1996 Toyota Tacoma Problems

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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

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

MY VEHICLES ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH A FEW DAYS AGO AND WE BEGAN TROUBLE SHOOTING TO FIND THE CAUSE. WE PULLED THE SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND RUST AND WATER ON ONE PLUG. WE CLEANED THE PLUG UP AND REINSTALLED IT AND RAN THE VEHICLE TO TEST IT. IT RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. WE WENT ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR VEHICLE BACK IN 1999 AND AGAIN IN 2001. THE LAST ONE HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE OF NOVEMBER 30, 2004. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2002 AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN UNTIL WE FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET YESTERDAY. WE NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NO RECALL OR CAMPAIGN FOR OUR VEHICLE. WE HAVE DOUBLE CHECKED THE VIN NUMBER WITH THEIR CAMPAIGN NOTICE AND IT IS A MATCH. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AS WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT DUE TO NO NOTIFICATION WHEN THE CAMPAIGN WAS ONGOING.*JB

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.

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. *AK

I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH HAS A RECALL FOR RUST. THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING OUT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR EXAMINATION BECAUSE MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS OK. A LITTLE WHILE LATER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MECHANISM ON THE BOTTOM RUSTED OUT AND BROKE. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE. THE TRUCK JUST ROLLED TO A HALT. IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HILL OR IN A PARKING LOT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. *TR

[XXX] 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA IT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AS OTHER MODELS/YR WHY HAVE YOU NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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

DRIVER SIDE AND MIDDLE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH. I PULLED APART THE MIDDLE LATCH AND IT SEEMS THE PLASTIC HAS ERODED TO FAILURE. *JS

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.

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

REF: NHTSA 96E00100 REF: TOYOTA REFERRED RECALL WEBSITE <HTTP://WWW.INTERNETAUTOGUIDE.COM/AUTO-RECALLS/09-INT/1996/TOYOTA/TACOMA/INDEX.HTML> JAN 03, 1996 | RECALL ID# 39110 - RECALL REASON VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL DATE JAN 03, 1996 MODEL AFFECTED TACOMA POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED 5145 RECALL SUMMARY; THESE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO HOLD THE SPEED SET BY THE DRIVER AND CAN ACCELERATE ABOVE THE INTENDED SET SPEED. CONSEQUENCE; UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. REMEDY; DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLIES. NOTES: ROSTRA PRECISION CONTROLS THIS IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITH MY 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. TWICE IT ACCELERATED TO OVER 90 MPH WHILE ON A RECENT TRIP TO ANOTHER STATE. IT NOW DROPS OUT RAPIDLY AT ANY SPEED AFTER 1/2 MILE OR SO, AND THE CC LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY. I'VE CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVIDENTLY HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1996!!!) AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE RECALL. CAN YOU HELP GET MY VEHICLE RETURNED TO A SAFE TO DRIVE STATE WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NO LONGER A SAFETY ISSUE? I'VE HAD THE DROPPING OUT PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE UNIT WAS UNDER POWERED. NOW THAT IT'S SPEEDING UP, I LEARNED JUST RECENTLY THAT IT'S DEFECTIVE AND TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT IT!! THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THROTTLE VALVE CABLE BROKE DURING NORMAL USE OF THE TRUCK. NOTICED A CHANGE IN TRANSMISSION FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT TOO SOON AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEED UP NORMALLY. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO THIRD GEAR AT 10MPH AND THEN TO 4TH GEAR AT 30 MPH. IT WOULD BYPASS 2ND GEAR SO I HAD TO SHIFT IT MANUALLY IN ORDER TO ACHEIVE A SPEEDY ENOUGH START TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. ALSO OCCURRED IN MY BROTHERS 96 TACOMA ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE FOR IT TO BE OCCURRING IN THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR TRUCK ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME. TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND THE CABLE WAS RUSTED SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS EXPOSED SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE THUS CAUSING IT TO GET WEATHERED AND BREAK. REPAIRS WERE OVER $300 DOLLARS AT DEALERSHIP AND I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER SOME WARRANTY SINCE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT PART SHOULD HAVE HAD A HOUSING TO PROTECT IT FROM BEING WEATHERED AND RUSTED. I BELIEVE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS SAME THING WITH THIS SAME MODEL AND YEAR TRUCK SINCE IT HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME FAMILY HERE. *AK

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.

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS STARTING FAILURES BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 05-JUNE-2002. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES AND WAS NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. EVENTUALLY THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO AN A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TO HIGH AMPERAGE FOR FUEL RELAY BLOW LINES.*SCC

POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK. THEY SAID IT FROZE UP.. IT RUSTED OUT. ..

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST UPON DECELERATION FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT PROVIDED HELP IN TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS CAVED INWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME RAIL WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

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

1996 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS UNDERGONE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES VARYING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER,WHEEL REPLACEMENT, 4WD BEING INOPERATIVE AND LEAKAGE ON THE PULLEY.*MR THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE WIPER INSERTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

SEAT BELT (BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE) WONT RETRACT, AND MANY TIMES GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.*AK

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FUEL TANK AND FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN HOWEVER, A LOCAL DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAMPAIGN HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80000.

1996 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS UNDERGONE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES VARYING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER,WHEEL REPLACEMENT, 4WD BEING INOPERATIVE AND LEAKAGE ON THE PULLEY.*MR THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE WIPER INSERTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNG.

THE FRAME IS RUSTED, IN SOME AREAS, CLEAR THROUGH. THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD SUSPENSION HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. EVERYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE FRAME HAS AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF RUST. THE TRUCK IS PARKED BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE GREAT BODILY HARM IF THE TRUCK FALLS APART WHILE DRIVING. *TR

MY HUSBANDS 1996 TACOMA WAS RECALLED DUE TO RUSTING UNDERNEATH AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE IN CHAPTER 13 WE WERE TOLD TO COME AND GET THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE DEALER. WE ARE NOW DONE THIS MONTH WITH THE CHAPTER 13 AND WE HAVE CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALL OFFER. MY HUSBAND NOW HAS A TRUCK THAT HE CANNOT SALE OR TRADE BECAUSE IT IS RED TAGGED. *JS

PASSENGER SEAT FAILED.

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