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.
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.
- Every owner quote, 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 them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
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. 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 17, 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.
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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.
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.
Should I buy a 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2016 Toyota Tacoma has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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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.