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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2017
Unknown Or Other

RECALL INFO, CAN'T SELL WITHOUT PAPERWORK ON FRAME AND NEW COMPANY IN OUR CITY WON'T OR CAN'T GIVE ME PROOF THAT FRAME IS OK

NHTSA ODI #11033195

263,884 miles · Feb 27, 2016
StructureUnknown Or Other

I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO INVESTIGATE A VIBRATION MY TRUCK HAD JUST STARTED GIVING OFF. FOUND OUT THAT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND HAS AN INCH OF STEEL LEFT HOLDING IT TOGETHER. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY STEEL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR DEALER WHO S…

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I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO INVESTIGATE A VIBRATION MY TRUCK HAD JUST STARTED GIVING OFF. FOUND OUT THAT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND HAS AN INCH OF STEEL LEFT HOLDING IT TOGETHER. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY STEEL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR DEALER WHO SAID THE VEHICLE PASSED A MISSOURI STATE INSPECTION AND AM CURRENTLY HAVING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT AND IT CAN NOT BE DRIVEN.

NHTSA ODI #10838741

160,000 miles · Jun 21, 2015
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

RIGHT REAR FRAME EXCESSIVE RUST. TAKEN TO MECHANIC TO VERIFY THE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10726420

221,000 miles · May 16, 2015
Unknown Or OtherCrash

TRUCK WAS REAR ENDED AND WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR OF REAR BUMPER MAJOR FRAME RUST WAS FOUND.

NHTSA ODI #10716827

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2014
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

MY HUSBANDS 1996 TACOMA WAS RECALLED DUE TO RUSTING UNDERNEATH AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE IN CHAPTER 13 WE WERE TOLD TO COME AND GET THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE DEALER. WE ARE NOW DONE THIS MONTH WITH THE CHAPTER 13 AND WE HAVE CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALL OFFER. MY HUSBAND NOW HAS A …

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MY HUSBANDS 1996 TACOMA WAS RECALLED DUE TO RUSTING UNDERNEATH AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE IN CHAPTER 13 WE WERE TOLD TO COME AND GET THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE DEALER. WE ARE NOW DONE THIS MONTH WITH THE CHAPTER 13 AND WE HAVE CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALL OFFER. MY HUSBAND NOW HAS A TRUCK THAT HE CANNOT SALE OR TRADE BECAUSE IT IS RED TAGGED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608877

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1998
Unknown Or OtherCrash

WHILE DRIVING THE FLOOR MAT DOUBLED UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829070

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