Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Vibrations, Howls, Squeaks, Failed Rear Diff - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By SAS99 - August 28 - 3:42 pm

  Transmission and Engine combo feels very weak. It shifts erratically. It will downshift when coasting through the neighborhood at random. It will not hold 6th gear with even the slightest hill or head wind. The transmission will shift flare from 2nd to 3rd gear often when cold. The transmission also has a slipping sensation from time to time. The engine feels weak with this transmission. You have to floor it to get power out of it. The fuel economy is about the same as previous generation Tacomas at about 18.9 MPG....really not a major improvement when considering the step down in performance with this new trans and motor. The rear leaf springs squeak like crazy at only 10,000 miles and have been to the dealer three times for it. I also have a case with Toyota Corporate they are saying there is no fix for it and to live with it. It is embarrassing to drive through a parking lot and people look at your brand new nearly $40K truck because it squeaks like a rusty box-spring mattress. There is a noticeable vibration at highway speeds felt in the Steering wheel and in the gas pedal, if you let off the gas it goes away but if you apply gas it vibrates/buzzes. It is very annoying and almost makes my hands numb while driving. The rumor is that this is a Design oversight/glitch that Toyota dropped the ball on. I drove another brand new 2016 Tacoma and it exhibited the same traits. Finally the rear differential was making a howling noise at 50 to 60 mph if you are feathering the throttle or lightly applying throttle on a downhill stretch of freeway. I took it to the dealer and they said it was not normal so they kept my truck for 3 days and replaced the entire rear differential already, with less than 12K miles on it. I couldnt believe it. Now not even 300 miles later I hear the noise coming back again in the rear differential. I would have a hard time recommending the 2016 Tacoma to anyone. It seems like Toyota Quality Assurance has really dropped the ball and Corporate is slow to release any information or resolutions for these issues. Driveline vibration has been an issues for years past on previous generation Tacomas as well so this is very troubling.

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  I Walked Away from This Thing - Fast - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By MRamirez - August 26 - 9:47 am

  I’ve owned several Tacoma trucks, including my current 2010, which I love. I discovered the new 2016 during a dealer for service department. I wasn’t too interested in upgrading before, but I took a very quick test drive and thought I was sold. I liked the interior and exterior re-design. So I ordered a Limited and waited several months for it. But I began doing my homework and reading reviews, which raised a few flags. Regardless, the truck came in at the end of January and I was excited. I asked the dealer to let me take it on an extended test drive before I took delivery. I had it for over an hour on city and highway speeds. That test drive changed everything and confirmed many of the reviews. The engine was very under-powered. It worked too hard on the highway, the transmission shifting was awful, and the engine was very coarse and loud. The brakes pulsated, like the ABS was engaging, with normal light braking. And there was this strong, high-frequency buzz that transmitted through the steering wheel, pedals, and seats at highway speeds and certain acceleration points on side roads. I could even hear the buzzing vibration rattle the interior components. That was the killer for me. I thought perhaps these were isolated problems on that truck. So the dealership let me take another Limited out for a spin. Same problems on that one! The dealership’s explanation? “Sounds like they all do it, so it must be a normal. Plus, we’re selling them like hotcakes so it must not bother everyone.” Very well, but they bother me. I walked away from the deal and got my deposit back. I was very disappointed but glad I didn’t spend the $38K on that. My 2010’s engine is more refined and owns the highway with its power. No issues with shifting, excessive engine noise, or uncomfortable vibrations. I will hang on to my 2010 for another year or so and hope Toyota gets it right in a few years.

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  Worst purchase - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By David E. - June 26 - 10:32 am

  I had own a 2005 tacoma and drove it for 9 years with onlh one issue the air conditioner stop working. Sld the truck and had purchase a jeep but aftrr 3 years i decided to purchase the ne 2016 tacoma trd sport. It was the worst decision i have made in purchasing a new truck. The transmission is crap for it canot decide what gear to run in and the truck has a surge when you are trying to park or pill into a garage. I have had the truckmin the shop twice and went today and talk to a sevice adviser and was told that there was nothing they could do for this is the way the truck will perform and they were done. The truck is omld six months old with 6k miles. I am going tomorrow and trade it in for a Dogde Ram. Hopefully Toyota will get there act together for if people stop buying there products for they are no longer in my book as the best vechicle on the road.

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  truck is fine transmission if junk! - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By wdills22@gmail.com - June 12 - 7:49 pm

  I was so happy to get my new truck and i love everything about the truck except the transmission. I literally cannot go 45mph. When i hit that speed the truck shifts into a gear that bogs the engine down to 1000rpm and then it downshifts when i try to keep the truck at 45mph so it jumps me past that speed. I cant keep a steady speed unless Im on the highway in the top gear. I had the TSB done to fix the hesitation going from P to D and it worked. I had the transmission fluid checked. I did everything that corporate toyota told me to do and it still bogs down driving down the street and continually shifts. The fix is already in the truck but they wont perform it. If you put the truck in ECT PWR mode then it runs great. If they take that program and make it the startup program then it would be fine. For now Im going to have to trade it in and get something else. It sucks because i like toyota or at least i used to.

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  First time dissapointment with Toyota - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Larry - January 7 - 7:35 pm

  Very underpowered. Trans continously shifts to keep rpms up. Took 1200 miles trip to Florida. In 20 to 25 mph headwind will not stay in high gear using criuse but runs at higher rpms. Constantly downshift in cruise even with very slight road incline. Would never pull a trailer on long trip. I am 69 an sadly this is most dissapointing vehicle I have ever purchased. Running the vehicle with the ETC button on gains you 1.5 to 2.5mpg. Using that mode, I got 24 mpg with the last two tanks of gas. Pulling a 14 foot, 2500 lbs travel trailer the Tacoma will barely go 65 mph on a freeway and gets 12mpg.

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  Wolf in sheep clothing - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Dwight ryan - January 4 - 11:16 pm

  Looks good engine has no power loud sounds like it out of oil transmission is Always hunting for right gear shifts hard seats are better than my 15 taco. But still not good Really thought this was going be the truck. ITS NOT. Call me toyota come to my house I will go over everything you didnt do right. I Want My Money Back. This is my 4 th taco truck had 2 tundra. Still have a 2015 Tundra I will keep it. Twice the truck X 2. Toyota lied about this truck.

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  Needs Work Before Ill Buy - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Danny - November 23 - 10:43 pm

  After owning 2nd Generation Tacomas and a Tundra, I was looking for a 2016. I test drove one and there’s work to be done before I will buy. The exterior got a very nice upgrade. Great driver display and dash. The premium technology looked awesome. I also liked the exterior, although the grill is a bit scary unless you have the SR5 or Limited trim. However, the driving experience was a problem. The transmission slipped and hesitated often. The engine seemed to work very hard on acceleration. I know the shifting may settle after driving a few thousand miles, but it was jarring on a test ride. The engine was also very, very noisy—high pitched, like metal on metal. The steering wheel and accelerator pedal buzzed me quite often on accelerating and cruising speeds. I really didnt like that. The brakes had this pulsating ABS feeling with an occasional pop sensation on normal braking, which didn’t feel normal. Those things would drive me nuts. My expectations are perhaps high with owning other Toyota trucks, but these things seemed like sloppy design to me. So I am holding off until Toyota can fix the bugs hopefully with 2017.

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  buyers remorse - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By James in AZ - October 21 - 2:01 am

  Due to an accident that totaled my 02 Tacoma extra cab prerunner, I purchased a 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport access cab, believing it would be the latest greatest version of the Tacoma I lost. Boy was I mistaken. My 02 was fantastic, everything a truck should be! From the experience of the 02, and moving from it to the 2016..., I gotta tell ya, the 2016 is everything a truck should NOT be. The 2016 Tacoma is symptomatic of the history of the automotive industry in general. There comes a point where evolution and innovation produces near perfection... then what follows is sort of critical mass point where further innovation does more to ruin a good thing, than it does to make it better. All the latest technology... more like, way too much technology. I dont want or need a truck to interact with my phone. I dont need or want a screen full of apps in my dash. I have an iPhone... I dont want or need my truck to connect to it. I certainly dont like a truck that beeps when I leave it running and step out of it. I certainly dont like a truck that beeps because my dog is sitting on the passenger seat. I certainly dont like a truck that beeps and flashes it lights EVERY TIME I get in it. I dont like dont like a truck that beeps just because the cab door is open. The technology is so annoying, and insulting, to anyone who could care less about technology like I do. The worst part is that although a few customizations can be made to curb the distractions produced by the technology, theres a lot that cant be shut off. The moral of the story is: Id rather be driving and enjoying and writing about that, but Im not... Im too occupied touch screen scrolling through menus of junk that has nothing to do with driving, never did, never will. So whys all this junk in there anyway, thats what I want to know? Im looking to sell this truck in the next year. The more I drive it, the more I hate it.

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  All New Tacoma? - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Munchie - October 12 - 4:21 am

  I am 59 years old and have driven Tacomas for the past 25 years. I would easily upgrade to A Tundra if it fit in my garage. For the past 11 years, Ive been driving the 2005 Tacoma 4x4 TRD Sport 4-Dr Short Bed. Its been a great truck with 82k mi, original brakes and tires, and rides every bit is good as the day I bought it. For what its worth, I hated my 2002 Tacoma (configured the same). I test drove the 2016 Tacoma (same config) and was completely underwhelmed. The engine is not as strong, the interior is inferior, and other than the grill and tail gate, the truck is identical. The trans is now a tiptronic variety which I like, but, at nearly $40k, Toyota is hallucinating. As another reviewer said, save your money and continue to drive your Tacoma. If you really want to upgrade your existing Tacoma, install a Pioneer 4100-NEX head unit and a backup camera (epoxy above the hitch). Toyota, too bad you didnt put as much effort into improving the Tacoma as you did in your commercials. Its not easy to fool truck drivers.

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  Stay away from this piece of GARBAGE!!! - 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  By Shane Beach - April 10 - 5:42 am

  Thats right piece of GARBAGE! Bought the Trd Sport a couple months back and guess what 5,000 miles and the truck is in the shop for over 3 weeks. ( Ordering parts from Japan lol) the truck was making a loud ticking noise on the left side of the engine and would accelerate with out me in it. No the heater was not on or AC. Took it in at my 5k service and the head mechanic came and looked at it and said omg that engine is loud. We pulled up another Tacoma beside it and the other truck sounded way better. Long story short they kept the truck and I got a call from Toyota stating that one of the cams needs to be replaced as long as the injectors. And that Im looking at a three week turnaround, I went to the dealer ship to see the truck and the whole motor is cracked open. Im sorry Toyota Im going back to Ford where the parts come from the good old USA.