2016 Toyota Tacoma transmission and drivetrain problems
136 of the 323 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 47 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 136 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 31 · 2017: 73 · 2018: 12 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2026: 2
Half of the 80 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 4,000 and 20,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
323 complaints in all about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Toyota Tacoma transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Shifting from reverse to drive there is a delay so when I go to take off it slams into drive
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.
When shifting from reverse to drive there is a delay of about 1 second before it is fully engaged in first gear. Automatic transmission
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.
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.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V285000 HighApr 27, 2017 · 227,732 vehicles
- 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.
47 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 136 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (42% of everything owners filed about it), and 47 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V285000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 12,500 miles; half of them between 4,000 and 20,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.