Is the 2016 model year the worst?

Hello fellow members. I’m considering a 3rd gen Tacoma and from what I’ve read the 16’ is regarded as the worst year. Is this actually true? Or is this a case of people just complaining the most about that year because it was the first year of the new generation? Is a 16’ any worse than a 17 or 18?

 

There are a few more opportunities for problems to arise, but generally you have one of the most reliable trucks on the road with a Tacoma, regardless of year.

3rd brake light leaks come to mind as something that affects 16s most.

A bonus with 16s is they don’t have TSS, so there’s less potential problems in that regard, plus the bonus of simplicity if you’re one who wants to control the truck yourself.

I wouldn’t hesitate to own a 16 if the deal was right. Good luck with your search.

 

Based on threads around here, probably so.

Not that it's a total disaster, but there were several items that seemed to regularly crop up. Failed CAS, underfilled transmissions, wonky transmission software, leaking differentials, out of round rear drums, leaking 3rd brake light, whistling door seals and lower control arms quickly come to mind.

But if you're shopping a 5 yo vehicle, if it was affected by any of that it should have been long resolved. Making how well the owner(s) maintained it being much more important.

 

My '16 had the leaking differential addressed by the prior owner by the selling dealer, all else has been rock solid. I am happy to have this year. Good luck in your research!

 

There is no power sliding back window.

 

Love my 16

 

The worst? Well, you expect the first year to lack certain things that get added later, but to say worst means it's bad and I would say, no to that. If that is what you are asking. If I were to find a 16 at a good price, I would not hesitate to buy it, regardless of what a few bitter people on a forum say. Considering the 16 came with a host of improvements over the previous gen, it is better than what came before it.

 

Technically they have slightly less features. Does this mean they're bad? Nope, not in the slightest! They're still great trucks. Some of them had mild production issues, but honestly, compared to things like the early ford ecoboost productions (timing chains, oil turbos, diffs, windows leaking, ask me how i know i had one). They're relatively easy to address (look for the leaky diff, ovtune will solve the slightly wonky shifts,) so if you have at a shot at a good one for a good price, I wouldn't hesitate. It is a Toyota, after all.

 

Listen to Bill

 

This! If it's a well maintained stock truck, with low to average miles, I'm sure it'll last for years to come. Of course buying used is always a risk. Something else I look at when buying used, how many owners? One owners usually love and maintain the their vehicles. If it's changed hand in relatively short periods of time, that alerts me either A) owner hardly maintained, intending to dump B) it's got issues, and owner moved on.

 

I have a 16. Owned since 4/2016 when I purchased it new. I’ve been following this 3rd gen forum since just before I bought it.

Problems I’ve had:
-3rd brake light leak
-Tranny .5 qt low (no symptoms)
-Rumble strip feeling when coming to a stop

My truck has been great. I would say the 16 and 17 are the same. Vehicles don’t really have the time old first year problems like like the good ol’ days. Manufacturing techniques have improved. In following this forum I would say that all years have similar issues.

It is true that in later years options were added and subtracted. The biggest issue with the truck is lack of low end torque. This is the same for all years.

Having said that I really love my truck.

 

After four Tacomas the 2016 was the worse for me anyway.....Very disappointed

 

Bought my 16 TRD Sport with 34K on it. Was well taken care of. Now have 55K, just put new tires, changed ALL fluids with AMsoil, the truck runs great. I wouldn't hesitate on any year Tacoma really. Still better than the others.

 

I'm one day shy of owning my '16 TRD Sport for a month. If it ever had any of the issues listed above, the only previous owner must have addressed them. The only exception would be the "rumble-strip feeling" when coming to a stop. It doesn't always do this, but it's annoying when it happens.

 

My 2016 SR5 had leaking differential which was replaced under warranty. Truck was perfect otherwise. Traded for a 2020 TRD Sport in December.

 

Lemon (having never owned or driven one )

 

Quite the opposite bro!

 

only issues for my 16 were leaking brake light potentially underfilled rear diff.

 

Been driving my '16 since October '15. No problems to report.