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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

Seat Belts complaints

11 reports
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161,276 miles · Oct 30, 2014
Seat Belts

1996 TOYOTA TACOMA DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE LATCH. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. I HAVE LEFT THEM TWO VOICE MAIL MESSAGES BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALLS. EXTREME SAFETY …

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1996 TOYOTA TACOMA DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE LATCH. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. I HAVE LEFT THEM TWO VOICE MAIL MESSAGES BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALLS. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651452

229,190 miles · Sep 1, 2013
Seat Belts

DRIVER SIDE AND MIDDLE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH. I PULLED APART THE MIDDLE LATCH AND IT SEEMS THE PLASTIC HAS ERODED TO FAILURE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10538291

138,000 miles · Sep 18, 2011
Seat Belts

FRONT SIDE DIVER SEATBELT NO LONGER RETRACTS & GETS HUNG IN DOOR. TOYOTA STATES NO LONGER COVERED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425941

100,000 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S-SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH IS FAILING. THE RELEASE BUTTON WILL MOST TIMES NOT DISENGAGE AND ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO BE BUCKLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313037

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2004
Seat Belts

WHILE STOPPING AT A STORE THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT RETRACT. HAVING HARD TIME GETTING IT FIXED AT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10080965

100,000 miles · Jul 17, 2003
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SEATBELT NOT WORKING.SEATBELT MECHANISM BROKEN.DEALER CLAIMS $150.00 TO REPAIR.I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND DEFECTIVE PART THAT DEALER SHOULD ADDRESS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10028491

32,000 miles · Apr 16, 2003
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING THE BELT TO BE LOOSE AND TO GET CAUGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10014454

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1998
Seat BeltsTires

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING THE BELT TO BE LOOSE AND TO GET CAUGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

NHTSA ODI #605084

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1997
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #606079

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 1997
Power TrainSeat Belts

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED, ALSO TRANSMISSION DISC ASSEMBLEY REPLACED DUE TO LOSS OF ALL GEARS EXCEPT FOURTH.

NHTSA ODI #513727

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