1996 Toyota 4Runner: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 92 complaints
92
Total Complaints
182,000mi
Median Mileage
STRUCTURE:BODY
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

150,000 25th Percentile
182,000 Median Mileage
236,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STRUCTURE:BODY
24
SUSPENSION
21
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
10
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
7
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
TIRES
2
POWER TRAIN
2
AIR BAGS
2
SUSPENSION:REAR
1

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS WORN. THE VEHICLE RESIDES AT THE DEALER WAITING ADDITIONAL INSPECTION."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT ISNT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR HONORED SINCE JANUARY 1, 2007. THE RELATED RECALL# IS 0V021000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115000."
"TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED 1996 VINTAGE...STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BIGTIME *TR"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28