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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

What owners actually said

253 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #604249

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604208

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Tires

THREE OF FIVE TIRES (ORIGINAL) DUNLOP (P22575R15) HAVE BEEN RUINED WITH SIDEWALL PUNCTURES.

NHTSA ODI #603583

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1997
Seats

PASSENGER SEAT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605097

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1997
StructureSuspensionVisibility

SHOCKS WORE OUT AT 10,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #605190

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1997
Fuel System, Other

FUEL GAUGE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605166

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1997
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605018

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 52 MPH ON WET/TWO-LANE HIGHWAY, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON CRUISE CONTROL, BUT OWNER NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #520269

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1997
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #606079

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #606039

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