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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

Equipment complaints

6 reports
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30,000 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

1996 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS UNDERGONE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES VARYING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER,WHEEL REPLACEMENT, 4WD BEING INOPERATIVE AND LEAKAGE ON THE PULLEY.*MR THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE WIPER INSERTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10117348

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSuspension

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO LEAK RED FLUID, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH HEAD GAKSKETS WERE CRACKED, CONSUMER HAS SINCE RETURED TO THE DEALER ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS COMPLAING ABOUT AN ENGINE NOISE, CONSUMER THEN LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS NEVER REPLACED, CONSUMER FINALLY HAD THE GASKET REPLACED AND THE NOISE BECA…

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CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO LEAK RED FLUID, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH HEAD GAKSKETS WERE CRACKED, CONSUMER HAS SINCE RETURED TO THE DEALER ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS COMPLAING ABOUT AN ENGINE NOISE, CONSUMER THEN LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS NEVER REPLACED, CONSUMER FINALLY HAD THE GASKET REPLACED AND THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT AFTER HEAD GASKET WORK IS PERFORMED THAT POTENTIAL FOR LATER DAMAGE WAS COMMON.*JB

NHTSA ODI #564825

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1997
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNG.

NHTSA ODI #515097

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1997
Equipment

EXCESSIVE IDLE SPEED CAUSED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON.

NHTSA ODI #546816

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1996
Equipment

WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805331

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSuspension

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCES ERRATIC OPERATION IN FRONT SUSPENSION, WHEN HIT POT HOLES OR SLIGHT INDENTATION IN ROAD, VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN AND FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATES VIOLENTLY, DLR/MFR CAN'T CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT MANUFACTURER ADMITTED PROBLEM AND THEY WERE PUTTING OUT HEAVIER FRONT SPRINGS AND SHOCKS…

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WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCES ERRATIC OPERATION IN FRONT SUSPENSION, WHEN HIT POT HOLES OR SLIGHT INDENTATION IN ROAD, VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN AND FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATES VIOLENTLY, DLR/MFR CAN'T CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT MANUFACTURER ADMITTED PROBLEM AND THEY WERE PUTTING OUT HEAVIER FRONT SPRINGS AND SHOCKS, HOWEVER THIS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST, CONSUMER STATES FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION NEEDS BALANCED. SPEAKER HAD TO BE REPLACED. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING COOLANT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #800932

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