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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 · Aug 29, 1997
Suspension

FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605376

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED, IN DRIVE, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES TO ABOVE NORMAL WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR COMES ON. THE HIGHER IDLE SPEED CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD IN AN UNSAFE MANNER.

NHTSA ODI #521923

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #521897

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1997
Suspension

FRONT END RATTLES PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. (96V-129). *AK

NHTSA ODI #517833

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1997
Suspension

REAR SUSPENSION BOUNCS/VIBRATES.

NHTSA ODI #518966

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1997
StructureVisibility

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #516980

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1997
Suspension

SUSPENSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #603166

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL STICKS.

NHTSA ODI #603210

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 26, 1997
Suspension

LEAF SPRING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #515979

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