RoadVitals

2016 Toyota Tacoma Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Dec 17, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 323 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Toyota Tacoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 17, 2023

Just like with the other double cab Tacoma recalls I am hearing about, the third rear tail light is leaking water into my access cab. The interior smells like mildew. I’m not sure why my truck is not covered by the recall, but it is experiencing the exact same situation. Water leaking through the deteriorated seal of the break-light. I think with accompanying mold build up.

NHTSA ID
11560544
Incident
Dec 15, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the driver’s side fog light housing melted. There was an abnormal odor of smoke. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,749.

NHTSA ID
11472885
Incident
Jul 7, 2022
Mileage
143,749 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2022

We paid $638.42 to repair a leak issue which later became a recall. We we are now having difficulty getting Toyota to reimbursement that money.

NHTSA ID
11454448
Incident
Jan 24, 2019
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Mar 4, 2021

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND REALIZED WHEN I WAS SOLD THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR WAS ON BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A QUICK CONNECTION ERROR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS VERY DIM AND DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WELL. I CONTACTED CROWN DODGE OF FAYETTEVILLE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. THIS WAS A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AFTER BECAUSE LIFE HAPPENS AND I WORK WITH THE MILITARY. I DON'T HAVE A REGULAR SCHEDULE. I DO HAVE A WARRANTY BUT I'M NOT USING MY WARRANTY TO COVER SOMETHING THEY SHOULD FIX. WHEN I CALLED TO TALK TO A SALES MANAGER NO ONE WOULD ANSWER IT RANG AND RANG. THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE WILL SHOW THE AIR BAG SENSOR AT LEAST.

NHTSA ID
11399140
Incident
Mar 3, 2021
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 19, 2021

THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT BECOMES LOOSE ALLOWING WATER INTO THE TRUCK CAB. IT IS EITHER A RUBBER GASKET DEFECT OR IT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED IN NUMEROUS VENUES FOR THE 2016-2020 MODEL YEARS OF THE TOYOTA TACOMA. MINE LEAKS WHILE DRIVING OR STANDING STILL.

NHTSA ID
11396904
Incident
May 22, 2017
Mileage
28,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jan 31, 2021

WHEN IT RAINS WATER COMES INSIDE THE CABIN AROUND BRAKE LIGHT AND SOAKS THE SEATS. I NOTICED THIS WHEN THE TRUCK IS STATIONARY. I THINK IT'S COMING AROUND THE BRAKE LIGHTS GASKET THE WHOLE BACK IF WET ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOOKS LIKE WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE HEADLINER. I'VE ALSO SEEN OTHER VIEWS OR REPORTS ON THIS INCIDENT

NHTSA ID
11390926
Incident
Jan 20, 2021
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 4, 2021

THE CAB MOUNTED THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FIXTURE IS ALLOWING A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. THE SEATS AND CARPET ARE GETTING SOAKED EVERY TIME THERE IS HEAVY RAIN. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WILL FAIL AND MOLD AND MILDEW WILL RESULT. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. TOYOTA DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT I THINK IS A DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THIS FIXTURE. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID
11386356
Incident
Nov 2, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jun 28, 2020

INTERIOR LEAKING WHEN IT RAINS OR WHENEVER VEHICLE GETS WET. A HEALTH HAZARD, SAFETY CONCERN, AND POTENTIAL RISK TO PASSENGERS AS WELL. CAUSE OF PROBLEM IS DEFECTIVE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT SEAL. OF COURSE TOYOTA MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EASILY REPLACE THE LIGHT OR SEAL AS YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE INTERIOR CEILING TO GET TO BOLTS. SAD I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND IT LEAKS WATER BUT SINCE WARRANTY JUST ENDED, THEY WILL NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT FIXING THIS ISSUE. IF A LAWSUIT RESULTS ABOUT OF THIS COUNT ME IN, HOPEFULLY A RECALL TAKES PLACE SOON BECAUSE DUCT TAPE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH PLUS WHO WANTS TO DRIVE AROUND WITH DUCT TAPE ON THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11331351
Incident
Jun 22, 2020
Exterior lighting
Filed May 20, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF LOGAN (297 E MAIN ST, LOGAN, OH 43138), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC RETRIEVED DTC CODES: C1380 AND C1422. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STOP LIGHT RELAY MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS DUE TO BE INSPECTED AND TREATED WITH AN ANTI-CORROSION INHIBITER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,495.

NHTSA ID
11325256
Incident
May 15, 2020
Mileage
68,495 mi
AirbagsExterior lightingSeat belts
Filed May 18, 2020

2016 TOYOTA TACOMA PURCHASED FROM STOKES BROWN TOYOTA NEW. THE SEATBELT AIRBAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BLINKS CONTINUALLY EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED AND OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325059
Incident
May 10, 2020
Mileage
29,800 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 10, 2020

3RD BRAKE LIGHT SEAL DEFECTIVE. RAIN WATER ENTERS BACK OF CABIN AND STAINS INTERIOR ROOF FROM DEFECTIVE SEAL AROUND 3RD BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
11324011
Incident
May 17, 2017
Mileage
15,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2019

THIRD LIGHT LEAKS WATER DAMAGED WIRING/ DAMAGED CARPET / MILDEW PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
11291554
Incident
Nov 20, 2018
Mileage
65,469 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 2019

POOR INTERIOR LIGHTING. BACK UP CAMERA DOES NOT DIM AT NIGHT MEANING IT BLINDS THE OPERATOR WHEN BACKING AT NIGHT. DASHBOARD LED DISPLAY IS SO POORLY DESIGNED THAT, UNDER MOST DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITIONS, OPERATOR CANNOT READ THE ODOMETER OR DETERMINE WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN VEHICLE IS USED IN THE MANUAL SHIFT MODE AS THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO KNOW IF YOU'RE SHIFTING FROM 2D TO 3D OR 3D TO 4TH. IT ALSO MAKES IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE MILES TO NEXT INTERSTATE EXIT WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE YOUR ODOMETER. TRYING TO STARE AT THE DISPLAY TAKES EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR FAR TOO LONG. DASHBOARD LIGHTING IS SO POOR THAT OPERATOR CANNOT READ SPEEDOMETER UNDER MANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY WEARING SUNGLASSES.

NHTSA ID
11245173
Incident
Aug 20, 2019
Mileage
35,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 14, 2019

BACK SEATS AND FLOOR WERE FOUND TO BE WET. DIDN'T KNOW WHY UNTIL WE WERE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM AND WATER CAME IN BACK WINDOW AROUND 3RD BREAK LIGHT. TOOK TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO GET FIXED.

NHTSA ID
11220130
Incident
May 1, 2019
Mileage
63,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 29, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER PETERSON TOYOTA (4381 FAYETTEVILLE RD, LUMBERTON, NC 28358, (910)-375-4996) WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSED TESTING APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF THERE WAS WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11143654
Incident
Aug 15, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 14, 2018

3RD BRAKE LIGHT OVER TORQUED AT FACTORY RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SEAL AND EVENTUALLY CRACKED LIGHT FIXTURE. THIS RESULTS NOT ONLY IN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT SERIOUS LEAKING INTO CABIN - AFFECTING REAR SEAT, ROOF, AND FLOORING. LEAK NOTICED AFTER RAIN STORMS AND NOTICING WET FLOOR/SEATS AND DAMP FLOORS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE AFFECTING 3RD GENERATION TACOMAS ON TOYOTA FORUMS SUCH AS TACOMAWORLD.COM.

NHTSA ID
11119971
Incident
Jul 7, 2018
Mileage
41,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 10, 2017

2016 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEADLIGHTS FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE NIGHT LIGHTING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTING WAS ESPECIALLY POOR DURING RAIN OR SNOW. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE STANDARDS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE REVIEWED. *JS

NHTSA ID
10969155
Incident
Jan 23, 2017

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .