21 of the
321 complaints about the 1996 Toyota Tacoma are about the
engine — 7% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
153,460 miles.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10200047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 276,920 milesCleveland, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10131121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesLAS Vegas, NV
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10117348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendale, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE WHEN REACHING HIGH TEMPERATURE WOULD MISFIRE AND STALL, AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO RESTART. DEALER STATED CALLED NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #10040029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loretto, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO LEAK RED FLUID, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH HEAD GAKSKETS WERE CRACKED, CONSUMER HAS SINCE RETURED TO THE DEALER ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS COMPLAING ABOUT AN ENGINE NOISE, CONSUMER THEN LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS NEVER REPLACED, CONSUMER FINALLY HAD THE GASKET REPLACED AND THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT AFTER HEAD GASKET WORK IS PERFORMED THAT POTENTIAL FOR LATER DAMAGE WAS COMMON.
NHTSA complaint #564825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oklahoma, AR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EXISTING ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM IS PROGRESSING. HAVING TO KEEP VEHICLE IDLING HIGH, AND IN NEUTRAL SO IT WILL NOT CUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MROE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8014577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loretto, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I COMPLAINED OF A RAPPING, TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE ON 8/26/97. TRUCK HAD 15877 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. I AGAIN COMPLAINED OF NOISE 1/29/98. TRUCK HAD 21851 MILES ON IT. SOUNDED LIKE TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM TOP OF ENGINE . SAME NOISE AS BEFORE. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. AT 56500 MILES TAPPING GOT SLIGHTLY LOUDER. I AGAIN COMPLAINED OF NOISE AT BEGINNING OF DECEMBER 2001. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD HEAR IT THEN (AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED!) THEY TOLD ME I HADNT CHANGED MY OIL AND IT WOULD COST 4400 DOLLARS FOR A NEW SHORT BLOCK. I KNEW I WASNT AT FAULT. I REMOVED ENGINE SO I COULD DETERMINE CAUSE OF NOISE. THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT. IT IS NOT MACHINED CORRECTLY. IT IS NOT DRILLED THRU TO ALLOW THE FLOW OF OIL THRU THE BEARING. I SHOWED THEM THE CRANK. THEY ADMITTED IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. THEY WILL NOT PUT IT IN WRITING. THEIR MAY BE THOUSANDS OF OTHER TRUCKS WHOSE OWNERS ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF FOR THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE. THEY WILL BE TOLD THEY DIDNT CHANGE THEIR OIL. TOYOTA WILL POCKET ALOT OF MONEY. THE OWNERS WILL BE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THIS MAJOR SCAM. TOYOTA MUST ADMIT IN WRITING THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THIS. THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE ENGINE COULD FAIL IN TRAFFIC CAUSING SEVERE ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #760197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loretto, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE - TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS FAILURE BUT WILL REPLACE HEAD GASKETS.
NHTSA complaint #756649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leretto, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #8000679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leretto, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #8000679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE ENGINE MAKES A LOAD POPPING NOISE WHILE IT IS WARMING UP AND WHEN IT IS COOLING DOWN AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT IS THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A SERVICE REPORT FOR THIS. WILL THIS PROBLEM CAUSE ANY DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE. CAN IT BE FIXED? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, OLIVER NEWMAN
NHTSA complaint #704077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pequea, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
IN COLD TEMPERATURES VEHICLE STALLS AT IDLE. DEALERS CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #824250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Escondido, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camarillo, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valley CEN, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #604249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sherwood, AR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED, IN DRIVE, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES TO ABOVE NORMAL WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR COMES ON. THE HIGHER IDLE SPEED CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD IN AN UNSAFE MANNER.
NHTSA complaint #521923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clinton, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE GASKET FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #521897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redding, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TRUCK ENGINE SHAKES AND GIVES A VERY POOR PERFORMANCE.
NHTSA complaint #810088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burkley, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #805130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walpole, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #509396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gardnerville, NV
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCES ERRATIC OPERATION IN FRONT SUSPENSION, WHEN HIT POT HOLES OR SLIGHT INDENTATION IN ROAD, VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN AND FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATES VIOLENTLY, DLR/MFR CAN'T CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT MANUFACTURER ADMITTED PROBLEM AND THEY WERE PUTTING OUT HEAVIER FRONT SPRINGS AND SHOCKS, HOWEVER THIS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST, CONSUMER STATES FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION NEEDS BALANCED. SPEAKER HAD TO BE REPLACED. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING COOLANT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #800932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.