2016 Toyota Tacoma Problems: 15 Known Issues

On the 2016-2017 Toyota Tacoma 3.5L V6 2GR-FKS, oil can leak from the joint where the rear differential carrier assembles to the rear axle housing because sealing-surface contact variation can degrade the gasket seal and allow the carrier-to-housing nuts to loosen (the recall re-torque specification is 18 ft-lbs). If the truck keeps being driven while leaking, the differential loses lubricant, which produces noise, reduced propulsion, and in worst cases the differential can seize - causing loss of vehicle control. Toyota filed the Defect Information Report on April 27, 2017 and recalled roughly 228,000 2016-2017 Tacomas under its internal designation H0G.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, some trucks with the 6-speed automatic vibrate while coasting or braking between about 30 and 10 mph; the vibration is felt in the seat, floorboard or steering wheel. The bulletin covers 2016-2023 Tacomas with the 6-speed automatic (6AT), 2WD and 4WD, except 4WD TRD Off-Road trucks built after the bulletin's 2016 production-change VINs. It does not apply to manual-transmission trucks or to trucks with an aftermarket suspension/body lift or leveling kit.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma 3.5L V6 2GR-FKS, many automatic-transmission (6AT) Tacomas exhibit a vibration felt in the seat, floor and/or steering wheel while decelerating (coasting/braking) roughly between 30 and 10 mph, and separately a distinct whine/howl from the rear of Double Cab models most noticeable at a steady ~50 mph. Toyota addressed the deceleration vibration in TSB T-SB-0124-20 (Rev1, Nov 28, 2022, covering 2016-2023 2WD and 4WD 6AT trucks), attributing it to driveline angles/leaf-spring behavior. The 50 mph whine is treated as a noise-isolation (NVH) issue, not gear failure.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, owners of 2019-2021 Tacomas report rust appearing on the frame within the first years, mostly at the welds and seams, where it bleeds out from between layers of metal. It affects third-generation (2016-2023) Toyota Tacomas, especially trucks driven on salted roads. The owner reports linked here are from 2019 and 2021 trucks. Toyota campaign K0D (frame inspection and corrosion-resistant compound for certain 2011-2017 Tacomas built through early June 2017 in cold-climate states, so it included some 2016-2017 trucks) has expired; the last regional deadline was October 31, 2023. Toyota tied it to Customer Support Program ZKA, frame coverage counted as 12 years from the date of first use, which a truck keeps only if its K0D remedy was done before K0D expired.

On the 2016-2022 Toyota Tacoma, factory 040 Super White paint can peel along the exterior door window frames, the front inner fender edges seen with the hood open, and the A-pillars, exposing the layer underneath. It affects certain 2016-2022 Tacoma Double Cab trucks in 040 Super White built at a specific plant from early September 2015 to late September 2021 (Toyota Customer Support Program 23TE08, about 142,460 trucks). 2022 trucks built after late September 2021 are outside the program.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma 2GR-FKS 3.5L V6, owners report engine oil seeping from the front timing chain cover of the 3.5L V6, most often noticed on the passenger side at the front of the engine. Some describe a slow seep; others had the cover resealed by a dealer. It affects third-generation (2016-2023) Tacomas with the 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6. The cited owner reports come from 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2023 trucks, with the leak noticed at 4,500 miles on a 2023, 30,000 miles on a 2020, 37,000 miles on a 2022 and 58,000 miles on a 2017.

On the 2016-2018 Toyota Tacoma 2GR-FKS 3.5L V6, some 2016-2018 Tacomas with the 2GR-FKS 3.5L V6 develop an engine oil leak originating at the camshaft sensor bolt holes in the valley of the engine, caused by an inadequate seal at the camshaft housing. Toyota addressed it in TSB T-SB-0073-18 (and dealer tech tips), which applies to Tacoma engines produced before production-change engine number 2GR M352598; engines from that number on have the updated camshaft housing from the factory. This is a distinct leak path from the 2GR-FKS timing-chain-cover oil leak; it weeps from the top-center valley/cam sensor area, can drip onto hot components, and may be mistaken for a valve-cover or rear-main leak.

On the 2016-2018 Toyota Tacoma 3.5L V6 2GR-FKS, owners of early third-gen Tacomas report the battery going dead after the truck sits a few days, often replacing the (relatively small factory) battery multiple times before the real cause is found. A commonly identified culprit is excess key-off current draw traced to the ECU-B (No.3) fuse circuit feeding the Main Body ECU; other contributors include a sticking door/tailgate/courtesy-light switch keeping a lamp on, aftermarket accessories (alarms, dashcams, lighting), or a failing alternator diode that bleeds the battery. The factory battery's modest reserve capacity makes the truck especially sensitive to any small parasitic draw.

On the 2016-2021 Toyota Tacoma, the Entune infotainment system can experience lag, freezing, and connectivity issues. Bluetooth pairing may be unreliable, and the touchscreen can become unresponsive. Navigation can crash or display outdated information.

On the 2016-2019 Toyota Tacoma 3.5L V6 2GR-FKS, third-generation Tacomas with the 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6 and the AC60 6-speed automatic exhibit poor shift quality: constant gear 'hunting' between 4th/5th/6th on the highway and on slight grades, harsh/clunky 1st-to-2nd upshifts, delayed engagement from Park-to-Drive or Reverse-to-Drive, and surging/lurching at low speed (notably worse when cold). The transmission is mechanically sound (shared with other Toyota models); the root cause is a factory ECM shift calibration combined with frequently-low transmission fluid from the factory. CarComplaints logged 25+ shifting complaints for 2017 alone, with an average reporting mileage around 7,350 miles, indicating the behavior appears almost immediately.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, owners of manual-transmission Tacomas report occasional grinding when shifting into 3rd gear and crunchy 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. It affects third-generation (2016-2023) Tacomas with a manual transmission (the 6-speed RC62F with the V6, or the 5-speed on 2016-2017 2.7L trucks). The owner reports linked here are from 2017 and 2018 trucks. Owners noticed it at 2,000 miles on a 2018, 3,500 miles on a 2017 and 8,000 km (about 5,000 miles) on a 2017.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, owners report a squeak or creak from the rear leaf springs when going over bumps, pulling away or loading the bed. It affects third-generation (2016-2023) Toyota Tacomas. Toyota bulletin T-SB-0273-17 covered this squeak only on 2016-2018 trucks built before a 2018 production change; the owner reports linked here include a 2018 truck whose squeak continued after the bulletin pads and a stock-height 2021 truck.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, owners of third-generation Tacomas report a musty or mildew smell from the vents when the A/C runs. The cited owner reports come from 2018, 2019 and 2020 trucks.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma, owners report back pain or discomfort from the driver seat, describing it as unsupportive; one says the lumbar area presses in the wrong place even when fully retracted. It affects third-generation (2016-2023) Toyota Tacomas. The owner reports linked here are from 2017, 2021 and 2023 trucks. This is a seat design complaint, not a defect.

On the 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma 2GR-FKS 3.5L V6, owners of third-generation V6 Tacomas report code P0128 (coolant temperature below thermostat regulating temperature) with the engine slow to warm up or running cool on the highway. One owner who replaced the thermostat found a plastic washer on the original part had dislodged and held it open. It affects third-generation (2016-2023) Tacomas with the 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6. In the linked owner reports it appeared at 14,000, 33,000 and 68,000 miles.