2016 Toyota Tacoma Safety Report
2016 Toyota Tacoma Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (319) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 8 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Toyota Tacoma with 71 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Toyota Tacoma before buying across this generation. |
Toyota Tacoma Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Toyota Tacoma years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Toyota Tacoma | 228 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Toyota Tacoma | 95 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Toyota Tacoma | 191 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Toyota Tacoma | 205 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Toyota Tacoma | 83 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Toyota Tacoma | 71 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Toyota Tacoma Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
101 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Toyota onlyUnknown Or Other
32 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Toyota onlyEngine
17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Toyota onlyElectrical System
17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Toyota onlyStructure
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Toyota onlyExterior Lighting
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Toyota onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Reliability Score
The 2016 Toyota Tacoma receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Oil Leakage 2016 Toyota Tacoma vehicles may experience engine oil leakage, which can be a fire hazard. Oil can leak onto hot engine components, posing a significant risk. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Severe Clear Coat And Paint Fading The hood and roof of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma can experience severe clear coat and paint fading, leading to aesthetic issues and potential corrosion. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Rear Passenger Door Lock Actuator Failure The rear passenger door lock actuator on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma can fail prematurely, causing the door to no longer lock or unlock properly. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Infotainment System Reliability The factory-installed infotainment system in the 2016 Toyota Tacoma can be unreliable, leading to safety concerns while driving. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma:
Engine oil leakage is a common issue, affecting 23% of 2016 Toyota Tacomas.
Severe clear coat and paint fading is a common issue, affecting 23% of 2016 Toyota Tacomas.
Rear passenger door lock actuator failure is a common issue, affecting 11% of 2016 Toyota Tacomas.
Infotainment system reliability issues are common, affecting 11% of 2016 Toyota Tacomas.
Recall Details for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 ma...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 2 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
Severe clear coat and paint fading on hood, roof and sides of truck.
2016 Toyota Tacoma is known to have an issue with the timing cover leaking oil. This is a Fire Hazard: Oil leaking onto hot engine components can vaporize and ignite, posing a fire risk to the vehicle and surrounding areas and can cause environmental pollution.
The rear passenger door lock actuator on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma failed prematurely, causing the door to no longer lock or unlock properly. The failure required replacement of the entire actuator assembly at a Toyota dealership at a cost of $727.19. This failure occurred without abuse or unusual use and is not consistent with normal wear and tear. I am aware of numerous similar complaints and pendi...
2016 Toyota Tacoma – severe clear coat and paint failure on the hood and roof. The clear coat began peeling in 2022 and has progressively worsened. Large sections of the hood and roof show complete delamination, oxidation, and exposed basecoat. This is a widely reported defect for 2015–2017 Tacomas across multiple paint colors. Toyota Customer Care confirmed today that my VIN is not included in ...
Paint on hood and roof is fading significantly.
The seat heater pins have melted, leaving black residue. thus showing possibilities of a fire
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, there was a musty odor coming from the interior of the vehicle. The contact was unable to locate the source of the odor. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while vacuuming the vehicle, the contact noticed that the carpet and floor mats from the rear passenger’s side were wet. The vehicle was taken to the dea...
Bought 2016 Tacoma in 2022 w/ 53k miles. Hit 58,850 (ish) and had an noticable oil leak… apparently this was a “Well Known” issue, as the mechanic @ Surprise, AZ Dealership (Toyota of Surprise, 13543 N. Auto Show Ave., Surprise, AZ 85388) told my wife and I…. it’s from this same thing that google showed me also: “Engine oil leaks: Reports on Consumer Reports and other forums detail expensive rep...
I am reporting a persistent and unsafe issue with the factory-installed Entune infotainment system in my 2016 Toyota Tacoma. While driving — whether locally or on the highway — the system frequently freezes, becomes unresponsive, or abruptly resets itself, often multiple times per drive. This directly affects my ability to safely use the navigation, backup camera, and audio controls while in motio...
I have experienced two major failures on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with less than 90,000 miles: a leaking coolant crossover pipe, which required partial engine disassembly and cost me approximately $2,500, and a leaking timing chain cover, which required a full front-end teardown and cost over $4,500. Both issues are known problems across 2016+ Tacoma models with the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS engine...
During a safety inspection, it was found out that the steering rack was leaking. In a quick research on Google, it appears that many people that own this particular year and tacomas are experiencing the same issue. It is the first time for any car that we own and we keep our cars for more than 10 years. To us, this could be a manufacturing defect that should be investigated and a recall issue. We ...
When using four-wheel drive, the vehicle was unable to make a left turn. I disengaged four-wheel drive, and the vehicle was stuck in four-wheel drive. This happened on two occasions. The first time was approximately August 2022 and the second time was last year. When I took it to the dealership, they said here was nothing wrong with it and they told me that I probably used the four-wheel drive inc...
Heated seat had stopped working, checked and found the problem. The module that controls the heated seats had a melted connector and wires, causing the seat to no longer be able to have heated seats.
Upper Intake manifold flap actuator ( part: Toyota 17190-0P101 ) brakes in the intake resulting in wrong air reading and forcing vehicle into limp mode causing the vehicle to rapidly decrease speed, and creating a potential accident with other vehicles and semi's. this will continue to happen but this will give a person a false sense of security since error codes will reset once vehicle is turned...
Rear Coolant Bypass Joint leak. Coolant leaking through this pipe and accumulating.
Paint is chipping off in several places and have read this is a major problem with tacomas in the white color
Coolant leaking
The paint on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma is failing after a few years of owning the truck, it has been well maintained and washed but the problem keeps getting worse. I have searched online and it seems to be an issue with white and magnetic grey colored Toyota cars but no recall on magnetic grey paint.
Seat heating module for my driver seat has melted and is further irrepairable without buying the entire harness to fix the issue. There are multiple reports of this happening across forums.
I have recently been made aware of the Super White paint recall and know that is not yet in full force or able to be serviced at this time. That being said, it appears that the recall only covers " paint peeling along the exterior door window frames and front inner fenders under the hood on certain Tacoma vehicles with 040 Super White paint color", But there are multiple reports of this entire pa...
Showing 20 of 319 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Opened 2019-04-19 · Closed 2024-09-19
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Elec...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Has the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA have?
The 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA has 319 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 4 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
The 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA involve power train (101 complaints), unknown or other (32 complaints), engine (17 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, structure, exterior lighting.
How many crash reports does the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA have?
There are 4 crash reports associated with the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA out of 319 total complaints (1.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA have?
There are 4 fire reports for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA out of 319 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 319 complaints, 4 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA are: 1. POWER TRAIN (101 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (32 complaints), 3. ENGINE (17 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (17 complaints), 5. STRUCTURE (15 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 101 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
Be cautious of engine oil leakage, which can be a fire hazard, and check for severe clear coat and paint fading, especially on the hood and roof. Ensure the rear passenger door lock actuator is functioning properly and consider the reliability of the infotainment system. The 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA has 319 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
The 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 319 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 8 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Oil Leakage and Severe Clear Coat and Paint Fading.
What are the known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA?
Known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA include: Engine Oil Leakage, Severe Clear Coat and Paint Fading, Rear Passenger Door Lock Actuator Failure, Infotainment System Reliability. These are based on patterns found across 319 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common issues with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Common issues include engine oil leakage, severe clear coat and paint fading, rear passenger door lock actuator failure, and infotainment system reliability.
Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma prone to any safety concerns?
Yes, engine oil leakage can pose a fire hazard, and the infotainment system can be unreliable, leading to safety concerns.
What should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Inspect for engine oil leakage, severe clear coat and paint fading, check the rear passenger door lock actuator, and test the infotainment system.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine oil leakage, which can be a fire hazard, and check for severe clear coat and paint fading, especially on the hood and roof. Ensure the rear passenger door lock actuator is functioning properly and consider the reliability of the infotainment system.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Toyota Tacoma
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The data includes 319 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 4 reported crashes, 4 fire incidents, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16