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1996 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
72Owner complaints

Model-year median: 58

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1996 Toyota 4RUNNER

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 72 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Structure: 38 reports
  • Suspension: 23 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 10 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 4 reports
  • Air Bags: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
51
199312
199447
199572
1996139
1997130
1998220
1999
Compare all 4RUNNER years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
38Suspension
23Unknown Or Other
10Vehicle Speed Control
4Air Bags
2
All reported categories
Power Train
2Steering
2Tires
2Visibility
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

55 reports with mileage · 17 unknown

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.

  • Structure. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
205,000 miles · Feb 6, 2018
EngineSeat BeltsSuspension

SHOCK ABSORBER COMPLETELY WENT THREW THE FRAME CAUSING THE 4 RUNNER TO GO SIZE TO SIZE WHILE DRIVING. FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THE SAME EXACT FRAMES ON THE TACOMATACOMA GOT A RECALL, THEY REPLACED THEM. WHY WASNT THIS RECALLED ON THE 4RUNNER? AND THE SEATBELTS JUST POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHILE YOUR J…

Read full complaint

SHOCK ABSORBER COMPLETELY WENT THREW THE FRAME CAUSING THE 4 RUNNER TO GO SIZE TO SIZE WHILE DRIVING. FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THE SAME EXACT FRAMES ON THE TACOMATACOMA GOT A RECALL, THEY REPLACED THEM. WHY WASNT THIS RECALLED ON THE 4RUNNER? AND THE SEATBELTS JUST POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHILE YOUR JUST DRIVING. SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN SOON OR SOMEBODY IS GONNA GET VERY HURT ,OR KILLED. 1 MORE THING. I HAD A WHEEL POP OFF ALSO FROM THE BALL JOINT BREAKING LUCKILY THAT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE MAIN ROAD I COULD'VE KILLED SOMEBODY.

NHTSA ODI #11067167

Recall campaigns

2

02V021000 · Suspension

Jan 18, 2002

ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING (SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

96V098000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jun 12, 1996

THE STICKER REQUIRED BY PART 575, "CONSUMER INFORMATION REGULATIONS" TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF "THE PARTICULAR HANDLING AND MANEUVERING CHARACTERISTICS OF UTILITY VEHICLES" WAS NOT AFFIXED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OWNERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE HANDLING AND MANUEVERING CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUN VISORS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH VISORS CONTAINING THE CORRECT LABELS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.