2016 Toyota Tundra — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $20,000–$32,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 6 Toyota Tundra years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
A refreshed version of the same exceptionally durable 5.7L V8 truck. It's behind the competition on fuel economy, features, and payload, and ahead of all of them on the odds of reaching 300,000 miles. Buy it for durability and resale, not for refinement.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 119 owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Tundra, and 6 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. The largest single group is the brakes at 29%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
6 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.
Not written up yet: the brakes (34 complaints), electrics and electronics (26 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Tundra
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The air injection system fails and triggers a check engine light; less common than the earlier trucks but present.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,500-$3,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (5).
The cam towers seep oil on some engines.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,000-$2,500
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (5).
13-15 mpg. A real ownership cost.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the fuel system (7).
Better than the earlier trucks but still worth an underbody inspection.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the body and structure (21).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Frame corrosion
- ✗Air injection codes
- ✗Oil leaks from the cam towers
- ✗Heavy commercial mileage
Good Signs
- ✓Documented maintenance
- ✓Original owner with light-duty use
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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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