; 2024: 13; 2025: 10; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 50 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10818052 · 2016-01-05 (January 5, 2016)
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 THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE ON A COLD START, I CANNOT MOVE FOR UP TO 7 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME ON A COLD START.
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819122 · 2016-01-09 (January 9, 2016)
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 IF YOU BACK OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY AND INTEND TO ACCELERATE, THE TRUCK MAY NOT MOVE AS INTENDED THUS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. FOR A NEW VEHICLE, THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY SLIPPAGE ONCE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. YESTERDAY I HAD IT WHERE THE SLIPPING LASTED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809882 · 2015-12-13 (December 13, 2015)
ON 11/23/15 I WAS ABLE TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. ON 11/24/15 I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE TO CRANK IT UP WHEN THE VEHICLE'S WARNING LIGHTS OF BRAKE, ABS WARNING TO CHECK THE ANTI'LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE ANTISKID/TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON AT APPROXIMATE 110 MILES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT HURT THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IT AND THAT IT WAS SAFE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST A FUSE BY A SALESPERSON, WHO ALLEGEDLY TALKED TO ONE OF THE MASTER TECHNICIANS ABOUT THE SITUATION. …
Owner-reported narrative. 110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821805 · 2016-01-22 (January 22, 2016)
HAD AN ARE TRUCK CAP PUT ON AFTER 5 MILES OF DRIVING TRUCK INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON "BRAKE MALFUNCTION". GOT TRUCK HOME TRIED TO RESTART AND NOW TRUCK WILL NOT START SAYING "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION
Owner-reported narrative. 6,166 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10837402 · 2016-02-22 (February 22, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10929549 · 2016-12-02 (December 2, 2016)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2106 TOYOTA TACOMA, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND HAS LESS THAN 4,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS ALERTED OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TOOK THIS TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN CHEWED BY A RODENT AND THIS WAS VERY COMMON AT THIS DEALERSHIP. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL I WENT ONLINE AND NOTICE THOUSANDS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS NOT JUST A ONE TIME THING OR A CHANCE OCCURRENCE. THERE ARE SEVERAL PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST TOYOTA FOR DEFECTIVE WIRING …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10929549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906832 · 2016-09-15 (September 15, 2016)
TRUCK ABRUPTLY LOST COMPLETE POWER AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL TWO LANE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. REQUIRES A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPORTED A FAILED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND REPLACED IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10910678 · 2016-09-29 (September 29, 2016)
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 VEHICLE LIKE IT WILL STALL. VEHICLE WILL ALSO "NOTICEABLY" DOWN SHIFT WHILE THE FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND NOW THE SHIFTING IS STARTING TO JOLT THE VEHICLE. WH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10910678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821493 · 2016-01-21 (January 21, 2016)
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 DISTRACTED WHEN DRIVING OWING TO THE DISCOMFORT AND USE UNSAFE DRIVING METHODS TO AVOID THE STEERING WHEEL OR GAS PEDAL. 'WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 1,000 THROUGH 3,000 RPMS, THE STEERING WHEEL AND GAS PEDAL EXHIBIT A RESONANT BUZZING VIBRATION. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825100 · 2016-02-09 (February 9, 2016)
VEHICLE IS HESITANT AND SLOW TO SHIFT AND FULLY IN GAGE TO THE NEXT GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO SWITCH INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE WHILE AT MEDIUM TEMPERATURE. SLIGHT VIBRATIONS WHILE MOVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 - 40 MPH ARE FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AND THROTTLE PEDAL. HOOD VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH AND IN DRIVE IN CAR WASH DRIER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10825100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10919157 · 2016-10-26 (October 26, 2016)
ABNORMAL CHIRP OR SQUEAK NOISE FROM HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THIS HAPPENS WHILE AT IDLE AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 2012-2013 TOYOTA SCIONS TOO (ATTACHING SCION TSB WITH THIS COMPLAINT). TOYOTA REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT 2,017 MILES AND IN LESS THAN 400 MILES THE ISSUE RETURNED. THE TOYOTA FIELD TECHNICIAN SAID THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE BUT THERE IS NO FIX AND NO ETA FOR A FIX. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AGAIN. I OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY SENT IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR AUTHORIZATIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11071960 · 2018-02-09 (February 9, 2018)
THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED BELOW HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO MY DEALER GULLO TOYOTA IN CONROE, TX. THE DEALER IS AWARE THAT THIS MODEL TRUCK HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AND MISFIRING AND STALLING. WHILE DRIVING EAST ON FM1097 BETWEEN LAKE CONROE AND WILLIS, TX ON 2/06/18, I WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE A QUICK STOP. A LOUD BUMP SOUND CAME FROM BENEATH THE TRUCK. PRIOR TO THIS STOP, THE ENGINE HAD BEEN MISFIRING FROM-TIME-TO-TIME. AFTER THE QUICK STOP AND THE BUMP SOUND CAME FROM BENEATH THE TRUCK, THE ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING AT A CONS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11071960 at NHTSA ↗