← 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

What owners actually said

253 reports
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…

Read full complaint

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 · Oct 2, 1998
SteeringSuspension

ERRATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM RESULTING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR AND CAUSING THE TRUCK TO LIFT OFF THE GROUNF WHEN GOING AROND SMALL CURVES.

NHTSA ODI #541594

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1998
Suspension

REAR SPRINGS CRACKED CAUSING REAR END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #539144

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN COLD TEMPERATURES VEHICLE STALLS AT IDLE. DEALERS CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824250

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1998
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY SPEED, ESPECIALLY 65 MPH, CONSUMER HIT A BUMP AND THE FRONT TIRES STARTED BOUNCING UP AND DOWN, MAKING THE CONSUMER LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE TIRES STOPPED BOUNCING AFTER WHILE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT FIND THIS MATTER AS A PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821434

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 1998
Power TrainSuspension

TRANSMISSION NOISY IN THIRD GEAR, SUSPENSION POPS ON ROUGH ROADS, AND SPEEDOMETER MAKES CLICKING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #527985

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 1997
Structure

POOR DESIGN OF THE FENDERS ALLOW DIRT AND DEBRIS TO BE THROWN ONTO VEHICLE. FENDER DOES NOT COME OUT FAR ENOUGH TO COVER THE TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #525744

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1997
Electrical System

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523460

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1997
Air Bags

AFTER AN FRONTAL IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #524882

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605523

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