Second generation
2016 Toyota Tundra
The most reported problem on the 2016 Toyota Tundra is brake wear, with 34 complaints, usually around 5,000 miles.
- 120owner complaints
- 6recalls
- 2involved a crash
- 17,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Tundra doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Toyota Tundra reliable?
The 2016 Toyota Tundra has 120 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, less than half the median of 278 for 2016 pickups on this site. Of the 13 Tundra model years since 2014, it has the 5th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 11 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs above the 2017 (8). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Brake wear leads with 34 of the 120 complaints (28%), ahead of headlights at 13. Brake wear tends to show up early. Of the 23 owners who gave a mileage for it, half were under about 5,000 miles and a quarter under about 2,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 5 of the 120 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 2 reports mention a crash and 3 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as brake wear. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2016 at 28 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 6. So far in 2026, 6 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 34 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
120 complaints is 2.1 times fewer than the median 2016 model on this site and 2.3 times fewer than the median 2016 pickup. Among the 7 Tundra model years here it ranks 5th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Toyota Tundra
Toyota filed 228 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Toyota Tundra. 7 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. 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.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 3 bulletins · 34 complaints
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Some 2015 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit brake vibration due to improper lug nut torque. Brake vibration can occur at any time if improper torque is applied to lug nuts. Even one lug nut over or under torqued can cause vibration.
1 more on this problem
TT: SOME 13-17MY TUNDRA VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION/PULSATION DURING LIGHT TO HARD BRAKING. THE VIBRATION/PULSATION FEELING CAN BE DESCRIBED AS BEING FELT IN ANY COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING: STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE PEDAL, SEAT, AND ENTIRE VEHICLE.
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 4 bulletins · 7 complaints
TT: Chrometec (plastic clad) wheels are being damaged during mounting and dismounting of tires.
TT: Front Brake Vibration Key Points: * Issue can occur at any time if improper torque is applied on lug nuts * Over time, even one lug nut over or under torqued, can cause a vibration issue * When lug nuts are over torqued, this causes the rotor to have a ...
2 more on this problem
Some 2014 ? 2016 model year Tundra (1UR-FE) vehicles may exhibit a MIL ?ON? condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P2440 (Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve Stuck Open, Bank 1), or P2442 (Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve Stuck ...
DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS TIRES ARE MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE AS MATCHED SETS TO HELP REDUCE CONDITIONS SUCH AS PULLING OR DRIFTING.
Complaints filed by year
28 complaints came in 2016, 7.0 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2016 Toyota Tundra
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Tundra vehicles. The affected vehicles have a passenger knee air bag module that was attached to the instrument panel mounting brackets with incorrect bolts.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: All of the affected vehicles have been inspected and any incorrect knee air bag mounting bolts have been replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0K.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles accessorized with Southeast Toyota accessory 20-inch Rockstar wheels installed by Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer. The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement lugnuts, free of charge. The recall began June 23, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17A.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tundra vehicles equipped with a resin rear step bumper and resin reinforcement brackets (vehicles with chrome step bumpers are not affected). In the event of an impact to the corner of the bumper, the resin bracket may be damaged but not be noticed.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the resin rear bumper reinforcement brackets with steel ones, and replace the rear bumper tread, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0C.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Toyota Tundra, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Toyota Tundra?
Brake wear, with 34 of the 120 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 5,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Tundra problems start?
Of the 79 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 4,000 miles and half by about 17,000.
Is the 2016 Toyota Tundra better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has more complaints than the 2017: 11 a year against 8.
How many 2016 Toyota Tundra complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
5 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2016 Toyota Tundra?
No recall on file for the 2016 Toyota Tundra is on the same system as brake wear. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.