2016 Toyota Tundra · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 34owner reports
- 5,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Feb 20, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
34 of the 120 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Tundra.
Tick what matches of 34 reports
Brake wear on other Tundra years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,500 and 15,000 miles, from the 23 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Toyota Tundra 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.
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.
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.
What owners wrote
“The trailer brake controller went out. It does not supply electronic braking and the truck no longer recognizes the controller on the dashboard. Multiple on line chats and forums, along with my trailer provider, show awareness of this defect. Online individuals learned of the issue during emergency stopping. This appears to be known and wide spread.”
Filed Feb 20, 2025
“The integrated brake controller does not apply enough power to the trailer brakes.”
Filed Jul 3, 2023
“Bought a used 2016 Tundra, unaware of the massive problem they have with their intergrated brake controller, i feel they need to do something about this or reimburse the buyer for buying a aftermarket one to replace the factory unit. Its a very unsafe problem when pulling a trailer, I love the truck otherwise but this issue needs fixed.”
Filed Feb 27, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 34 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found