IllustrationDRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL IMPACT CRASH. *AK
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
What owners actually said
253 reportsTRUCK ENGINE SHAKES AND GIVES A VERY POOR PERFORMANCE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND UP THE TRUCK STALLS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT (45) MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
ENGINE NORMALLY IDLES AT 550 RPMS AND SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED TO 1050 RPMS. WHEN PULLING INTO A GARAGE OR SERVICE STATION THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO WARNING. DEALER SAIS ALL TACOMAS DO THIS. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNG.
TIRE VALVE ACCESS MOVES AWAY FROM TIRE VALVE AND IT BECOMES UNACCESSIBLE FOR SERVICE.
EXCESSIVE IDLE SPEED CAUSED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON.
WHEN VEHICLE IN A IDLE POSITION OR COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE RPMS WILL ACCCELERTED UP 400 TO 500 RPS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LERCH FORWARD AND APPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE
BRAKES 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