IllustrationRIGHT REAR HOLD DOWN PIN FAILED CAUSING SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *ET
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
Suspension complaints
87 reportsTHERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE PRESENT DUE TO THE REAR LEAF SPRING BREAKING. DEALER REPLACED THE 3 LEAF SPRING WITH A 4 LEAF SPRING. *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS BAD ALIGNMENT AND SHIMMIES AT 60MPH. THIS HAS CAUSED THE TIRES TO BE RUINED. *AK
LEFT & RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN IN HALF. DEALER HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THESE. THEY AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST WITH ME 50-50. HOWEVER, I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I KNOW OF 3 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT LIVE HERE IN THE SALEM/BLOOMINGTON AREA. THE FAILUR…
Read full complaint
LEFT & RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN IN HALF. DEALER HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THESE. THEY AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST WITH ME 50-50. HOWEVER, I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I KNOW OF 3 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT LIVE HERE IN THE SALEM/BLOOMINGTON AREA. THE FAILURE DATE/MILAGE I LISTED IS INCORECT.. SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE SPRINGS ACTUALLY BROKE... I NOTICED IT WHILE LOOKING FOR A SQUEEKING NOISE I WAS HEARING. THANKS! *AK
MY TRUCK EXPERIENCES SEVERE TRANSMISION NOISE WHEN I APPLY BRAKES, CAME TO A STOP AND THEN PROCEED.A NOTICEABLE CLUNKING NOISE TOOK PLACE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN.ALSO MY FRONT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY ON THE HEELS, AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE FRONT END WAS MISALIGNED. OFCOURSE I PAID FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT …
Read full complaint
MY TRUCK EXPERIENCES SEVERE TRANSMISION NOISE WHEN I APPLY BRAKES, CAME TO A STOP AND THEN PROCEED.A NOTICEABLE CLUNKING NOISE TOOK PLACE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN.ALSO MY FRONT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY ON THE HEELS, AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE FRONT END WAS MISALIGNED. OFCOURSE I PAID FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BUT IT DIDNT HELP THE VEHICLE FROM SHAKING AT SPEEDS OF 55+MPH.ALSO , THE FRONT SUSPENSION SHIMMIES, SHAKES, AND RATTLES OVER MINOR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS. I FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TELLING ME THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, AND MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CAN SOMEONE OFFER HELP OR ADVICE? THOMAS J FINLEY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
HEARD A METAL-LIKE RUBBING SOUND APPROXIMATELY 3-4 WEEKS BEFORE NOTICING PROBLEM. TWO REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A TIRE BLOW OUT AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NEW DESIGN O REAR LEAF SPRING. *AK
SPOKE TO LOCAL DEALER TECHNICIAN. HE SAID THAT THIS DEALERSHIP WAS TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH GOODWILL REPAIRS THAT INCLUDED BOTH PARTS AND LABOR. I WAS CHARGED $100 LABOR FOR THE REPAIRS BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT IF ONE DEALERSHIP CAN DO THIS THEN THEY ALL CAN. TWO OF THE THREE SPRING LEAFS HAD BROKEN COMPLETEL…
Read full complaint
SPOKE TO LOCAL DEALER TECHNICIAN. HE SAID THAT THIS DEALERSHIP WAS TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH GOODWILL REPAIRS THAT INCLUDED BOTH PARTS AND LABOR. I WAS CHARGED $100 LABOR FOR THE REPAIRS BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT IF ONE DEALERSHIP CAN DO THIS THEN THEY ALL CAN. TWO OF THE THREE SPRING LEAFS HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY. THEY WERE REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED SET THAT INCLUDED THREE MAIN AND ONE OVERLOAD BUILT RIGHT INTO THE ASSEMBLEY.TOYOTA OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM DUE TO THIS UPDATED PART ASSY. THAT THE DEALER HAD RIGHT IN STOCK AND CHANGED THAT DAY WHILE I WAITED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS AS WELL, AND TOYOTA HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO HELP. ALSO, I HAVEN'T EVER RECEIVED ANY UPDATE OR RECALL INFO FROM TOYOTA, SENSE I HAVE OWNED IT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 33 12 50 )
SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED.
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