2016 Toyota Tacoma — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $20,000–$30,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
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Kestrel Take
The redesign that brought a new 3.5L V6 and a six-speed automatic — and a transmission that hunts and a driveline that clunks. Neither is a durability problem, but both are annoying enough that you should drive one before you commit. Resale value remains absurd.
What we checked
Reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 323 owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, and 4 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 42% of them are about one thing — the transmission and drivetrain. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
4 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The six-speed hunts between gears and hesitates at low throttle. Toyota issued software updates that improved but did not cure it. Behavior, not failure.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$200 reflash
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (136), electrics and electronics (36).
A clunk from the driveline when taking up load. Toyota addressed some cases with a TSB involving the leaf spring and driveshaft.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$800
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (136).
The rear suspension is stiff and the leaf packs squeak. Aftermarket solutions are common.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$900
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Better than the earlier generation but still worth inspecting underneath.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the body and structure (22).
The 3.5L V6's crankshaft position sensor can fail intermittently, making the engine run rough, hesitate, or refuse to shift properly — some owners report a sudden stall with no warning, most often within the first 60,000 miles. A quick scan for stored crank-sensor codes during a pre-purchase inspection will catch a failing one before it strands you.
Repair cost (estimate): $200–$450
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (47).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Frame corrosion
- ✗Modified suspension with no alignment records
- ✗Off-road damage on a TRD Pro — check the skid plates and diff housing
- ✗Very high mileage at a price that assumes Tacoma magic
Good Signs
- ✓Software updates applied for the transmission
- ✓Clean frame and undercarriage
- ✓Manual transmission if you can find one — the enthusiast pick
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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.
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