IllustrationTHE 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HIT A STOP SIGN POLE AND A BIG TREE AT 50 TO 60 MPH DURING WET WEATHER. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN THE COLLISION OF THE DRIVERS HEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL. *NLM
1996 Toyota 4 Runner
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4 Runner years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 89 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
7 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DURING A CRASH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE OWNER STATES THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE.
DURING A CRASH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE OWNER STATES THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON, IN FOR REPAIR, DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED THE SENSOR WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.