IllustrationSUSPENSION SPRINGS FAILED.
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
What owners actually said
89 reportsBRAKE SYSTEM MAKES NOISE.
HIGH SPEED MANEUVER TO AVOID ROAD HAZARD RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER/ACCIDENT.
FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY.
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING.
ROOF RACK HAD MISSING COMPONENTS, CONSUMER COULD NOT ATTACH SKI RACK.
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LOADED AND UPON HITTING A BUMP, THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DELAER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND THE SPRINGS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 30 MPH,BEGAN APPLYING PRESSURE TO BRAKE, HEARD LOUD GRINDING NOISE, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSED ACCIDENT, ROD THAT HOLDS TIRE AND AXLE CAME OFF. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET FAILED.
VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE VIBRATION PROBLEM. *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.