NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1996 Toyota 4runner.
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Component: SUSPENSION
ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING (SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
I have noticed that my vehicle doesn’t seem to be balance and most of the time i am afraid the tires will fall off by the movement of the vehicle. And the metal parts that attachment part it looks very bad on the metal parts like it rusted so bad. I hope they will be able to figure out whats wrong and if i am the only one who is experiencing this issue.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED AND FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALLBACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 256,000.
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLIPPING A LOT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED JUST RECENTLY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WASN'T BUT AFTER RESEARCHING MY 4RUNNER I'VE READ THERE WAS SOME RECALLS ON THE CAR ABOUT THE REAR SUSPENSION.
The 1996 Toyota 4runner has 5 NHTSA recalls and 182 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
THE STICKER REQUIRED BY PART 575, "CONSUMER INFORMATION REGULATIONS" TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF "THE PARTICULAR HANDLING AND MANEUVERING CHARACTERISTICS OF UTILITY VEHICLES" WAS NOT AFFIXED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR.
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OWNERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE HANDLING AND MANUEVERING CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUN VISORS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH VISORS CONTAINING THE CORRECT LABELS.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
THE REAR AXLE/SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. JUST TOOK IT TO MY AUTO SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY WILL NOT PUT IT UP FOR AN OIL CHANGE BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID IT WILL COLLAPSE.
THE AXEL SUPPORT RUSTED OFF CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION
AXEL SUPPORTS RUSTED OFF THE FRAME MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE
FRAME IS RUSTING VARY BADLY, IN TWO YEARS THE FRAME THAT IS THE DRIVE TRAIN WILL BE ALL GONE RUST! AND AUTO WILL NOT BE DRIVABLE THEN
1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, THE FRAME IS RUSTTING OUT TOTALLY. THE TOTAL FRAME IS RUST OR GONE. THIS 4RUNNER WAS ZEBARTED WHEN NEW. I HAVE BOUGHT THIS 4RUNNER NEW FROM SUNSHINE TOYOTA BATTLE CREEK,MI
TAKATA RECALL. ANTILOCK BRAKES SLIPPED AND DIDNT STOP. THE AIR BAGS OPEN UNTIL AFTER THE TRUCK WAS TOWED AND PARKED BACK AT MY HOUSE WHEN NO ONE WAS IN IT.
MY 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUFFERS FROM EXCESSIVE RUST THAT CAUSED ME TO BE HAVE A HORRIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO THE FRAME EXCESSIVELY CRACKING. THE CRACKING WAS DUE TO WHAT AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COMPANY STATING THAT THE RIGHT-REAR FRAME RAIL CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING. THE INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COMPANY POINTED TO NUMEROUS KNOWN REPORTING'S ON THE INTERNET AS A COMMON OCCURRENCE OF THIS VEHICLE. I MADE A PERSONAL CALL TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY LOGGED MY COMPLAINT BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY CLAIMS HEREIN TO HELP IN FIXING THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 137,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENCE. THE OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. I CROSSED AN AREA THAT HAD STANDING WATER (NOT DEEP BY ANY MEANS MIND YOU) AND THE REAR END COMPLETELY SHIFTED OUT TO THE RIGHT OF ME AND CAUSED ME TO SPIN. THIS WATER WENT ACROSS ALL THREE LANES AND NO ONE ELSE EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE I DID. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SPUN AROUND AND I ENDED UP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE FACING HEAD ON AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR HIT IN THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE SEPARATION FROM THE FRAME AFTER THIS. I AM UPLOADING THE RESULTS OF THE INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT STATING THEIR FINDINGS AND SHOWING PICTURES OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF MY 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I HAVE ALL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS. NEW TOYOTA PARTS HAVE BEEN USED IN ALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING MY 4RUNNER THIS SPRING, I NOTICED IT STARTING TO SWAY ON THE HIGHWAY. A REAR SWAY BAR BROKE OFF. I CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE SWAY WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. NOT ONCE DID MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT MENTION THAT MY FRAME WAS DETERIORATING FROM RUST. IT HAS BEEN ON THE LIFT A HUNDRED TIMES FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, SOME EXTENSIVE, AND NOT ONE MENTION OF A RUSTING FRAME. NOW, IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO REPAIR DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE RUST. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MAINTAINING MY 4RUNNER OVER THE YEARS. I FEEL TOYOTA HAS KNOWINGLY DECEIVED ALL 4RUNNER OWNERS OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF EARLY MODEL 4RUNNERS SHOULD BE ALERTED OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS LOSS OF CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IS IMMINENT.
FRAME RUST, A FAIR AMOUNT OF RUST IS CAUSING CONCERN AND MAKES ME QUESTION HOW TRUSTWORTHY VEHICLE IS. THE DATE LISTED ISNT THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT ITS ROUGHLY AROUND THE TIME THE EXTENT OF THE RUST HAD BEEN NOTICED.
FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. HOLES IN FRAME BIG ENOUGH TO PUSH YOUR WHOLE ARM THROUGH. AREAS OF FRAME CONNECTED TO SUSPENSION PREMATURELY RUSTING OUT. THIS REST OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BODY PANELS INCLUDED. WELDER TOLD ME ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY AND REPAIR TO THE FRAME IS VERY DIFFICULT ANF EXPENSIVE EVEN IF POSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 185,000 MILES AND RUNS GREAT. I HEAR CREAKING DEVELOPING AND AM AFRAID CAR MAY SPLIT IN HALF. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT STEPPING UP AFTER ADMITTING TO BADLY MANUFACTURED FRAMES.
SHOCK ABSORBER COMPLETELY WENT THREW THE FRAME CAUSING THE 4 RUNNER TO GO SIZE TO SIZE WHILE DRIVING. FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THE SAME EXACT FRAMES ON THE TACOMATACOMA GOT A RECALL, THEY REPLACED THEM. WHY WASNT THIS RECALLED ON THE 4RUNNER? AND THE SEATBELTS JUST POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHILE YOUR JUST DRIVING. SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN SOON OR SOMEBODY IS GONNA GET VERY HURT ,OR KILLED. 1 MORE THING. I HAD A WHEEL POP OFF ALSO FROM THE BALL JOINT BREAKING LUCKILY THAT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE MAIN ROAD I COULD'VE KILLED SOMEBODY.
Showing 15 of 182 complaints