Page 2-5 of the owner's manual shows a special panel built into the inside of the door release recess that is to be used "touch this panel after rising from the seat to avoid an unpleasant shock from static electricity".
Okay, for the life of me I can't see any special little panel thing, I would expect it to be metal(?)

 

I think that was in 93s only.

Dave

 

Yeah..er...well...I have a '93.....

 

is it the original door trim?

 

I could be all wrong. Now that I think about it, when I replaced my inside door handle cup I remember the old one had a vinyl pad on the inside, and the replacement didn't. That pad is what had some kind of grounding pad connected to the backside inside the door trim.

Dave

 

IIRC when you remove the handle recess you will find a paper thin ground strap on the back of it. All models had this to my knowledge. I believe it runs from the pad down to where the screw holds the recess in place.

 

You can also just maintain contact with a part of the bodywhile you get out and that will ground you. I always just keep my fingers on the edge of the door until I'm completely out of the car.

My 4runner has the worst static electricity if you don't ground yourself...you can usually see and hear a loud spark (not to mention feel it too)

 

Yeah, mine had a small vinyl patch with a ground strap on it. I have always wondered why that thing was grounded, now I know! thank you, LOL