2016 Toyota Tacoma
Common problems & what to know before you buy
Before you message the seller, know the documented failure patterns, repair cost exposure, and risk level for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma.
What to watch for on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Water Pump Leak
Water pumps on the Toyota 3.5L V6 commonly start weeping coolant with age.
Which of these apply to your 2016 Tacoma?
Your guide shows which apply to the exact car, and what to ask the seller.
Recalls on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Structure: hinge and attachments
The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Engine
The affected vehicles have a crank position sensor that may malfunction, potentially resulting in an engine stall.
Power train: differential unit
Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.
1 more in the guide, with whether each one was done on the car you're looking at.
Source: NHTSA
What 324 owners reported
Source: NHTSA
2016 Toyota Tacoma at a glance
- Trims
- LimitedSRSR5TRD Off-RoadTRD Sport
- Engine
- 3.5L 6-Cylinder, 2.7L 4-Cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 6-spd, Manual 5-spd, Manual 6-spd
- Drivetrain
- 4WD, RWD
- Fuel
- Gasoline
- Body style
- Truck
About the 3rd Gen
The 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma is the third generation of Toyota's mid-size pickup, built on a revised version of the previous platform with new powertrains and a substantially updated body. The 2.7-liter 2TR-FE four-cylinder carried over, while the V6 became the 3.5-liter 2GR-FKS running an Atkinson-cycle combustion strategy with D-4S direct and port injection. Transmissions were a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, with rear-wheel drive standard and part-time four-wheel drive available. Access Cab and Double Cab body styles were offered, alongside TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport, and the range-topping TRD Pro.
This generation added high-strength steel to the frame and cab, an available electronically locking rear differential, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select on off-road trims. Compared to the second generation, the interior gained modern infotainment and safety equipment while retaining a low seating position that draws frequent comment. The fourth generation that followed in 2024 moved to an entirely new platform and turbocharged powertrains.
For used buyers, the third-generation Tacoma offers the strongest off-road hardware in the model's history along with class-leading resale value. The most widely discussed ownership complaint is the behavior of the six-speed automatic, which can hunt between gears at part throttle, a characteristic of the Atkinson-cycle tuning rather than a defect. Rear leaf-spring settling that produces a slight lean is also commonly reported. Mechanically the 2GR-FKS has proven robust, and TRD Off-Road examples with the rear locker are the configuration most in demand.
In-depth generation guide
We've written a detailed buyer's guide covering this generation's known issues, engine variants, and what to inspect.
Toyota Tacoma (3rd Gen) Buyer's Guide: Common Problems and Reliability (2016-2023)→Other Toyota Tacoma years
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Frequently asked questions
What are the common problems with the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners have filed 324 complaints about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA, most often about the power train. There are 4 recall campaigns covering this model year. Known problems on its engines include water pump leak. Squeezed's free research-backed buyer guide cross-references these against documented failure patterns and mileage-stage risks, sorted by severity, in about a minute.
Is the 2016 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Reliability depends heavily on the specific configuration and how the car was maintained. Start with the 4 open recall campaigns on this model year and confirm the work was completed. Generate a Squeezed buyer guide for this exact vehicle to see a reliability snapshot, repair-cost exposure, and the questions to ask the seller before you buy.
Should I still get a pre-purchase inspection on a 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
Always. A Squeezed buyer guide is the triage step before the inspection: it shows you the documented failure patterns and what to check so you can decide which 2016 Toyota Tacoma listings are even worth a mechanic's time, then walk into the PPI knowing exactly what to look for.
Squeezed is a buyer guide based on public data and industry patterns, not a mechanical inspection. Always get a professional pre-purchase inspection before you buy.