2016 Toyota Tacoma · symptom sheet
Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems
- 37owner reports
- 14,948median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 27, 2022 · checked Oct 2, 2026
136 of the 323 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 37 of those describe drivetrain problems, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Tacoma.
Tick what matches of 37 reports
Drivetrain problems on other Tacoma years
No other Tacoma model year has enough reports of drivetrain problems for a sheet of its own. See every Tacoma year.
What this problem usually is
Drivetrain reports describe the parts between the transmission and the wheels. Owners hear a clunk or bang from underneath, feel a vibration that rises and falls with speed, find fluid leaking under the differential, or get a 4WD or AWD warning. Some say it only happens turning or at low speed. A smaller group describes a driveshaft or axle that let go.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the differential (35 reports) and the transfer case (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.
All 4 recalls on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 10,000 and 25,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2016 ? 2017 model year Tacoma Double Cab 4WD vehicles equipped with a BD22 rear differential may exhibit a whine type noise from the rear of the vehicle.
Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Tacoma 4WD vehicles may exhibit a cyclical groaning or grinding noise coming from the front differential in 2WD that is not present during 4WD operation. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
TT: Some customers may experience a stuck in 4HI or 4LO condition due to a damaged transfer case actuator. After replacing the actuator, the normal operating condition is restored.
TT: Some vehicles may exhibit a fluid leak from the rear differential carrier to axle housing gasket. The differential may exhibit noise or the fasteners may be loose.
What owners wrote
No report on this problem is short enough to quote in full.
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 37 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 26 reports