Model year 2016 · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
2016 Toyota Tundra: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Tundra at 15–17 mpg combined across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 120 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
5
EPA combined mpg
15–17
NHTSA overall rating
4/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Toyota dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2016 Toyota Tundra recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 5 safety recalls for the 2016 Toyota Tundra, newest first.
Steering: Hydraulic power assist system and 1 more component
NHTSA 21V920000Reported Nov 23, 2021
Filed by
Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturer recall no. 21TB10 / 21TA10)
Components
Steering: Hydraulic power assist system; Steering: Rack and pinion
Units affected
22,462 (estimate)
Problem
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
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 Corporation (manufacturer recall no. H0K)
Units affected
5 (estimate)
Problem
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
The incorrect bolts may cause the air bag module to loosen over time, affecting the performance of the knee airbag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
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.
Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturer recall no. SET17A)
Units affected
1,325 (estimate)
Problem
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
Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 Corporation (manufacturer recall no. H0C)
Units affected
72,847 (estimate)
Problem
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
If a person steps on the corner of the bumper that is damaged, a portion of the bumper may break away, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturer recall no. SET-16C)
Units affected
4,253 (estimate)
Problem
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
An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2016 Toyota Tundra fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2016 Toyota Tundra crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2016 Toyota Tundra NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2016 Toyota Tundra PU/CC 2WD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
3 stars
21.9%
No
2016 Toyota Tundra PU/CC 4WD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
19.8%
No
2016 Toyota Tundra PU/EC 2WD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
3 stars
21.9%
No
2016 Toyota Tundra PU/EC 4WD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
19.8%
No
2016 Toyota Tundra PU/RC 2WD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
3 stars
21.9%
No
2016 Toyota Tundra PU/RC 4WD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
19.8%
No
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2016 Toyota Tundra owner complaints
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Tundra, most recently on Sep 25, 2026. 2 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 3 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2016 Toyota Tundra complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Service brakes
34
Electrical system
24
Structure: Body
17
Exterior lighting
15
Unknown or other
15
Steering
7
Engine
6
Fuel/propulsion system
6
Power train
5
Air bags
4
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
