← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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

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

Suspension complaints

87 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2023
StructureSuspension

Rear passenger frame rusted/rotted, rear passenger shock mount completely torn off frame at rust area and rear passenger leaf spring assembly cracked. Vehicle is not drivable and completely unsafe. This vehicle was recalled in May 2008 for inspection of frame rust and passed the inspection with only surface frame rust found an…

Read full complaint

Rear passenger frame rusted/rotted, rear passenger shock mount completely torn off frame at rust area and rear passenger leaf spring assembly cracked. Vehicle is not drivable and completely unsafe. This vehicle was recalled in May 2008 for inspection of frame rust and passed the inspection with only surface frame rust found and no rust perforation. Vehicle was recalled again in January 2012 for Limited Service Campaign for New York vehicles for Frame Rust Corrosion, which it failed with substantial corrosion and rusted through holes in the frame. This vehicle was included in this second recall, however the terms of the recall for repair or buyback only extended for 15 years from vehicle’s ‘in service date’, which in this case meant this vehicle was 5 months outside the recall window. So, Toyota included the vehicle in the recall (actually mailed the recall letter), found it had unsafe frame corrosion issues upon inspection 3 weeks after receipt of recall letter, then washed their hands and walked away indicating the ‘in service date’ was 5 months outside the recall window. Makes zero sense and terrible customer service and warranty management.

NHTSA ODI #11512855

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2021
StructureSuspension

I PURCHASED TRUCK IN 2005 FROM TOYOTA OF NICHOLASVILLE KY I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE TOOK TRUCK TO HAVE BRAKES DONE MECHANIC REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS FRAME HOLES RUST CAN PUSH IN SIDES OF FRAME WITH FINGERS AND MAKE A HOLE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE!

NHTSA ODI #11403041

130,000 miles · Dec 30, 2020
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOWER. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE REAR CENTER LEAF SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND HAD ALSO PUNCTURED THE FUEL TANK CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE C…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOWER. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE REAR CENTER LEAF SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND HAD ALSO PUNCTURED THE FUEL TANK CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FRACTURED LEAF SPRING WAS SEVERE RUSTED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11385620

278,000 miles · Jul 10, 2017
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION SUPPORT WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V129000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION SUPPORT WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V129000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO DO THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE FAILURE ALREADY OCCURRED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 278,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #11004095

215,000 miles · Jan 31, 2017
Power TrainStructureSuspension

THE FRAME IS RUSTED, IN SOME AREAS, CLEAR THROUGH. THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD SUSPENSION HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. EVERYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE FRAME HAS AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF RUST. THE TRUCK IS PARKED BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE GREAT BODILY HARM IF THE TRUCK FALLS APART WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10948686

290,000 miles · Aug 28, 2015
StructureSuspension

FRAME CORRODED AND CRACKED. HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO BRACE WITH SHEET METAL AND WELD. JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE.

NHTSA ODI #10760095

160,000 miles · Jun 21, 2015
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

RIGHT REAR FRAME EXCESSIVE RUST. TAKEN TO MECHANIC TO VERIFY THE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10726420

98,138 miles · Apr 7, 2015
StructureSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD, THE VEHICLE STARTED BOUNCING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING AND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROX…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD, THE VEHICLE STARTED BOUNCING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING AND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,138.

NHTSA ODI #10704147

175,000 miles · Aug 19, 2014
StructureSuspension

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2013, FRAME IS CRACKED IN THE RIGHT REAR AND NUMEROUS HOLES ARE FORMING DUE TO THE WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE OF IMPROPER CORROSION PREVENTATIVE AND POOR MANUFACTURER QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED AND DESIGN. WAS TOLD BY TMC CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THE "LIMITED SERVICE BULLETIN" HAD EXPIRED AND THEY ARE NOT R…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2013, FRAME IS CRACKED IN THE RIGHT REAR AND NUMEROUS HOLES ARE FORMING DUE TO THE WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE OF IMPROPER CORROSION PREVENTATIVE AND POOR MANUFACTURER QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED AND DESIGN. WAS TOLD BY TMC CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THE "LIMITED SERVICE BULLETIN" HAD EXPIRED AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST COMPLAINT OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE AS CONSUMERS ARE DYING IN GM VEHICLES THAT THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT FOR 10 YEARS PRIOR. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS ALL MY LIFE, AND NOW THE LIFE OF MY YOUNGER SISTER LITERALLY TEETERS ON THE CRACKED FRAME OF HER 1996 TOYOTA LIABILITY. I AM STARTING A PETITION TO THE WHITE HOUSE ( WE THE PEOPLE PETITION SITE AND SEARCH TOYOTA FRAME RECALL) AND HOPE THAT OTHERS SEARCHING THIS SITE AND THE 222 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS WILL SIGN IT. THAT IS IF THEIR TRUCK HAS NOT COLLAPSED AND KILLED THEM. TO PUT A TIME LIMIT ON A SAFETY HAZARD SUCH AS THIS IS DISGUSTING, IMMORAL, AND DOWNRIGHT INTOLERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626444

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2014
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

MY HUSBANDS 1996 TACOMA WAS RECALLED DUE TO RUSTING UNDERNEATH AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE IN CHAPTER 13 WE WERE TOLD TO COME AND GET THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE DEALER. WE ARE NOW DONE THIS MONTH WITH THE CHAPTER 13 AND WE HAVE CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALL OFFER. MY HUSBAND NOW HAS A …

Read full complaint

MY HUSBANDS 1996 TACOMA WAS RECALLED DUE TO RUSTING UNDERNEATH AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE IN CHAPTER 13 WE WERE TOLD TO COME AND GET THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE DEALER. WE ARE NOW DONE THIS MONTH WITH THE CHAPTER 13 AND WE HAVE CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALL OFFER. MY HUSBAND NOW HAS A TRUCK THAT HE CANNOT SALE OR TRADE BECAUSE IT IS RED TAGGED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608877

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