IllustrationSHOCK TOWER FAILED.
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 reportsCLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED, ALSO TRANSMISSION DISC ASSEMBLEY REPLACED DUE TO LOSS OF ALL GEARS EXCEPT FOURTH.
AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HEARD A THUD SOUND AND LOST ALL GEARS EXCEPT FOR 4TH GEAR.
OWNER STATES THAT HIS POWERTRAIN COMES OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DRIVING, IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOUR MONTHS AGO FOR FRONT SUSPENSION, CAN'T GET VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE DEALER CLAIMS THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THE PARTS. *AK
ENGINE IDLES HIGH WHEN A/C KICKS ON, REPLACE ECM.
SUSPENSION FAILURE, CAUSING POOR STABILITY.
FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT MECHANISM FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (96V-129). *AK
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK
FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE GOODYEAR TIRES OUTER/INNER TREAD. *AK
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