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2016 Toyota Tundra

Gas
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
65 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA119
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA17 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Toyota Tundra is sold in the U.S. as a gas pickup truck with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tundra 2WD, is EPA-rated at 17 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 119 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Tundra 2WDGasRWD4.6L 8-cyl151917$3,650
Tundra 4WDGas4WD (part-time)4.6L 8-cyl141816$3,900
Tundra 2WDGasRWD5.7L 8-cyl131815$4,150
Tundra 2WD FFVGasRWD5.7L 8-cyl131815$4,150
Tundra 4WDGas4WD (part-time)5.7L 8-cyl131715$4,150
Tundra 4WD FFVGas4WD (part-time)5.7L 8-cyl131715$4,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36809, 36812, 36808, 36807, 36811, 36810.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Toyota Tundra 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 (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Steering

21TB10 / 21TA10
22,462 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.RiskAn oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
NHTSA campaign 21V920000reported Nov 23, 2021Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Air Bags

H0K
5 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Tundra vehicles. The affected vehicles have a passenger knee air bag module that was attached to the instrument panel mounting brackets with incorrect bolts.RiskThe incorrect bolts may cause the air bag module to loosen over time, affecting the performance of the knee airbag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.FixAll of the affected vehicles have been inspected and any incorrect knee air bag mounting bolts have been replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0K.
NHTSA campaign 17V416000reported Jun 29, 2017Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Wheels

SET17A
1,325 vehicles
ProblemSoutheast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles accessorized with Southeast Toyota accessory 20-inch Rockstar wheels installed by Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer. The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach.RiskLugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixSET will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement lugnuts, free of charge. The recall began June 23, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17A.
NHTSA campaign 17V311000reported May 11, 2017Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
▲high

Structure

H0C
72,847 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tundra vehicles equipped with a resin rear step bumper and resin reinforcement brackets (vehicles with chrome step bumpers are not affected). In the event of an impact to the corner of the bumper, the resin bracket may be damaged but not be noticed.RiskIf a person steps on the corner of the bumper that is damaged, a portion of the bumper may break away, increasing the risk of injury.FixToyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the resin rear bumper reinforcement brackets with steel ones, and replace the rear bumper tread, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0C.
NHTSA campaign 17V051000reported Jan 24, 2017Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
○minor

Equipment

SET-16C
4,253 vehicles
ProblemSoutheast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."RiskAn incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixSET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
NHTSA campaign 16V420000reported Jun 9, 2016Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

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
119complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 4 · 2016: 28 · 2017: 26 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Service Brakes34
Electrical System26
Structure21
Exterior Lighting15
Unspecified15
Steering7

What owners describe

“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while going through prior service paperwork found in the vehicle, he discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact also stated that the vehicle was once sold at a private auction. At the time of…”May 7, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“I have had multiple incidents where the front hood bulge has blown off going down the interstate and nearly hit other cars. It’s not been worth buying a new one with the risk of them flying off. It’s definitely a saftey concern and a hazard.”Mar 20, 2025 · Structure · NHTSA owner report
“The trailer brake controller went out. It does not supply electronic braking and the truck no longer recognizes the controller on the dashboard. Multiple on line chats and forums, along with my trailer provider, show awareness of this defect. Online individuals learned of the issue during emergency stopping. This appea…”Feb 20, 2025 · Service Brakes · 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★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%
PU/EC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
PU/EC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%
PU/RC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
PU/RC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2016 Tundra with

2016 Ford F-150 →2016 Chevrolet Silverado →2016 Ram 1500 →

Other Tundra model years

A

2026 Toyota Tundra

2 recalls · 28 complaints

B

2025 Toyota Tundra

4 recalls · 131 complaints

F

2024 Toyota Tundra

10 recalls · 332 complaints

F

2023 Toyota Tundra

13 recalls · 398 complaints

F

2022 Toyota Tundra

13 recalls · 429 complaints

C

2021 Toyota Tundra

2 recalls · 24 complaints

D

2020 Toyota Tundra

4 recalls · 45 complaints

F

2019 Toyota Tundra

9 recalls · 72 complaints

F

2018 Toyota Tundra

8 recalls · 99 complaints

D

2017 Toyota Tundra

5 recalls · 78 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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