Skip to content
EnginePart report

1996 Toyota 4RUNNER Engine Problems

Complaints
1about this part
Share
1%of 161 total for the year
Median mileage
205,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the engine of the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER, 1% of the 161 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 205,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #11067167, filed 2018-02, 205,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202523%
2024110%
202326%
202213%
201969%
201858%
201726%
201668%
201589%
201468%
201338%
201255%
201164%
201032%
200929%
200877%
200732%
200672%
2005215%
2004183%
2003101%
200252%
200153%
200041%
199931%
199611%
199585%
199412%
199212%
199011%

Other parts of the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER

Body and structure
42 complaints
Suspension
39 complaints
Engine cooling
25 complaints
Brakes
18 complaints
Tires
14 complaints
Other or unknown
12 complaints
Air bags
9 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Wheels
4 complaints
Electrical system
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology