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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

Electrical System complaints

9 reports
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60,000 miles · Jul 10, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. SHE MUST WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS DOWN FOR IT TO RESTART. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS, BUT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. SHE MUST WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS DOWN FOR IT TO RESTART. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS, BUT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO RESET. THE MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE E.C.U. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIR IS AVAILABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 123,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10195942

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2002
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS STARTING FAILURES BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 05-JUNE-2002. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES AND WAS NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. EVENTUALLY THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO AN A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TO HIGH AMPERAGE FOR FUEL RELAY BLOW LINES.*SCC

NHTSA ODI #786443

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING 55MPH, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THE TURN SIGNAL CAME ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853211

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1998
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO ACTIVATING THE A/C, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UP TO 20 MILES. DEALER REPLACED ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. PROBLEMS IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830699

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1998
Electrical System

TAIL LIGHT FUSE BURNED OUT, CAUSING TAIL LIGHTS TO FAIL.

NHTSA ODI #781246

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK ORIGINALLY SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASH. THEN OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN CAB AND BODY OF TRUCK. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SEEN WIRING HARNESS ON…

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WHILE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK ORIGINALLY SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASH. THEN OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN CAB AND BODY OF TRUCK. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SEEN WIRING HARNESS ON FIRE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #828660

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1997
Electrical System

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523460

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1997
Electrical System

WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND UP THE TRUCK STALLS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807870

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1996
Electrical System

ENGINE IDLES HIGH WHEN A/C KICKS ON, REPLACE ECM.

NHTSA ODI #513145

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