← 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
211,000 miles · Jan 4, 2010
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN LEFT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED DRIVING STRAIGHT AND HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPAIRE THE FRAME. THERE IS A RECALL OUT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN LEFT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED DRIVING STRAIGHT AND HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPAIRE THE FRAME. THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR THIS VEHICLE WHERE THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THEM BUT THIS VEHICLES FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AT $480.00 DOLLARS. THERE WILL BE REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 211800.

NHTSA ODI #10298009

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2009
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TIRES LOST PRESSURE WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VALVE STEM INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/29/09 *CN …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TIRES LOST PRESSURE WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VALVE STEM INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/29/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE STEM REPLACEMENT WERE FAILING AS WELL. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE VALVE STEMS WITH STEEL ONES. UPDATED 06/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10273062

178,000 miles · Apr 9, 2008
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACCEPT HIS VEHICLE FOR THE VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS IN REGARDS TO THE REAR FRAME CORROSION ON THE 1995 AND 1996 TACOMAS. TOYOTA IS OFFERING 1.5 TIMES THE BLUE BOOK VALUE FOR THESE VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED T…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACCEPT HIS VEHICLE FOR THE VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS IN REGARDS TO THE REAR FRAME CORROSION ON THE 1995 AND 1996 TACOMAS. TOYOTA IS OFFERING 1.5 TIMES THE BLUE BOOK VALUE FOR THESE VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS A SALVAGE TITLE; THEREFORE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO BUY HIS VEHICLE BACK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 179,171 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

NHTSA ODI #10223778

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2008
Structure

TOYOTA TACOMA RUSTED FRAME RE-CALL. TOYOTA IS SENDING ALL OWNERS A TRADE-IN **ONLY** TOWARDS A TUNDRA PURCHASE OFFER ON 95-04 TACOMAS. THESE VEHICLES POSE A SAFETY-HAZZARD TO THEIR OWNERS, AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH * * HEAVILY - ROTTED * * FRAMES. THERE ARE NO BUY-BACK OFFERS OR TRADE-INS ALLO…

Read full complaint

TOYOTA TACOMA RUSTED FRAME RE-CALL. TOYOTA IS SENDING ALL OWNERS A TRADE-IN **ONLY** TOWARDS A TUNDRA PURCHASE OFFER ON 95-04 TACOMAS. THESE VEHICLES POSE A SAFETY-HAZZARD TO THEIR OWNERS, AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH * * HEAVILY - ROTTED * * FRAMES. THERE ARE NO BUY-BACK OFFERS OR TRADE-INS ALLOWED TOWARDS ANY OTHER TOYOTA PORODUCT, JUST TUNDRA. WHEN THE TACOMAS ARE BROUGHT IN THEY ARE INSPECTED, MOST ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223602

66,000 miles · Jan 15, 2008
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME HAD ROTTED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR FRAME FELL OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY PLACED A PIECE OF METAL ON THE VEHICLE TO HOLD IT TOGETHER TEMPORARILY. NO PERMANENT REPAIRS WERE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME HAD ROTTED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR FRAME FELL OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY PLACED A PIECE OF METAL ON THE VEHICLE TO HOLD IT TOGETHER TEMPORARILY. NO PERMANENT REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE VEHICLE REMAINS PARKED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10214936

665,000 miles · Jan 14, 2008
Structure

TOYOTA TACOMA 1996 HAS EXTREME FRAME RUST MAKING VEHICLE UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214813

262,000 miles · Dec 12, 2007
Structure

PREMATURE FRAME DETERIORATION. ENGINE IS GOOD AND STILL GETS 24 MPG, NO OIL BURNING. REAR FRAME OVER TIRES FAILED AND HAD TO BE WELDED WITH NEW FRAME PIECES. BOTH SIDES. ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATER, COULD NOT REGISTER VEHICLE DUE TO ADDITIONAL, UNREPAIRABLE FRAME FAILURES. REPAIR SHOP SAID HE HAS WELDED ABOUT 100 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCKS. …

Read full complaint

PREMATURE FRAME DETERIORATION. ENGINE IS GOOD AND STILL GETS 24 MPG, NO OIL BURNING. REAR FRAME OVER TIRES FAILED AND HAD TO BE WELDED WITH NEW FRAME PIECES. BOTH SIDES. ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATER, COULD NOT REGISTER VEHICLE DUE TO ADDITIONAL, UNREPAIRABLE FRAME FAILURES. REPAIR SHOP SAID HE HAS WELDED ABOUT 100 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCKS. KNOWN TO HAVE PREMATURE FAILURES IN THE CHASIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211606

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2007
Structure

SEVERLY RUSTED FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210945

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED BY DIFFERENCE IN EXPANSION RATES BETWEEN THE CAST IRON ENGINE BLOCK, AND THE ALUMINUM HEAD. ALUMINUM EXPANDS 1.7 TIMES FASTER THAN IRON, CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO TEAR OR UNWRAP. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND REPLACED HEADGASKET AND FLUIDS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200047

60,000 miles · Jul 10, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. SHE MUST WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS DOWN FOR IT TO RESTART. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS, BUT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. SHE MUST WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS DOWN FOR IT TO RESTART. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS, BUT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO RESET. THE MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE E.C.U. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIR IS AVAILABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 123,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10195942

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