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2016 Toyota Tacoma

Gas
Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA323
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA21 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is sold in the U.S. as a gas pickup truck with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tacoma 2WD, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 323 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Tacoma 2WDGasRWD2.7L 4-cyl192321$2,950
Tacoma 2WDGasRWD3.5L 6-cyl192421$2,950
Tacoma 4WDGas4WD (part-time)2.7L 4-cyl192220$3,100
Tacoma 4WDGas4WD (part-time)2.7L 4-cyl192120$3,100
Tacoma 4WDGas4WD (part-time)3.5L 6-cyl182320$3,100
Tacoma 4WDGas4WD (part-time)3.5L 6-cyl172119$3,300
Tacoma 4WD Double CabGas4WD (part-time)3.5L 6-cyl172018$3,450

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36918, 36919, 36922, 36923, 36924, 36925, 36926.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Structure

SET17B
3,547 vehicles
ProblemSoutheast 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.RiskIf the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.FixSET 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V425000reported Jul 3, 2017Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
▲high

Engine

H0H
31,824 vehicles
ProblemToyota 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.RiskAn engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.FixToyota 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V356000reported Jun 1, 2017Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Power Train

H0G
227,732 vehicles
ProblemToyota 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.RiskIf 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.FixToyota 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V285000reported Apr 27, 2017Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Air Bags

F0T
306 vehicles
ProblemToyota 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.RiskThe 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.FixToyota 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 campaign 15V656000reported Oct 14, 2015Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed

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) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
323complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 4 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 2 · 2016: 57 · 2017: 105 · 2018: 36 · 2019: 18 · 2020: 26 · 2021: 16 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Power Train136
Unspecified50
Engine47
Electrical System37
Structure22
Seats22

What owners describe

“While driving down the road with my driver seat warmer on, the heating element and/or associated electronics burned a hole in the seat canvas and through the jacket I was wearing. I think a small fire started which I put out with my finger and then I turned off the seat heater.”Nov 11, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“The control arm of the driver side fail during driving , I lost control of my Tacoma then the alarm stering activate. Then is was dificult to control the pickup and i almost hit a car that was next to me. When i take to the machanic shop he was alarm by the situation he told me that this was very dangerous , he found t…”Nov 5, 2022 · Suspension · NHTSA owner report
“Vehicle made a loud bang from the rear of the vehicle , then started to slow down slightly without brakes applied. And then suddenly within a few more feet the Rear wheels locked up without brakes applied. Traveling at between 35- 45mph the vehicle skidded causing vehicles behind me to also skid to avoid hitting me. Tr…”Oct 27, 2022 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
PU/CC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%
PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆19%
PU/EC 2WDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆15%
PU/EC 4WDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆19%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2016 Tacoma with

2016 Ford F-150 →2016 Chevrolet Silverado →2016 Ram 1500 →2016 GMC Sierra →2016 Chevrolet Colorado →2016 Nissan Frontier →

Other Tacoma model years

A

2026 Toyota Tacoma

0 recalls · 6 complaints

D

2025 Toyota Tacoma

5 recalls · 92 complaints

C

2024 Toyota Tacoma

5 recalls · 145 complaints

D

2023 Toyota Tacoma

4 recalls · 53 complaints

B

2022 Toyota Tacoma

3 recalls · 57 complaints

A

2021 Toyota Tacoma

0 recalls · 80 complaints

A

2020 Toyota Tacoma

1 recalls · 87 complaints

C

2019 Toyota Tacoma

4 recalls · 218 complaints

C

2018 Toyota Tacoma

3 recalls · 203 complaints

D

2017 Toyota Tacoma

5 recalls · 239 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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