2016 Toyota Tacoma: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
323 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2016, 2017 and 2019 Tacoma (323, 239 and 217 complaints, scores of 55, 61 and 54) and the 2024 and 2025 fourth-generation trucks, which score 38 each at 72.5 and 86.0 complaints per year on the road, the highest rates on record. Buy a 2013 to 2015, scoring 85, 90 and 89 on 124, 93 and 101 complaints, or a 2020 to 2023, all at 76 or better on 87 complaints or fewer. Read the full note on the model page. 2016 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 323 complaints on record, verdict CAUTION.
Read the guide
Used Toyota Tacoma: the years to avoid and the years to buy, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 323 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 32.3
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Toyota has a paint problem on the tacomas. The paint is the bright white, .040 . They have painted all 4 doors,both front fenders and the pillars on each side of the windshield. I’m having the same problem on my hood,top of windshield and bed . Toyota refuses to take responsibility for these areas. They call this a customer satisfaction program instead of a recall so they don’t have to paint the whole truck. I have a…
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking while driving. The contact noticed there was fluid emerging from the rear of the vehicle near the tire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall or leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred to the local dealer. The failu…
The original low pressure fuel pump failed at 114,700 miles. The symptoms of the failure were loss of power on the freeway, quickly followed by the engine stumbling, then shutting off completely forcing me to change lanes without power. The vehicles has had to be towed on 2 occasions because of this. The pump was replaced at 114,700 miles by a Toyota dealer at my own cost (no warranty, no recall). Now only 20k miles …
Recalls: 4 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 17V356000 | Engine | 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. |
| 17V425000 | Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments | Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle. |
| 15V656000 | Air Bags:Knee Bolster | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tacoma trucks manufactured August 20, 2015, to September 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, incorrect bolts were used to install the driver's knee air bag module. |
| 17V285000 | Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a pickup of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train136 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other50 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine47 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System36 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Structure22 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Seats22 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200
Other Toyota Tacoma years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (136 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 55/100, computed from 323 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Toyota Tacoma's most common problem?
136 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Toyota Tacoma sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Toyota Tacoma cost to run per year?
About $5,633 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $28,165 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Toyota Tacoma have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/06/2017. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other pickups of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Toyota Tacoma really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 323 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 323 NHTSA complaints on record (32.3/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (16.7/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems