IllustrationI'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 )
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 reportsNO SUMMARY
WHEEL RIM DESIGN CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING TIRE.
WHEN DRIVING AT 15 MPH CAUGHT A FLAT TIRE, AND WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, THE WHEEL WAS STUCK TO THE AXLE ASSEMBLY PART. CONSUMER HAD TO BEAT THE TIRE OFF WITH A HAMMER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN THE SHOP, THE DEALER HAD TO USE A HAMMER TO BEAT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO GET THE TIRE OFF. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN A VEHICLE IN THE REAR STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MFR NOTIFIED. *AK
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING THE BELT TO BE LOOSE AND TO GET CAUGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
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
WHILE DRIVING THE FLOOR MAT DOUBLED UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED.
TAIL LIGHT FUSE BURNED OUT, CAUSING TAIL LIGHTS TO FAIL.
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