2016 Toyota Tacoma: engine overheating

Filed Jun 30, 2025 · Engine · LA

I have experienced two major failures on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with less than 90,000 miles: a leaking coolant crossover pipe, which required partial engine disassembly and cost me approximately $2,500, and a leaking timing chain cover, which required a full front-end teardown and cost over $4,500. Both issues are known problems across 2016+ Tacoma models with the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS engine), yet Toyota has not issued a recall or warranty enhancement. These failures present safety risks related to overheating and oil loss and result in significant financial burden to owners. Toyota needs to be held accountable for these premature, design-related failures.

Filed Nov 22, 2024 · Engine · RI

Rear Coolant Bypass Joint leak. Coolant leaking through this pipe and accumulating.

Filed Oct 20, 2024 · Engine · ME

Coolant leaking

Filed Nov 30, 2023 · Seats · TX

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Heated seat heating module. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Module burned out during usage and emitted fire odor and smoke when burnt out (potential fire hazard if kept on). Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? [XXX] Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Unknown. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? None. 2016 Tacoma limited heated seat heating module overheated/burned out with slight smoke under seat during minimal usage (texas based). TSB [XXX] released in October 2018, about the time most of the 2016 (produced in 2015) are going out of warranty, and based on frequency of usage and locale (warmer climates observe less usage) - also even though parts used are the same, VIN is apparently not affected. Toyota will not honor TSB even though the burn out can be a potential fire hazard if not known/smelled especially while traveling and buckled into seat belt (similar to Mercedes heated seats caught on fire). No notice provided by Toyota of TSB at time of issue. Item should be a recall as it affects many 2016-2018 Tacoma's and is a fire safety and burn hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 24, 2020 · Seats · 61,000 miles · OR

I noticed when my driver seat heater was in the "on" position, the seat was not heating up. Electrical wiring/connector for the heated seat module located under the driver seat overheated or arced causing the connector (s) to melt posing a safety/fire hazard and rendering the heated seat inoperable. Tsb from toyota covers this up to 3years/36,000 miles. Mileage at time of failure: 61,000 miles.

Filed Mar 9, 2020 · Electrical, Seats · 78,000 miles · WA

Electrical wiring/connector for the heated seat module located under the driver seat overheated or arced causing the connector (s) to melt posing a safety hazard and rendering the heated seat inoperable.

Filed May 9, 2019 · 8,000 miles · TX

We live in a border town with mexico and going and coming back sometimes there are long lines at the bridges so in one of those times temperature started to go up in the truck it was overheating

Filed Mar 20, 2016 · Brakes · 4,850 miles · CA

After driving 10 miles from a cold start the vehicles brakes will start applying braking power. Vehicle becomes noticeably labored and cannot engage higher gears. Vehicle was serviced multiple times for this issue. Dealership reported that factory service representative feels that vehicle is working as designed. On 2016-03-18 the brakes where engaging while driving. The brakes became overheated and glowing red to the point where other motorists tried to warn me that my truck is on fire. I pulled over and found brake rotors to be hot enough to ignite paper and pine needles. After two hours of waiting the brakes cooled and I drove it home. The following morning I drove the vehicle again. The vehicle exhibited the same symptoms after 15 miles. Upon stopping the front rotors were found to be extremely hot. The rear drums were also observed to be hot enough to bubble and melt their protective painted finish. The smell of overheated brakes and rubber was also observed. Tire pressure had also risen several degrees. Vehicle is being towed in for the fifth service incident since acquisition on 2015-12-22. Vehicle odometer shows mileage is under 5,000. Not certain that odometer is accurate and suspect that vehicle was in service prior to acquisition.