IllustrationCAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR ENGAGES. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4RUNNER 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
10–25K
125–50K
050–75K
275–100K
9100–150K
42150K+
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
4 reportsACCELERATOR STICKS. WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT STICKS WITHOUT MOVING. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO MOVE IS BY PUTTING EVER INCREASING PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL UNTIL IT SUDDENLY BREAKS FREE AND THE CARE LURCHES FORWARD. *TR
I HAVE A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT MY GAS PEDAL STICKING. THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX IT AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG! *TR
I HAVE A 1996 4RUNNER THAT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION UNTIL SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, BECAME A RUNAWAY VEHICLE, AND STRUCK A GAS STATION BUILDING, RESULTING IN SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE. I PAID $7800.00 TO FIX THE TRUCK AND INSURANCE COMPANY PAID TO FIX DAMAGES TO THE GAS STATION. I HAVE POLICE REPOR…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 1996 4RUNNER THAT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION UNTIL SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, BECAME A RUNAWAY VEHICLE, AND STRUCK A GAS STATION BUILDING, RESULTING IN SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE. I PAID $7800.00 TO FIX THE TRUCK AND INSURANCE COMPANY PAID TO FIX DAMAGES TO THE GAS STATION. I HAVE POLICE REPORT FOR THE ACCIDENT AND NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE MEDIA REPORT OF WORN/DEFECTIVE GAS PEDAL CAUSING SIMILAR ACCIDENTS. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. *TR
Official recalls
202V021000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.