WHEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING , CLICKING SOUND
2016 Toyota Tacoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
189 reports with mileage · 134 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
323 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER PETERSON TOYOTA (4381 FAYETTEVILLE RD, LUMBERTON, NC 28358, (910)-375-4996) WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSED TESTING APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF THERE WAS WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS MISALIGNED AND THE CURRENT SOLUTION DOESN'T RESOLVE THE NOISE. I'M AFRAID EXCESSIVE WEAR IS HAPPENING AND ISSUE WILL ARISE MUCH SOONER
ON LONG TRIPS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES IN ONE GEAR IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PULL IT OUT OF 4TH, 5TH OR 6TH GEAR IN ORDER TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS RESULTED IN DANGEROUS SPEED CONTROL ISSUES (BOTH TOO FAST AND TOO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC) WHILE DRIVING ON MOUNTAINOUS HIGHWAYS. THE PROBLEM AND ITS REPAIR ARE EXACTLY …
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ON LONG TRIPS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES IN ONE GEAR IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PULL IT OUT OF 4TH, 5TH OR 6TH GEAR IN ORDER TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS RESULTED IN DANGEROUS SPEED CONTROL ISSUES (BOTH TOO FAST AND TOO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC) WHILE DRIVING ON MOUNTAINOUS HIGHWAYS. THE PROBLEM AND ITS REPAIR ARE EXACTLY DESCRIBED ON TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0088-16. IN MY OPINION THE BULLETIN SHOULD BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE BUT DIFFICULT TO DEMONSTRATE TO A TECHNICIAN BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A LONG DRIVE TIME AND UNDER CERTAIN TERRAIN AND/OR DRIVING CONDITIONS.
VEHICLE LUNGES LIKE A BUCKING BRONC AT WOT FROM STOP OR ROLLING START. IF IT WAS A CARBURETED VEHICLE (PRE-COMPUTER DAYS) I WOULD CHECK TIMING, CARBURETOR JETS,FUEL FILTER,ETC. SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BETTER IN SPORT MODE OR ECT IN DRIVE.
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN JUNE 2018, USED WITH 32000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN A THUNDERSTORM ON 7/25/18, AND THE KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT SAID THEY WERE GETTING WET, AND THAT THE WATER WAS COMING THROUGH THE HEADLINER. LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE WHEN I GOT BACK HOME AND IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ON THE C…
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I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN JUNE 2018, USED WITH 32000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN A THUNDERSTORM ON 7/25/18, AND THE KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT SAID THEY WERE GETTING WET, AND THAT THE WATER WAS COMING THROUGH THE HEADLINER. LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE WHEN I GOT BACK HOME AND IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ON THE CAB LEAKING THROUGH THE SEAL. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THE REPLACEMENT SEAL WAS ON BACKORDER 2-3 MONTHS, AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS ALL OVER THE US WITH THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY REENGINEERED IN THE 2017 MODEL. I MADE A CALL TO TOYOTA CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A SEAL MIRACULOUSLY APPEARED AFTER 3 WEEKS. AFTER THE SEAL WAS REPLACED THE DEALER SAID THAT, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY FOUND MOLD, AND IT WAS THE WORST THEY HAD EVER SEEN. THEY TOOK EVERYTHING OUT OF THE CAB AND THEY HAVE TO SCRAPE ALL OF THE SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL OFF THE FLOORBOARD WHERE THE MOLD HAS CONCENTRATED. THEY WILL THEN HAVE TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE COMPANY COME IN AND TREAT THE VEHICLE FOR THE MOLD ISSUE. THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER REPLACEMENT PARTS AFFECTED. I WAS ADVISED THIS MORNING IT WILL BE ANOTHER 2-3 WEEKS BEFORE THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETE. THANK GOD I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH A CERTIFIED WARRANTY. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN SCREWED. WITH THE MOLD ANYONE WHO RODE IN MY CAR COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME SICK. I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A NEW MODEL INSTEAD TO AVOID MY KIDS GETTING SICK, BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WOULDN'T QUALIFY ON THE ARKANSAS LEMON LAW. WHY THE HELL HASN'T THIS ISSUE BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER???
THE BLOWER MOTOR ON MY TRUCK FITS THE ISSUED RECALL. HOWEVER ITS ONLY ELIDGABLE FOR CERTAIN VINS AND MINE IS NOT COVERED. HOW CAN I GET COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE WINDOW IS JUNE 2016 TO 2017. I PURCHASED MY TRUCK IN MARCH OF 2016. THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS BEEN LOUD SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND DIED A MONTH AGO. I SAW THIS RECA…
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THE BLOWER MOTOR ON MY TRUCK FITS THE ISSUED RECALL. HOWEVER ITS ONLY ELIDGABLE FOR CERTAIN VINS AND MINE IS NOT COVERED. HOW CAN I GET COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE WINDOW IS JUNE 2016 TO 2017. I PURCHASED MY TRUCK IN MARCH OF 2016. THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS BEEN LOUD SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND DIED A MONTH AGO. I SAW THIS RECALL RELEASE AND DO NOT KNOW WHY MY TRUCK ISN'T COVERED. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED.
MY CAR 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS REBUILT TITLE AND VOIDS THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. TOYOTA CORP HAS TSB 0077-16 SHIFT FEELING ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO: DELAYED ENGAGEMENT PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. HARSH 1ST - 2ND UPSHIFT. DELAYED UPSHIFT WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. I EXPERIENCE HARSH UP SHIFT AND DOWN…
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MY CAR 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS REBUILT TITLE AND VOIDS THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. TOYOTA CORP HAS TSB 0077-16 SHIFT FEELING ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO: DELAYED ENGAGEMENT PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. HARSH 1ST - 2ND UPSHIFT. DELAYED UPSHIFT WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. I EXPERIENCE HARSH UP SHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING. IT NEEDS SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPDATE, BUT THE TOYOTA COP DECLINED THIS UPDATE FOR MY VEHICLE (CASE# 1808271028 ON 08/28/2018) IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS IT MAY MAKE TRANSMISSION UNCONTROLLABLE ORE DELAYED AND VEHICLE MAY GET INTO THE ACCIDENT. WE HAVE ONE SCHOOLED BOY AND INFANT GIRL. I WANT TO INFORM ABOUT THE ISSUE SO THAT ALL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND BRANDED TITLES ARE TO BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA CORP AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNERS. I WILL ATTACH THE TSB TOYOTA DOCUMENT THAT EXPLAINS WHAT IS THE PROBLEM
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…
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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.
3RD BRAKE LIGHT OVER TORQUED AT FACTORY RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SEAL AND EVENTUALLY CRACKED LIGHT FIXTURE. THIS RESULTS NOT ONLY IN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT SERIOUS LEAKING INTO CABIN - AFFECTING REAR SEAT, ROOF, AND FLOORING. LEAK NOTICED AFTER RAIN STORMS AND NOTICING WET FLOOR/SEATS AND DAMP FLOORS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF T…
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3RD BRAKE LIGHT OVER TORQUED AT FACTORY RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SEAL AND EVENTUALLY CRACKED LIGHT FIXTURE. THIS RESULTS NOT ONLY IN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT SERIOUS LEAKING INTO CABIN - AFFECTING REAR SEAT, ROOF, AND FLOORING. LEAK NOTICED AFTER RAIN STORMS AND NOTICING WET FLOOR/SEATS AND DAMP FLOORS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE AFFECTING 3RD GENERATION TACOMAS ON TOYOTA FORUMS SUCH AS TACOMAWORLD.COM.
Official recalls
417V425000 · Equipment; Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
Jul 3, 2017
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
17V356000 · Engine
Jun 1, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles equipped with a six-cylinder engine. The affected vehicles have a crank position sensor that may malfunction, potentially resulting in an engine stall.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crank position sensor with an improved design, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0H.
17V285000 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
Apr 27, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles. Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle is operated with an insufficient amount of oil in the rear differential, the differential may seize and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear differential for oil leakage. Based on the inspection, dealers will either tightening the fastening nuts or replace the fastening nuts and gasket. If the rear differential components are damaged, the rear differential carrier assembly will be replaced. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall June 19, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0G.
15V656000 · Air Bags:knee Bolster
Oct 14, 2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tacoma trucks manufactured August 20, 2015, to September 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, incorrect bolts were used to install the driver's knee air bag module.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The incorrect bolts may loosen over time and affect the performance of the driver's knee air bag, increasing the risk of driver injury during a crash that necessitates deployment of the air bags.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct driver's knee air bag module mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is F0T.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
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