RecallMyCar

1996 Toyota Tacoma Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1996 Toyota Tacoma, and owners have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
253
owner complaints to NHTSA
20 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
16–22
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1996 Toyota Tacoma

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: front

    NHTSA 96V129000 Reported 90,000 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

    Under certain driving conditions, the front suspension support can crack leading to failure of the support.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair the suspension support.

253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Toyota Tacoma have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA; 20 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 152,149 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 39 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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. Th”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 20, 2023 · Suspension

“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 fra”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 15, 2021 · Structure

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Toyota Tacoma (Tacoma 2WD, Tacoma 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16–22 mpg
City / Highway15–20 / 17–26
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Pickup Trucks, Standard Pickup Trucks
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.4/2.7/3.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Toyota Tacoma model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Tacoma model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Toyota Tacoma2177
1996 Toyota Tacoma1253
1997 Toyota Tacoma0131
1998 Toyota Tacoma1300
1999 Toyota Tacoma0249
2000 Toyota Tacoma0211
2001 Toyota Tacoma4396
2002 Toyota Tacoma3333
2003 Toyota Tacoma3360
2004 Toyota Tacoma3414
2005 Toyota Tacoma10707
2006 Toyota Tacoma11782
2007 Toyota Tacoma10541
2008 Toyota Tacoma11446
2009 Toyota Tacoma13519
2010 Toyota Tacoma13294
2011 Toyota Tacoma9186
2012 Toyota Tacoma7295
2013 Toyota Tacoma6125
2014 Toyota Tacoma493
2015 Toyota Tacoma4101
2016 Toyota Tacoma4323
2017 Toyota Tacoma5239
2018 Toyota Tacoma3207
2019 Toyota Tacoma4218
2020 Toyota Tacoma188
2021 Toyota Tacoma080
2022 Toyota Tacoma359
2023 Toyota Tacoma454
2024 Toyota Tacoma5152
2025 Toyota Tacoma5101
2026 Toyota Tacoma06

Checking a specific 1996 Toyota Tacoma

How do I know if my 1996 Toyota Tacoma has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Toyota Tacoma; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V129000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.