2016 Toyota Mirai — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $5,000–$12,000. There are 4 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
Do not buy this car unless you live within a short drive of a working hydrogen station, and even then, think hard. Hydrogen infrastructure in the US has contracted sharply, stations close without warning, and a Mirai with no fuel is a very expensive paperweight.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Mirai
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Hydrogen stations exist almost exclusively in California and their numbers have fallen. Station outages are frequent and unpredictable. A car that cannot be fueled has no transportation value regardless of its condition.
Repair cost range: The vehicle becomes unusable
Hydrogen has become dramatically more expensive per mile than gasoline. Manufacturer fuel credits, where they existed, expire — check whether any remain and whether they transfer.
Repair cost range: Ongoing, potentially higher than gasoline
The high-pressure tanks carry certified service lives and the fuel cell stack is a limited-supply, dealer-only component. Out-of-warranty repair options are essentially nonexistent.
Repair cost range: Effectively unrepairable outside warranty
These sell for a small fraction of their original price because the buyer pool is tiny and shrinking.
Repair cost range: Total loss of value
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Living anywhere without hydrogen stations — which is nearly everywhere
- ✗No remaining fuel credit
- ✗Expired or near-expiry warranty
- ✗A price that looks like a steal — it is priced for a reason
Good Signs
- ✓Substantial remaining manufacturer fuel credit that transfers to you in writing
- ✓Multiple reliable hydrogen stations within your daily range
- ✓Full factory warranty remaining
Found a specific Toyota Mirai?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2016 Toyota Mirai in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99No account required. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
More from Toyota
Similar cars & sedans