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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Steering complaints

2 reports
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138,000 miles · Oct 16, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension

I WAS GETTING ON THE HIWAY RAMP AND WAS TRAVELING 60PMH WHEN MY VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT LANE WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HELD STEADY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK TOYOTA IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS ON AUGUST 29,2017. IWAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND WOULD TAKE 2WEEKS TO COME IN. I CALLED 2WEEKS LATE…

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I WAS GETTING ON THE HIWAY RAMP AND WAS TRAVELING 60PMH WHEN MY VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT LANE WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HELD STEADY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK TOYOTA IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS ON AUGUST 29,2017. IWAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND WOULD TAKE 2WEEKS TO COME IN. I CALLED 2WEEKS LATER AND COULD NOT GET ANY INFO ON THE PARTS ORDERED. TODAY IS 10/16/2016 AND STILL NO INFO. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE LITTLE BECAUSE IT HAS WANTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT LANE SEVERAL TIMES EVEN THOUGH I HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11033891

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2007
Steering

TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED 1996 VINTAGE...STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BIGTIME *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192195

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.