2016 Toyota TUNDRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
14,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 34 of 119 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 31.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 34 |
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Structure:Body | 17 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
Service Brakes: 34; Electrical System: 24; Structure:Body: 17; Exterior Lighting: 15; Unknown Or Other: 15; Steering: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 53 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 53; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (53). 39 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 | 4 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2015: 4; 2016: 28; 2017: 26; 2018: 10; 2019: 11; 2020: 12; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2025: 6; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10808857 · 2015-12-07 (December 7, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM FLORIDA ON 30 NOV, I HEARD A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY TOYOTA TUNDRA. ON 2 DEC 2015, THE DEALERSHIP DID SERVICE ON THE TRUCK TO ADDRESS THE NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY AND DID SOMETHING TO THE LSD. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON 6 DECEMBER 2015, THE REAR WHEELS STARTED LOCKING UP AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I LET THE VEHICLE SET OVER THE WEEKEND. ON 7 DEC 2015, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE WHEELS WERE STILL LOCKING UP AND THE VEHICLE HAD…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808862 · 2015-12-07 (December 7, 2015)
I PURCHASED TOYOTA TUNDRA ON 6 NOV 2015. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN GETTING 460 MILES TO A FULL TANK OF GAS (38 GALLON TANK). THOSE NUMBERS EQUATE TO 12MPG IN FUEL ECONOMY ESTIMATES. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON 6 NOV2015. THE TRUCK HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS. THE FUEL EFFICIENCY READ 570 MILE FOR A FULL TANK OF GAS. ON 13 NOV I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO FLORIDA. EVERY TIME I FILED UP THE TRUCK WITH FUEL THE FUEL EFFICIENCY READING STARTED TO DECLINE. ON THE FIRST THREE FULL TANK OF GAS, THE READING WAS 540 AND 520 MILES FOR A FULL TA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808959 · 2015-12-08 (December 8, 2015)
THE DRIVETRAIN ON MY 2016 TOYOTA TUNDRA ARE NOT ALLOWING THE WHEELS TO ROTATE FREELY. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHEELS ARE LOCKING UP ON THE TRUCK. ON 6 DEC, I PICKED UP MY TUNDRA FROM THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPART AFTER HAVING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE SLUGGISH. AS I NEARED MY HOME, I TRIED TO TEST THE 2WD AND 4WD FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO TEST THE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE. THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS ROTATING FREELY AND LOCKING UP. WHILE IN 4WD THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809604 · 2015-12-11 (December 11, 2015)
BOUGHT NEW 2016 TUNDRA LIMITED 11/16/2015 AND NOTICED THAT DASH LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS UNLESS PARKING LIGHTS OR HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. IN THE OFF/DRL POSITION OR THE AUTO POSITION NO DASH LIGHTS. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA HELP LINE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS CHANGE WAS MADE BECAUSE IF THE DRIVER CAN SEE THE OUTLINE OF THE NUMBERS ON THE GAUGES THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE ILLUMINATED. HE COULD NOT OFFER ANY REASON FOR CHANGING THIS STANDARD FEATURE. OTHER THAN NOT SEEING THE GAUGES SHARPER AND CLEARER ONE SAFETY DEFECT IS PRESENT. THE TUNDRA HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819783 · 2016-01-12 (January 12, 2016)
THE WIPER SPEED, WHILE ON HIGH IS NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR A MODERATE RAINFALL. I WAS CAUGHT IN A SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE DOWNPOUR ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO REDUCE MY SPEED BY ALMOST 40MPH TO GET A LITTLE VISIBILITY BACK. ALL OTHER VEHICLES NEAR ME FLEW RIGHT PAST WITH THEIR WIPERS ON HIGH WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. THEY NEED TO SPEED UP THE WIPER MOTOR.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820760 · 2016-01-18 (January 18, 2016)
2016 TUNDRA CREW MAX XPSX PACKAGE, 4X4. VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT ALL SPEEDS. SOUTHEAST TOYOTA STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS JUST A OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 21 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854680 · 2016-04-10 (April 10, 2016)
TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH FRONT BENCH SEAT HAVE NO AIR BAG FOR CENTER PASSENGER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10854680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854873 · 2016-04-11 (April 11, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH RESULTED IN LITTLE TO NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE TRAILER BRAKES EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER BRAKE WAS ONLY OPERABLE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SET INTO MANUAL OVERRIDE MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE CONTROLLER WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854873 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V420000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V051000 · Structure:Body:Bumpers
Reported: 2017-01-24 (January 24, 2017)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tundra vehicles equipped with a resin rear step bumper and resin reinforcement brackets (vehicles with chrome step bumpers are not affected). In the event of an impact to the corner of the bumper, the resin bracket may be damaged but not be noticed.
Consequence: If a person steps on the corner of the bumper that is damaged, a portion of the bumper may break away, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the resin rear bumper reinforcement brackets with steel ones, and replace the rear bumper tread, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0C.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V311000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Reported: 2017-05-11 (May 11, 2017)
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles accessorized with Southeast Toyota accessory 20-inch Rockstar wheels installed by Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer. The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach.
Consequence: Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement lugnuts, free of charge. The recall began June 23, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17A.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V416000 · Air Bags:Knee Bolster
Reported: 2017-06-29 (June 29, 2017)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Tundra vehicles. The affected vehicles have a passenger knee air bag module that was attached to the instrument panel mounting brackets with incorrect bolts.
Consequence: The incorrect bolts may cause the air bag module to loosen over time, affecting the performance of the knee airbag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: All of the affected vehicles have been inspected and any incorrect knee air bag mounting bolts have been replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0K.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V920000 · Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | Steering:Rack And Pinion
Reported: 2021-11-23 (November 23, 2021)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
NHTSA campaign record ↗