2016 Toyota Tacoma
Gas Pickup truck
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 power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma 2WD | Gas | RWD | 2.7L 4-cyl | 19 | 23 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Tacoma 2WD | Gas | RWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 24 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Tacoma 4WD | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl | 19 | 22 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Tacoma 4WD | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl | 19 | 21 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Tacoma 4WD | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,100 |
| Tacoma 4WD | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 21 | 19 | $3,300 |
| Tacoma 4WD Double Cab | Gas | Part-time 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,450 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (4)
Structure
highProblem: 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.
Risk: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Engine
highProblem: 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.
Risk: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power Train
highProblem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags
highProblem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 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
323 complaints filed
4 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by 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 Train — 136
- Unknown Or Other — 50
- Engine — 47
- Electrical System — 37
- Structure — 22
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
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU/CC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
| PU/EC 2WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| PU/EC 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Compare the 2016 Tacoma with
Other Tacoma model years
2026 Tacoma
0 recalls · 6 complaints
D2025 Tacoma
5 recalls · 92 complaints
C2024 Tacoma
5 recalls · 145 complaints
D2023 Tacoma
4 recalls · 53 complaints
B2022 Tacoma
3 recalls · 57 complaints
A2021 Tacoma
0 recalls · 80 complaints
A2020 Tacoma
1 recalls · 87 complaints
C2019 Tacoma
4 recalls · 218 complaints
C2018 Tacoma
3 recalls · 203 complaints
D2017 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 (ids 36918, 36919, 36922, 36923, 36924, 36925, 36926). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.