TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS INDEPENDENTLY AND THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FEATURE WOULD NOT ENGAGE AFTER BEING ACTIVATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTWARE FAILED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, B…
2016 toyota Tacoma powertrain problems
moderate 130 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
130
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
TRANSMISSION SHAKES VEHICLE IN LOWER GEARS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND HARD JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE .
AT shifter was stiff from purchase. I thought this was normal. Sometimes it shifted OK, most times not. Had independent repair shops lubricate the shifter multiple times to no avail. Then the shifter wouldn't move at all and I was in a traffic lane causing a dangerous situation. Had truck towed to an independent repair shop that found a second way to lubricate the shaft. Curious how many trucks…
WHILE DRIVING IN CITY MY TRUCK SHAKES AND VIBRATING HORRIBLY WHEN GOING INTO 2ND GEAR. AND CONTINUES TO SHAKE LIGHTLY AS I CONTINUE DRIVING. DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK COULD BE A TIRE ISSUE. SO GOT MY TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED. PROBLEM STILL RESUMES. AND STILL NO ANSWER AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I HAVE ONLY 69,276 MILES ON THE TRUCK BUT IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY APPARENTLY. ON HIGHWAY …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY UPSHIFTED AND/OR DOWNSHIFTED AND ACCELERATED OR DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED. THE ISSUE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE …
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 toyota Tacoma?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 130 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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