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1996 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

About this comparison →
253Owner complaints

Model-year median: 228.5

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
177
1995253
1996131
1997300
1998249
1999
Compare all Tacoma years →

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

What owners reported most

Suspension
87Structure
64Engine And Engine Cooling
20Tires
20Air Bags
16
All reported categories
Power Train
14Vehicle Speed Control
12Seat Belts
11Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Electrical System
9Steering
9Equipment
6Unknown Or Other
6Wheels
6Visibility
5Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Seats
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Parking Brake
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 180 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809993

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL IMPACT CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808362

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT (45) MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809697

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1996
Air BagsCrashInjury

PURCHASED TRUCK NEW, CONSUMER DRIVING ABOUT 4 MPH HIT FROM FROM THE SIDE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND DRIVER RECEIVED THIRD DEGREE BURNS. . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ODI #803178

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1996
Air BagsCrash

DURING A FRONT RIGHT IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 25 MPH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #802387

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1996
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG IN FRONT END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #508558

Official recalls

1

96V129000 · Suspension:front

Jul 10, 1996

UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT CAN CRACK LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE SUPPORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE SUSPENSION SUPPORT.

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

EA97015 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Jul 22, 1997 · Closed Sep 21, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available