Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Toyota Tacoma problems
Owners filed 257 complaints about the 1996 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Jun 1996 and Mar 2023. The most-cited component is suspension (86).
Complaints
257
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension86
- Structure62
- Tires20
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Air bags16
- Vehicle speed control12
- Seat belts11
- Power train10
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Electrical system9
- Steering8
- Equipment6
- Visibility5
- Wheels5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
18
40
15
17
36
18
12
11
4
4
0
5
4
1
6
15
6
5
12
11
8
4
1
1
1
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 18 |
| 1997 | 40 |
| 1998 | 15 |
| 1999 | 17 |
| 2000 | 36 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
86 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
Structure
62 reports
“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!”
Tires
20 reports1 crash
“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”
Engine and engine cooling
18 reports
“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”
Air bags
16 reports13 crashes
“TAKATA RECALL CONTACTED DEALER WHO VERIFIED AIRBAG RECALL, PUT ME ON LIST DUE TO BACK ORDER STILL WAITING HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LIMP HOME THROTTLE SETTING ACTIVATING WHILE IN MOTION. SO FAR HAS ONLY BEEN WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF START UP BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO A COLD ENGINE. REQUIRES STOP AND RESTART TO RESET.”
Vehicle speed control
12 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. HE THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 245,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.