Illustration[XXX] 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA IT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AS OTHER MODELS/YR WHY HAVE YOU NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma 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
225–50K
450–75K
1075–100K
22100–150K
34150K+
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
11 reports1996 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
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. *AK
THE SPRING THAT HOLDS WHEEL COVER ON THE WHEEL IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP THE HUP CAP ON. *AK THE HUB CUPS WERE NOT WELDED PROPERLY AND CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE RUST BUILD UP ON REAR WHEEL CAUSED REAR BRAKE FAILURE. *YH
RIGHT REAR HOLD DOWN PIN FAILED CAUSING SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *ET
THE INNER TIE-ROD END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS VERY LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY ABOUT 1.5 INCHES AT THE PERIMETER IN EACH DIRECTION. THE PART WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST (I THINK) AND YESTERDAY I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AGAIN, NOT AS BAD, ONLY 0.5 INCHES OF TRAVEL. THE FRONT DISK BRAKES CAUSED A SEVERE SHUDDER THAT H…
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THE INNER TIE-ROD END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS VERY LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY ABOUT 1.5 INCHES AT THE PERIMETER IN EACH DIRECTION. THE PART WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST (I THINK) AND YESTERDAY I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AGAIN, NOT AS BAD, ONLY 0.5 INCHES OF TRAVEL. THE FRONT DISK BRAKES CAUSED A SEVERE SHUDDER THAT HAMPERED MY CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AT A MODERATE DECELERATION. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND NOW IT ONLY VIBRATES MILDLY, ALTHOUGH I AM SURE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN IF ITS ALREADY VIBRATING. WHILE WALKING AROUND THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A BOX FULL OF TACOMA ROTORS, A PROBLEM MAYBE?
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKES FAILED.
POOR ABS BRAKE PERFORMANCE, IN WET CONDITIONS ONLY, EXTENDED STOPPING IS EXPERIENCED. *AK
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.
Official recalls
196V129000 · 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
1EA97015 · 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