2016 Toyota Tacoma Complaints

STRUCTURE — Filed 10/01/2022

Toyota has a paint problem on the tacomas. The paint is the bright white, .040 . They have painted all 4 doors,both front fenders and the pillars on each side of the windshield. I’m having the same problem on my hood,top of windshield and bed . Toyota refuses to take responsibility for these areas. They call this a customer satisfaction program instead of a recall so they don’t have to paint the whole truck. I have a 25 year old truck that has better paint than it. I just wanted to let you know about this situation. Thanks [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAIN — Filed 05/16/2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking while driving. The contact noticed there was fluid emerging from the rear of the vehicle near the tire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall or leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 11/24/2023

The original low pressure fuel pump failed at 114,700 miles. The symptoms of the failure were loss of power on the freeway, quickly followed by the engine stumbling, then shutting off completely forcing me to change lanes without power. The vehicles has had to be towed on 2 occasions because of this. The pump was replaced at 114,700 miles by a Toyota dealer at my own cost (no warranty, no recall). Now only 20k miles later the fuel pump has failed again. This issue has put my family at serious risk of accident to complete engine shut off at highway speeds. Now that I am on my third low pressure fuel pump, I have little confidence that this is being addressed by the pump manuf. and Toyota.

SEAT BELTS,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/21/2025

Dear Toyota Japan Customer Experience Team, I am the owner of a 2016 Toyota Tacoma currently registered in Guam, U.S.A. I am writing to request your assistance regarding a water leak issue from the rear brake light area, which has caused the carpets and seats to become wet and develop mold. I originally purchased this vehicle in Saipan and recently relocated to Guam. When I visited the Guam Toyota Service Center, they kindly inspected my vehicle and informed me that this issue is related to the 3rd brake light gasket recall; however, the recall period has already expired. Unfortunately, I was never notified of this recall while the vehicle was in Saipan. Continuous exposure to mold has seriously affected both my health and my daughter’s health. Because of this, I had the vehicle professionally cleaned and sanitized by a specialist company. The Tacoma has always been our family’s favorite car, but now I drive it only because I have no choice. Every time I get in, I feel anxious and uneasy. The water leak itself is concerning, but the mold issue worries me even more. I truly hope this water leak and the mold problem can both be resolved so that I can once again enjoy driving my Tacoma with peace of mind. The blue circles in the attached photos indicate areas suspected of mold. These photos were taken right before I sent the car for cleaning. According to the cleaning company, when they removed the seats, they found water underneath the seats and carpets. Whenever I drive the vehicle, I experience persistent coughing and headaches due to mold exposure. This has become a serious health and safety concern. Since this issue is directly related to a previously recalled safety defect, I kindly request Toyota Japan to consider a Goodwill Repair or Safety Exception to address the water leak and the resulting interior damage.

STRUCTURE — Filed 07/10/2025

Severe clear coat and paint fading on hood, roof and sides of truck.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/05/2024

2016 Toyota Tacoma is known to have an issue with the timing cover leaking oil. This is a Fire Hazard: Oil leaking onto hot engine components can vaporize and ignite, posing a fire risk to the vehicle and surrounding areas and can cause environmental pollution.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 01/05/2026

The rear passenger door lock actuator on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma failed prematurely, causing the door to no longer lock or unlock properly. The failure required replacement of the entire actuator assembly at a Toyota dealership at a cost of $727.19. This failure occurred without abuse or unusual use and is not consistent with normal wear and tear. I am aware of numerous similar complaints and pending class action lawsuits involving door lock actuator failures across multiple Toyota models, indicating this is a known and recurring defect. A door that cannot reliably lock or unlock presents a safety and security concern, particularly for passengers and children, and increases the risk of unauthorized entry or inability to exit the vehicle in an emergency.

STRUCTURE — Filed 01/01/2022

2016 Toyota Tacoma – severe clear coat and paint failure on the hood and roof. The clear coat began peeling in 2022 and has progressively worsened. Large sections of the hood and roof show complete delamination, oxidation, and exposed basecoat. This is a widely reported defect for 2015–2017 Tacomas across multiple paint colors. Toyota Customer Care confirmed today that my VIN is not included in Customer Support Program 23TE08 and that no goodwill repair would be authorized, even though the defect is identical to the vehicles Toyota acknowledges as affected. This appears to be a manufacturing defect that compromises durability and corrosion resistance. Photos and documentation are available upon request.

STRUCTURE — Filed 11/27/2025

Paint on hood and roof is fading significantly.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/12/2024

The seat heater pins have melted, leaving black residue. thus showing possibilities of a fire

STRUCTURE — Filed 08/21/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, there was a musty odor coming from the interior of the vehicle. The contact was unable to locate the source of the odor. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while vacuuming the vehicle, the contact noticed that the carpet and floor mats from the rear passenger’s side were wet. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear quarter duct vents had fractured, and water was entering the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

ENGINE — Filed 11/27/2023

Bought 2016 Tacoma in 2022 w/ 53k miles. Hit 58,850 (ish) and had an noticable oil leak… apparently this was a “Well Known” issue, as the mechanic @ Surprise, AZ Dealership (Toyota of Surprise, 13543 N. Auto Show Ave., Surprise, AZ 85388) told my wife and I…. it’s from this same thing that google showed me also: “Engine oil leaks: Reports on Consumer Reports and other forums detail expensive repairs to fix oil leaks from the front seal or timing cover, which can cost $5,000 or more because the engine often needs to be removed for the repair.” And this was 100% my case- and confirmed by the Toyota Dealers Mechanic verbally. Leaks were without engine light indicators “at all”. The dealership added a dye, told me to drive 100-500 miles and return to have a re-inspection done after their initial one came with no results. Initially I spotted this while I was conducting a regular 3,000 mile oil change. (2nd oil change since owning the truck. So my out of pocket was around $5,700+, for an apparent (see attached) “well-known” Dealer issue. @ 60k, a major repair cost for this should NOT but coming from the consumer, and needs to be listed as a “recall”. Had I not noticed the missing oil, this could have left me stranded, my family stranded, or caused many other traveling issues throughout my driving experiences. I repaired this around two years ago, but have been terrified to drive my truck! I’ve driven about 1,000 miles or less since the repair (in 2 years time). I’m selling first chance I can, BUT, I WANT MY MONEY BACK! I have the receipt in a safe for when this becomes a recall - to prove i paid it, and to get a FULL REFUND!!! That is not how good business is done by Toyota. I owned a 2004 and 2005 Camrys prior, as well as a 2014 Lexus GS 350 F Sport (all in my name), this truck was a dream, now a nightmare. Please, for everyone complaining online and those that have had to also pay for these repairs @ low mileage, MAKE THIS INTO A RECALL FOR 2016 TACOMAs.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 07/01/2025

I am reporting a persistent and unsafe issue with the factory-installed Entune infotainment system in my 2016 Toyota Tacoma. While driving — whether locally or on the highway — the system frequently freezes, becomes unresponsive, or abruptly resets itself, often multiple times per drive. This directly affects my ability to safely use the navigation, backup camera, and audio controls while in motion. The system’s crashes divert my attention from the road, especially when I’m relying on navigation and it either stops functioning or forces me to interact with the screen to regain control. These interruptions increase the risk of distracted driving and could easily contribute to an accident. I have attempted to install the software update provided on Toyota’s official website, but the update is older than the version already installed on my vehicle (0101A0), so the system blocks the update. There is no way for a consumer to reinstall or flash the current version, and any potential resolution is only available at a dealership for a fee, effectively putting the fix behind a paywall. Toyota has not issued a recall or service bulletin for this issue, despite dozens of reports from other owners on Tacoma and Prius forums describing the same crash behavior and software version conflicts. This is a significant safety concern, especially when the infotainment system is used for navigation during high-speed or complex driving conditions. The inability to maintain consistent functionality puts drivers and others on the road at risk. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this widespread issue and press Toyota to issue a free repair or software patch for all affected vehicles. Symptoms: •Frequent infotainment restarts while driving •Frozen or unresponsive touchscreen •Glitched navigation system and lost GPS routing •Driver distraction due to repeated system failure

ENGINE — Filed 12/07/2022

I have experienced two major failures on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with less than 90,000 miles: a leaking coolant crossover pipe, which required partial engine disassembly and cost me approximately $2,500, and a leaking timing chain cover, which required a full front-end teardown and cost over $4,500. Both issues are known problems across 2016+ Tacoma models with the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS engine), yet Toyota has not issued a recall or warranty enhancement. These failures present safety risks related to overheating and oil loss and result in significant financial burden to owners. Toyota needs to be held accountable for these premature, design-related failures.

STEERING — Filed 06/20/2025

During a safety inspection, it was found out that the steering rack was leaking. In a quick research on Google, it appears that many people that own this particular year and tacomas are experiencing the same issue. It is the first time for any car that we own and we keep our cars for more than 10 years. To us, this could be a manufacturing defect that should be investigated and a recall issue. We had it fixed so it can pass inspection, but something just doesn't make sense.

SUSPENSION — Filed 04/01/2024

When using four-wheel drive, the vehicle was unable to make a left turn. I disengaged four-wheel drive, and the vehicle was stuck in four-wheel drive. This happened on two occasions. The first time was approximately August 2022 and the second time was last year. When I took it to the dealership, they said here was nothing wrong with it and they told me that I probably used the four-wheel drive incorrectly. Luckily, I was able to get the truck into a parking lot. The way that I was able to disengage it was to put the truck into reverse and back up a few yards then go forward a few yards and repeat until I hear a loud thump.

SEATS — Filed 01/10/2025

Heated seat had stopped working, checked and found the problem. The module that controls the heated seats had a melted connector and wires, causing the seat to no longer be able to have heated seats.

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/06/2023

Recent in December wife said there’s a musty odor in truck. While vacuuming carpet on Friday 1/6/23 water came to surface. Searched everywhere for leak and found the 2 vents behind back seats had bad gaskets and leaking bad. After getting access under carpet, passenger side was dry but growing mold and drivers side is holding slimy water. The back seats are a little higher and we’re dry but signs of mold as well. These vents pop out through the cab outward but the bed has to be removed to replace them. I used silicone to seal from inside to stop water intrusion. Dealership no help, report and claim filed with Toyota corporate, insurance company and waiting for response. During the holidays, wife road in my truck several times and ended up spending a week in the hospital due to a fungal infection in her lungs and may be linked to the mold. While on a chat group, Tacoma Owners Group and Tacoma World, there are numerous other owners with the same issue and no help from Toyota.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 11/11/2022

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.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/15/2022

I was involved in an accident and the airbags on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma did not deploy.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 10/21/2021

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the contact noticed their front driver seat warmer stop operating and started smelling an electrical burning. The contact continued to drive to their residence where at that time the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the seat heater amp connection wiring was burned out. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,404.

STRUCTURE — Filed 10/04/2018

WAS HIT BY A DIFFERENT DRIVER IN A PARKING LOT.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 02/01/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER IN THE ON POSITION, THE HEATER FAILED TO OPERATE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL MODULE FOR THE HEATED SEAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SUMMIT TOYOTA, 1535 VERNON ODOM BLVD, AKRON, OHIO). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/09/2017

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON A SNOWY NIGHT WHEN OUR CAR SLIPPED AND SLID DOWN AN EMBANKMENT ALMOST INTO A RIVER. LUCKILY, OUR CAR WAS STOPPED BY A LARGE BOULDER RIGHT AT THE WATERS EDGE. UNBEKNOWNST TO US AT THE TIME, WE HAD STOPPED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WATER HOWEVER WE WERE NOT SURE BECAUSE EVERY AIRBAG IN OUR CAR DEPLOYED, COVERING ALL OF THE WINDOWS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE HIT THE BOULDER, WE TRIED RELENTLESSLY TO GET OUT OF BOTH FRONT DOORS AS WELL AS THE BACK DOOR, HOWEVER WE WERE UNABLE TO GET TO THE DOOR HANDLES BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEFLATE AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. AT THAT POINT, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO RIP THROUGH HIS FRONT DOOR AIRBAG TO REACH THE HANDLE AND GET BOTH OF US OUT OF THE CAR SAFELY. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT IF WE HAD ENDED UP IN THE RIVER WE WOULD HAVE DROWNED DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS. *TR

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/20/2016

AS TRUCK WAS COMING TO A SAFE STOP, THE TRUCK QUICKLY ACCELERATED INTO A SMALL TREE AND CAUSED DAMAGE. SAME SYMPTOM LATER ON HIGHWAY AND ALMOST HAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SO I PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND CALLED FOR WRECKER SERVICE. TRUCK NOW AT PANAMA CITY TOYOTA STILL WAITING FOR CODE READING.