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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

Suspension complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2021
SuspensionWheels

I have noticed that my vehicle doesn’t seem to be balance and most of the time i am afraid the tires will fall off by the movement of the vehicle. And the metal parts that attachment part it looks very bad on the metal parts like it rusted so bad. I hope they will be able to figure out whats wrong and if i am the only one who is…

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I have noticed that my vehicle doesn’t seem to be balance and most of the time i am afraid the tires will fall off by the movement of the vehicle. And the metal parts that attachment part it looks very bad on the metal parts like it rusted so bad. I hope they will be able to figure out whats wrong and if i am the only one who is experiencing this issue.

NHTSA ODI #11436237

171,253 miles · Jun 11, 2019
Suspension

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLIPPING A LOT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED JUST RECENTLY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WASN'T BUT AFTER RESEARCHING MY 4RUNNER I'VE READ THERE WAS SOME RECALLS ON THE CAR ABOUT THE REAR SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ODI #11219278

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2019
Suspension

THE REAR AXLE/SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. JUST TOOK IT TO MY AUTO SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY WILL NOT PUT IT UP FOR AN OIL CHANGE BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID IT WILL COLLAPSE.

NHTSA ODI #11166078

192,000 miles · Jan 5, 2019
Suspension

THE AXEL SUPPORT RUSTED OFF CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION

NHTSA ODI #11165416

150,000 miles · Oct 15, 2018
Air BagsService BrakesSuspensionCrash

TAKATA RECALL. ANTILOCK BRAKES SLIPPED AND DIDNT STOP. THE AIR BAGS OPEN UNTIL AFTER THE TRUCK WAS TOWED AND PARKED BACK AT MY HOUSE WHEN NO ONE WAS IN IT.

NHTSA ODI #11140410

302,182 miles · Jul 26, 2018
StructureSuspension

FRAME RUST, A FAIR AMOUNT OF RUST IS CAUSING CONCERN AND MAKES ME QUESTION HOW TRUSTWORTHY VEHICLE IS. THE DATE LISTED ISNT THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT ITS ROUGHLY AROUND THE TIME THE EXTENT OF THE RUST HAD BEEN NOTICED.

NHTSA ODI #11113716

175,000 miles · Mar 31, 2018
StructureSuspension

FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. HOLES IN FRAME BIG ENOUGH TO PUSH YOUR WHOLE ARM THROUGH. AREAS OF FRAME CONNECTED TO SUSPENSION PREMATURELY RUSTING OUT. THIS REST OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BODY PANELS INCLUDED. WELDER TOLD ME ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY AND REPAIR TO THE FRAME IS VERY DIFFICULT ANF EXPENSIV…

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FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. HOLES IN FRAME BIG ENOUGH TO PUSH YOUR WHOLE ARM THROUGH. AREAS OF FRAME CONNECTED TO SUSPENSION PREMATURELY RUSTING OUT. THIS REST OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BODY PANELS INCLUDED. WELDER TOLD ME ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY AND REPAIR TO THE FRAME IS VERY DIFFICULT ANF EXPENSIVE EVEN IF POSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 185,000 MILES AND RUNS GREAT. I HEAR CREAKING DEVELOPING AND AM AFRAID CAR MAY SPLIT IN HALF. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT STEPPING UP AFTER ADMITTING TO BADLY MANUFACTURED FRAMES.

NHTSA ODI #11082258

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…

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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

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 · Apr 13, 2017
Suspension

FRAME BADLY ROTTED CROSSMEMBER FOR TRANSMISSION AND LEFT REAR ARE WORST .

NHTSA ODI #10972189

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.