1996 Toyota 4RUNNER Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 3%of 161 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 155,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER, 3% of the 161 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 155,000 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.
“As I know other people have posted, I have the classic 4RUNNER rear differential seepage. Mine is a 1996. Seems to be due to a bad casting from factory. Never have I run into this before. Vehicle was regularly washed, hardly any rust on entire vehicle, but for the rear differential casting to be rusted through/porous enough to seep gear oil through the interstices while maintaining structural integrity (safety issue?!!!!!) is a major failure for Toyota as far as I'm concerned and should be redeemed by company. …”
NHTSA complaint #10512455, filed 2013-05, 155,000 miles“Happened to noticed fluid around rim. Repeated rear axle seal leak. Believe back spacing of seal against the ABS ring is of a quarter of inch. Causing vehicle to vibrate and create loud grinding hum. Brakes have become soaked in gear oil. Causing brakes to lock up and smoke profusely. Believetoyota is aware of issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10104167, filed 2004-12“This component has failed numerous times in the past 4 years, requiring 7 trips to the dealership and part replacement 3 time. The last time the entire clutch pedal assembly was replaced. The main failure is in a cheap plastic bushing that constantly falls apart. The clutch pedal while workable does become somewhat jerky in its working as well as noisy after this part breaks.”
NHTSA complaint #738893, filed 2001-01“Differential/axle housing rusted out. I purchased the truck this past week and noticed a significant amount of rust on the differential housing and where the suspension parts connect to the housing. This is what holds the differential/axle assembly to the truck. If left unchecked the cover will eventually rust out and leak oil and could potentially lead to a crash if the differential locks up due to no fluid. Also the brackets could rust out causing the suspension parts to break away from the housing causing a crash. This is a know issue on 4runners and well documented on many internet forums.”
NHTSA complaint #10435598, filed 2011-11Related service bulletins
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
- 10061578Jun 13, 2011Summary to be provided on a future date.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 38% |
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 6% |
| 2018 | 3 | 5% |
| 2017 | 1 | 3% |
| 2016 | 6 | 7% |
| 2015 | 4 | 5% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 10 | 45% |
| 2008 | 27 | 28% |
| 2007 | 11 | 7% |
| 2006 | 30 | 8% |
| 2005 | 25 | 6% |
| 2004 | 36 | 5% |
| 2003 | 39 | 6% |
| 2002 | 33 | 15% |
| 2001 | 32 | 17% |
| 2000 | 42 | 9% |
| 1999 | 23 | 7% |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% |
| 1997 | 25 | 10% |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% |
| 1995 | 14 | 8% |
| 1994 | 3 | 5% |
| 1993 | 3 | 6% |
| 1992 | 4 | 8% |
| 1991 | 5 | 12% |
| 1990 | 14 | 18% |
| 1988 | 2 | 22% |
| 1987 | 2 | 40% |
Other parts of the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER
42 complaintsSuspension
39 complaintsEngine cooling
25 complaintsBrakes
18 complaintsTires
14 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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