1996 Toyota Tacoma

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2020· SUSPENSION

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOWER. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE REAR CENTER LEAF SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND HAD ALSO PUNCTURED THE FUEL TANK CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FRACTURED LEAF SPRING WAS SEVERE RUSTED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 12/30/1999· SUSPENSION

  THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE PRESENT DUE TO THE REAR LEAF SPRING BREAKING. DEALER REPLACED THE 3 LEAF SPRING WITH A 4 LEAF SPRING. *AK

• 12/29/1998· TIRES

  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

• 12/19/2013· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  I PURCHASED A ONE OWNER 96 TACOMA 4WD TRUCK LAST MONTH THE OWNER SAID THE TRUCK HAD COMPLETED A FRAME RECALL FOR CORROSION IN NOV OF 2011. AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK I HAD THE TRUCK MAINTENANCES AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE FRAME HAS A LARGE HOLE IN IT AND IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE FRAME HAD BEEN TREATED PER THE RECALL. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A TRUCK THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A SHODDY RECALL JOB BY TOYOTA. I TRIED TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE WITH TMMI HEADQUARTERS BUT THEY SAID AFTER 15 YEARS THEIR FRAMES ARE NOT GUARANTEED. CONSIDERING IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 2 YEARS SINCE THE TRUCK HAD BEEN TREATED I THINK THEY OWE IT TO EITHER REPLACE THE FRAME OR PURCHASE THE TRUCK PER THEIR AGREEMENT. IN MY OPINION JUST SPRAYING THE TRUCK WITH UNDERCOATING INADEQUATELY WAS JUST COVERING UP THE REAL PROBLEM WHICH IS THE POOR QUALITY FRAMES. *TR

• 12/18/2001· SUSPENSION

  BRACKET THAT HOLDS COIL SPRING ONTO FRAME ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

• 12/18/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE IDLES HIGH WHEN A/C KICKS ON, REPLACE ECM.

• 12/13/2001· SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 4-12-97. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, AND OTHER PROBLEMS HAD BEEN HAPPENING, TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ASSISTING CONSUMER WITH ANY OF THE VEHICLES ISSUES, A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND FROM ONE TOYOTA DEALER TO THE NEXT HAS FOUND MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS. TOYOTA STATED THEY WILL NOT COVER HEAD GASKET PROBLEM REGARDLESS OFTHE PAST PROBLEM. *AK. CONSUMER STATES SINCE HEAD GASKET WAS DONE THE EXHAUST STUDS WERE TIGHTENED DUE TO THE ENGINE MAKING NOISE, IT SOUNDS LIKE VALVE RAPPING, THUMBING NOISE OVER BUMPS AT LEFT FLOOR AREA, REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND NOISE FROM FRONT END AND ALSO NOISE AT IDLE. *YD

• 12/13/1999· WHEELS

  FRONT TIRES WILL NOT COME OFF AFTER LUGS: NUTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. *AK

• 12/12/2007· 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. KNOWN TO HAVE PREMATURE FAILURES IN THE CHASIS. *TR

• 12/11/2014· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

• 12/11/1996· SUSPENSION

  FRONT SHOCKS REPLACED.

• 12/08/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  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

• 12/07/2016· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE BY THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN 2011. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME WAS FINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

• 12/05/2007· STRUCTURE

  SEVERLY RUSTED FRAME. *TR

• 12/05/1997· 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.

• 12/05/1996· SUSPENSION

  FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT MECHANISM FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (96V-129). *AK

• 12/04/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

• 11/25/1996· SUSPENSION,TIRES

  FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE GOODYEAR TIRES OUTER/INNER TREAD. *AK

• 11/23/1998· TIRES

  TIRES UNSAFE AND DO NOT OFFER PROPER TRACTION FOR EFFICIENT BRAKING AND HANDLING OF VEHICLE.(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT (P215 70 R14).

• 11/22/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING 55MPH, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THE TURN SIGNAL CAME ON. *AK

• 11/21/2000· TIRES

  JUST INQUIRING TO SEE IF WILDERNESSHT HAS DEFECTIVE STATUS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HYAWA TIRESIZE: P215/70R14)

• 11/20/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN STALLING. *AK

• 11/20/1996· EQUIPMENT

  WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 11/19/1996· SEATS

  HEADREST TOO TALL, PUSHING DRIVER'S HEAD FORWARD.

• 11/17/2000· SUSPENSION

  REAR LEAF SPRINGS FAILED AT 80,000 MILES, CAUSING A GASH INTO TIRE. MECHANIC STATED THAT TOYOTA WAS SENDING A SPRING WITH 4 LEAFS INSTEAD OF THREE. APPARENTLY INSTALLED WITH WRONG LEAFS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT PRIOR TO NEW SPRINGS, VEHICLE ROCKED AND ROLLED AND WAS VERY UNSTABLE, MECHANIC INSTALLED A CLAMP ON THE BROKEN SPRING, HOWEVER THE SPRING GRADUALLY WORKED ITS WAY UNDER THE CLAMP CUASING THE BROKEN LEAF TO SWING OUT INTO THE TIRE. *SLC

• 11/17/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  DURING FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). (MJS)

• 11/15/1996· VISIBILITY

  WINDOW SWEEPERS INSIDE DOOR FRAME DON'T CLEAR WINDOWS PROPERLY WHEN WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN.

• 11/12/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  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

• 11/07/2011· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FRAME DAMAGE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF A POSSIBLE SILENT RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 203,000.

• 11/06/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,WHEELS

  THE SPRING THAT HOLDS WHEEL COVER ON THE WHEEL IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP THE HUP CAP ON. *AK THE HUB CUPS WERE NOT WELDED PROPERLY AND CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE RUST BUILD UP ON REAR WHEEL CAUSED REAR BRAKE FAILURE. *YH

• 11/04/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.

• 11/02/2011· SUSPENSION

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V129000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,869 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,879.

• 11/01/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  POOR ABS BRAKE PERFORMANCE, IN WET CONDITIONS ONLY, EXTENDED STOPPING IS EXPERIENCED. *AK

• 10/31/2002· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BALL JOINT SNAP CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO SEPARATE AND THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

• 10/31/2000· SUSPENSION

  BOTH REAR SPRINGS FAILED. NLM

• 10/30/2014· SEAT BELTS

  1996 TOYOTA TACOMA DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE LATCH. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. I HAVE LEFT THEM TWO VOICE MAIL MESSAGES BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALLS. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD! *TR

• 10/27/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE.

• 10/27/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· TIRES

  THREE OF FIVE TIRES (ORIGINAL) DUNLOP (P22575R15) HAVE BEEN RUINED WITH SIDEWALL PUNCTURES.

• 10/25/2005· TIRES

  INITIALLY FELT A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WAS TRYING TO DECIDE FROM WHERE THE PROBLEM CAME WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW IT'S ENTIRE TREAD, WHICH THEN WRAPPED AROUND MY AXLE, CAUSING ME TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AND OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DOWN A GRASSY SLOPE, WHICH, FORTUNATELY, WAS SOFT ENOUGH TO STOP ME WITHOUT MAKING ME FLIP OVER. DAMAGE: WHEEL RIM AND COVER, WHEEL WELL LINER RIPPED OFF, THEREBY BENDING IT'S REAR BRACKET, WHICH IN TURN PULLED MY FENDER IN. TREAD WRAPPED AROUND AXLE BENT, BUT DID NOT CRIMP, MY HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE ASPHALT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, BUT IT CAME TO A HALT BECAUSE OF THE AXLE BEING WRAPPED. WAS UNABLE TO PUT ON SAFETY BRAKE UNTIL I LIFTED THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO UNWRAP THE TREAD FROM THE AXLE. HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FIRESTONE AND EXPECT THEM TO PAY FOR MY DAMAGES. THEIR POLICY IS TO DEMAND THE OLD TIRE BACK BEFORE ANY PAYOUT CAN BE MADE AND I INTEND TO FIGHT THAT, SINCE THE DEALER HAS ALREADY DISPOSED OF THE EVIDENCE. MY FEELING IS THAT THE DEALER WAS EITHER IGNORANT OF THAT POLICY OR NEGLIGENT IN TELLING ME OF IT OR THAT FIRESTONE INSTRUCTED THEM NOT TO TELL CUSTOMERS OF THAT REQUIREMENT. I DID TELL THE DEALER THAT I INTENDED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE. DEALER AS MUCH AS ADMITTED A FAULTY PRODUCT SINCE THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR A NEW TIRE. THEY DID, HOWEVER, CHARGE ME LABOR. ROTATION AND COURTESY CHECK WERE PERFORMED BY DEALER ON 20 JULY 2005 AND THEY STATED THEY HAD CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE. *NM *NM

• 10/23/2001· SUSPENSION

  NOTICED RIGHT REAR WHEEL BOUNCE, INVESTIGATED NOTICED MIDDLE LEAF PROTRUDING AND RUBBING ON SHOCK ABSORBER. CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT PROBLEM, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT, AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. CALLED DEALER, DEALER SAID BOTH LEAF SPRINGS SHOULD BE REPLACED ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. REPAIR COST WOULD BE AROUND $1200.00. ONE OTHER NOTE, THIS TRUCK WAS NEVER USED TO CARRY LARGE LOADS. *AK

• 10/16/1998· UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  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

• 10/15/1998· SUSPENSION

  SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED.

• 10/14/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TAIL LIGHT FUSE BURNED OUT, CAUSING TAIL LIGHTS TO FAIL.

• 10/13/2017· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  RECALL INFO, CAN'T SELL WITHOUT PAPERWORK ON FRAME AND NEW COMPANY IN OUR CITY WON'T OR CAN'T GIVE ME PROOF THAT FRAME IS OK

• 10/07/1998· 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 FIRE. *YH

• 10/06/2016· STRUCTURE

  1996 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME RUST ISSUES. WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA OF THE "PROGRAM" OFFERS TO FIX. TOYOTA CASE #1607184527 CREATED 6/2016. TOOK VEHICLE TO WELDER TO FIX FRAME TO MAKE ROAD WORTHY.

• 10/03/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  PURCHASED TRUCK NEW, CONSUMER DRIVING ABOUT 4 MPH HIT FROM FROM THE SIDE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND DRIVER RECEIVED THIRD DEGREE BURNS. . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

• 10/02/1998· STEERING,SUSPENSION

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

• 10/01/2001· SUSPENSION

  WHILE MAKING TURNS TIRES WERE RUBBING. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK