Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
025–50K
450–75K
1275–100K
7100–150K
12150K+
37 reports with mileage · 72 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.
Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
109 reports
20,000 miles · Aug 24, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA T100. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION ABOVE THE SET SPEED. THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED GREATER FORCE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLES STOPPING DISTANCE WAS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA T100. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION ABOVE THE SET SPEED. THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED GREATER FORCE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLES STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96E001000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
NHTSA ODI #10281595
96,000 miles · Aug 3, 2009
Structure
1996 TOYOTA T100 WITH 96000 MILES HAS SEVERE FRAME ROT. RIGHT REAR SUPPORT FOR THE CAB HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LEFT REAR SUPPORT IS ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH AND HAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME RAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279264
170,000 miles · Jul 17, 2009
StructureSuspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA T100. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CRACK IN HALF IF IT IS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND FA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA T100. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CRACK IN HALF IF IT IS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA ODI #10277145
74,000 miles · Sep 15, 2008
Power TrainStructure
MY 1996 TOYOTA T100 FIRE WALL UNDER CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED AND CRACKED FROM FATIGUE. DISTANCE OF CLUTCH TRAVEL WAS INADEQUATE TO DISENGAGE. REPLACED CLUTCH FOR NO REASON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242179
160,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Structure
I AM AWARE OF A PROBLEM TOYOTA HAD WITH THE TACOMA MODEL YEARS 1995 THROUGH 2000 WITH WEAK FRAMES. MY QUESTION IS COULD THE T100 BE AFFECTED AS WELL? I HAVE A 1996 T100 WHICH RECENTLY HAD A REAR BODY MOUNT DISINTEGRATE. AS MY MECHANIC WAS FIXING THE PROBLEM, HE WAS GRASPING THE FRAME AND ACTUALLY PUT A 3" TO 4" HOLE IN THE FRAME…
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I AM AWARE OF A PROBLEM TOYOTA HAD WITH THE TACOMA MODEL YEARS 1995 THROUGH 2000 WITH WEAK FRAMES. MY QUESTION IS COULD THE T100 BE AFFECTED AS WELL? I HAVE A 1996 T100 WHICH RECENTLY HAD A REAR BODY MOUNT DISINTEGRATE. AS MY MECHANIC WAS FIXING THE PROBLEM, HE WAS GRASPING THE FRAME AND ACTUALLY PUT A 3" TO 4" HOLE IN THE FRAME WITH JUST HIS FINGERS. HE HAD TO WELD A PATCH OVER THE HOLE AND COMMENTED THAT FOR ONLY 12 YEARS OLD, THE FRAME LOOKED TERRIBLE. HE DID NOT WANT TO TRY ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAME FOR FEAR THAT HE WOULD CAUSE MORE HOLES. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS OF T100S IN THE SAME TIME FRAME AS THE TACOMA RECALL. COULD THIS FRAME FAIL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237901
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237575
159,600 miles · Mar 17, 2008
Power Train
CLUTCH MOUNTING BRACKET IS WEAK AND CAUSES BREAKAGE , THEN BREAKS FIRE WALL. HAVE REPAIRED IT 4 TIMES NOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10221416
219,913 miles · Nov 29, 2006
Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR WORK, THE STEERING SHAFT FRACTURED AT THE PITMAN ARM WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA ODI #10174676
105,000 miles · Aug 21, 2006
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT TENSIONER TOO WEAK AND ALLOWS SEAT BELT TO HANG LOOSE ONCE BUCKLED. UNWARY DRIVER CLOSES DOOR AND A LOOP OF SEAT BELT HANGS OUTSIDE VEHICLE. COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC RESULTS IN CRASH. NOT UNCOMMON FOR ME TO SEE OTHER T100 PICKUPS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A LOOP OF BELT VISIBLE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10166165
105,000 miles · Aug 21, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEARD A LOUD RATTLE IN ENGINE. DISASSEMBLY DISCOVERED BROKEN HEAD OF CONNECTING ROD BOLT. RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO CONNECTING ROD BEARING; REQUIRES ENGINE OVERHAUL AND PISTON/ CONNECTING ROD REPLACEMENT. EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. *NM
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
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
1
PE02039 · Clutch Pedal Bracket/firewall
Opened Apr 1, 2002 · Closed Jul 30, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
No summary supplied.
1996 Toyota T100 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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