Driving home approximately 20 miles on a 2 lane highway (speed limit of 50mph) and noticed the OEM/factory installed driver heated seat stopped working. Proceeded to smell burnt plastic but it was late at night and I convinced myself that nothing out of the normal had occurred since my passenger did not seem concerned. The following day I did a bit of research and tested the heated seat which…
2016 Toyota Tacoma electrical problems
severe 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
3fires
When does it fail?
Of the 34 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 20 model years of Toyota Tacoma in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I recently purchased a 2106 Toyota tacoma, this vehicle has been owned for about 4 months and has less than 4,000 miles on it. I was alerted of a check engine light and took this to the dealer for repairs. I was told that the wiring harness had been chewed by a rodent and this was very common at this dealership. I didn't think anything of it until I went online and notice thousands having the…
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a meaningful issue. 34 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 10,000 and 52,500 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 52,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Toyota/Tacoma.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.