2016 Toyota Tacoma
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 323 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Tacoma model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 4 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, hood, hinge and attachmentsJul 3, 2017
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.
If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Campaign 17V425000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineJun 1, 2017
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.
An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
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's number for this recall is H0H.
Campaign 17V356000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, differential unitApr 27, 2017
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.
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.
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 rear differential components are damaged, the rear differential carrier assembly will be replaced. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall June 19, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0G.
Campaign 17V285000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, knee bolsterOct 14, 2015
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.
The incorrect bolts may loosen over time and affect the performance of the driver's knee air bag, increasing the risk of driver injury during a crash that necessitates deployment of the air bags.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct driver's knee air bag module mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is F0T.
Campaign 15V656000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
136 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, May 19, 2016
SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A DELAY SO WHEN I GO TO TAKE OFF IT SLAMS INTO DRIVE.
Power train, Visibility/wiper, May 2, 2016
WINDSHIELD CRACKED 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK. HAD TO PAY $500 DEDUCTIBLE THROUGH MY INSURANCE, WINDSHIELD FROM TOYOTA COST $1,000. NEXT ISSUE IS MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE LOW, THEY TOPPED IT OFF AND IT'S STILL LAGGING WHEN SHIFTING. MISS THE ENGINE IN MY 2012 2ND GEN. COME ON TOYOTA!!!!
Power train, Apr 17, 2016
WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A DELAY OF ABOUT 1 SECOND BEFORE IT IS FULLY ENGAGED IN FIRST GEAR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Power train, Feb 18, 2016
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING (30-40 DEG F) I LET THE TRUCK WARM UP UNTIL THE THE THERMOSTAT NEEDLE BEGINS TO MOVE. WHEN I PUT THE TRUCK INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE RPMS SURGE AND THEN A SECOND OR TWO LATER THE TRUCK WILL ENGAGE REVERSE AND THE TRUCK WILL OFTEN LURCH REARWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE THE SAME THING HAPPENS. AFTER DRIVING A MILE I GET ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO TOP GEAR NO MATTER WHAT I DO AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE REDUCED POWER AS IT DOES NOT WANT TO MAINTAIN A SPEED GREATER THAN 60 MPH WITHOUT GREAT PROVOCATION. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 70 MPH SO THIS CAUSES A SAFETY CONCERN AS MY VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT A MUCH LOWER SPEED THAN THE SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THIS BEHAVIOR PERSISTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MILES BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL OPERATION. EVEN WHEN IT IS INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE THE REDUCED POWER MODE AND ERRATIC TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR PERSISTS.
Power train, Feb 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.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Feb 2, 2016
FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN LIGHT SNOW AND ICE CONDITION. 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM DID NOT APPEAR TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY. ENGAGED NEW "CRAWL-CONTROL" SYSTEM PER OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS. DURING USE OF CRAWL-CONTROL THE MOTOR RPM'S EXCEEDED 5,500; IMMEDIATELY PRESSED ENGINE-STOP BUTTON AND APPLIED BRAKES. INCIDENT RESULTED IN CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE OF FRONT DRIVE-LINE. DAMAGE INCLUDED FRONT DRIVE-SHAFT FAILURE; DEALER INDICATED "DRIVE-LINE" REPLACED. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS ADJACENT TO FRONT DRIVE-SHAFT. VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. TWO DAYS AFTER SERVICE RANDOM BRAKE LOCK-UP OCCURS WHILE DRIVING; VEHICLE SKIDS OUT OF CONTROL. NO MALFUNCTION INDICATORS SHOWING. ABS ALSO DOES NOT ACTIVATE DURING PANIC STOP BRAKE APPLICATION. BRAKE LOCKUP EXPERIENCED IN WINTER CONDITIONS AT HIGH ELEVATION NEARLY CAUSING POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT (1,000FT DROP FROM ROAD TO CANYON BOTTOM, NO GUARD-RAILS). WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK BEGINS TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. UPON COMING TO A STOP IT IS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE FORWARD. ENGAGED 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND VEHICLE STRUGGLED TO MOVE. ENGAGED DIFFERENTIAL LOCK AND DROVE BACKWARDS FOR 80FT. WHEELS APPEAR TO BECOME UN-LOCKED. DRIVE FORWARD FOR ANOTHER 500 YARDS AND SAME SITUATION OCCURS.
Power train, Feb 1, 2016
SAFETY ISSUE - WHEN STARTING COLD AND ENGAGING REVERSE, THE TRUCK SOMETIMES FAILS TO ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR CAUSING A DELAY OF 3-6 SECONDS, THEN ENGAGES SUDDENLY CAUSING TRUCK TO SURGE IN REVERSE. THIS SURGE COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANY PEDESTRIANS BEHIND THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS POSSIBILITY OF BACKING INTO SOMETHING. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP. TOOK IT TO MOLLE TOYOTA IN KANSAS CITY WHO REPORTS THIS AS NORMAL.
Power train, Jan 21, 2016
THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IN A NORMAL AMOUNT OF TIME AFTER GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT IS LONG ENOUGH WHERE YOU SELECT DRIVE AND BEGIN TO APPLY THROTTLE AND IT JUST REVS UP THEN ENGAGES WHILE THE ENGINE IS REVVED AND LUNGES FORWARD. IT ALSO SLIPS WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS AT LOW SPEED AND LOW THROTTLE.
Power train, Jan 15, 2016
TRANSMISSION HAS A DELAYED ENGAGEMENT ON A COLD START. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE TRUCK MOVES SLIGHTLY THEN A HARD LOCK UP IS FELT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE BACKING UP ONTO STREET, WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY WITH NO MOVEMENT. WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC I WAS WORRIED WHETHER ON NOT IT WOULD ENGAGE AT ALL. COULD HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT.
Power train, Jan 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 THREE SECONDS BEFORE IT FINALLY WENT FULLY INTO GEAR. MY TRUCK HAS 1650 MILES ON IT AND IT'S DONE THIS SINCE THE DAY IT WAS NEW. I WOULD SAY I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS AT LEAST 70+ TIMES DURING COLD STARTS AT HOME OR AT WORK. ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION'S INTERNALS DUE TO THIS PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF A FORWARD GEAR.
Power train, Jan 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.