IllustrationNOTICE A LEA IN GARAGE AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, PINK LIQUID (COOLANT FLUID), TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED OF A CRACK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
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 reportsHEAD GASKET REPLACED PREMATURELY DUE TO POOR ENGINE HEAD DESIGN.
LOW BEAM LIGHTS CREATE A 'CURTAIN LIKE' SHADOW, REDUCING VISIBILITY.
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
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED ABS BRAKE WARMUP AND VIOLENT VIBRATION THROUGHOUT VEHICLE UPON BRAKING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL OFF AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE DEALER IS TRYING TO FIND CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS OLD, CONSUMER FEELS WHEEL WAS NEVER PUT ON SECURELY. *SLC
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON, IN FOR REPAIR, DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED THE SENSOR WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN BETWEEN GEARS, EXPERIENCED ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS AND VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY W/FRONT TIRES WORN. DEALER NOT ABLE TO ADJUST THEM BECAUSE VEHICLE IS TOO NEW. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
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.