Owners filed 64 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 4 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
13
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling
6
0
1
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
4
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
4
0
0
0
Wheels
3
2
0
2
Vehicle Speed Control
3
1
0
1
Unknown or Other
3
1
0
0
Tires › Tread/Belt
2
0
0
0
Structure › Body › Bumpers
2
0
0
0
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
2
1
0
1
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport
Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.
Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.
Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting05V389000
Filed Sep 6, 2005977,839 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.
Defect. ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Risk. IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Apr 28, 2021160,000 milesCA
MY VEHICLE WAS IN A ACCIDENT ON THE PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL THE DAMAGE CAUSED A ELECTRICAL OUTAGE TO ALL THE BLINKERS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS THEY LOCKED UP AND STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WITH THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS NOT WORKING MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Engine
Filed Apr 7, 2013155,000 milesCO
A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THIS TOYOTA 4-RUNNER THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. THEY LEAKED. A RECALL WAS (SUPPOSEDLY) DONE. 100,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAD TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE FIX. THAT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY HAD ACTUALLY FIXED IT. A (FIX) IMPLIES THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY FIXED. HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK . . . EVER! SO I AM WONDERING OF THEY REALLY ACCOMPLISHED A FIX THE FIRST TIME. OBVIOUSLY NOT SINCE IT COST ME $2000 TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF THEY DID ATTEMPT A FIX THEY CERTAINLY MUST HAVE USED INFERIOR OF DEFECTIVE PARTS SINCE THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW THAT IF A RECALL (FIX) FAILS AND NEED TO BE DONE OVER THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REDO. THANK YOU *TR
Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Mar 22, 2012100,000 milesCA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF OIL. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND UPON EXITING, NOTICED A FLAME UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND REPORTED TO THE SCENE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Feb 7, 2011291,000 milesCA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER . THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO FALL OFF. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 291,000.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 8, 2010173,000 milesSC
THIS IS A FAILURE THAT HAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT . I OWN A 1994 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAS BROKEN MORE THAN 3 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE KEY THAT FITS INTO THE SLOT ON THE CRANK SHAFT IS TOO SHORT. THE KEY THAT FITS INTO THE SLOT ALSO KEEPS THE HARMONIC BALANCER IN PLACE AS IT ALSO HAS A SLOT FOR THE KEY TO FIT INTO. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS SUDDEN AND GIVES YOU LITTLE OR NO TIME TO REACT. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS COME ON AT ONCE AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH DOZENS OF MECHANICS AND TOYOTA OWNERS AND THEY ALL SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD BUT ALSO A COSTLY REPAIR. THIS HAPPENED TO MY CAR AGAIN FOR THE FOURTH TIME RECENTLY. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 9, 2010115,000 milesFL
ENGINE BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. TOYOTA REPAIRED UNDER RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND NOW IT WILL COST ME $1,900.00 TO REPAIR THEIR POOR QUALITY, OR CRAFTSMANSHIP. WHY CAN'T WE GET TOYOTA TO WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF POSTS REGARDING THIS MATTER, AND WE CANNOT GET FAIR RESULTS FROM ANYONE. MY FRIEND HAD TOYOTA OFFER HIM $500.00 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW TOYOTA, PRETTY FUNNY OFFER. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 17, 200998,000 milesNE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1994 TOYATA 4RUNNER. 98K ON ENGINE. *TR
Wheels
Filed Sep 17, 2008WY
I BOUGHT 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER USED. THE OUTFIT NEEDED NEW TIRES WHEN I TRIED TO REMOVER THE WHEELS I COULD NOT GET THEM OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER ALOT OF WORK THEY FINALLY CAME OFF. WHEN I REINSTALLED THEM I USED ANTI-SEIZE AND HOPE TO NEVER HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. *TR
Steering › Column
Filed Feb 21, 200783,000 milesTN
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA FORERUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO MAKE A TURN OR STEER THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT WORK. THE CONTACT HAD THE STEERING COLUMN FIXED. THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM WAS CONSISTENT AND KEPT GETTING WORSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 83000. *AK
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › ConnectingCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 30, 2006OH
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 8:00 AM AND THE SUV SLID TO THE LEFT ON ICE, SHE THEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WOULDN'T STRAIGHTEN UP AND AS A RESULT SHE WENT DOWN AN INBANKMENT AND THE SUV ROLLED ALL THE WAY OVER AND BACK ON ITS WHEELS. THE VEHICLE SINCE HAS BEEN TOTALED AND PARTED OUT BUT I'M THINKING THIS RECALL MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB
SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 11, 2006WV
1994 4 RUNNER 4 WD STEERING CONTROL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMERS WIFE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AN EMBANKMENT INTO A STREAM. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 27, 200690,700 milesNH
I OWN A 94 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH A 3VZ-E MOTOR. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACE UNDER THE RECALL IN 1997 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 45000 MILES. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP JUST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND NEVER RESURFACED THE HEADS. ON SEPTEMBER 20,2006 HEAD GASKET BLOW AGAIN.IT IS WELL KNOWN ABOUT THE DESIGN FLAW IN THIS MOTOR AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR TO BE DONE CORRECTLY. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 90700 MILES ON THE MOTOR.I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD MY THAT THEY ONLY FIX IT ONE TIME. I ADVISED THEM THAT THEY NEVER FIXED THE FIRST HEAD GASKET CORRECTLY AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING THERE RECALLS CORRECTED IN A PROPER MANNER.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. *NM
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 8, 2006102,000 milesNC
I OWN A 94 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND A 94 TOYOTA SR5 PICKUP TRUCK. BACK IN '98 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE I BROUGHT BOTH MY VEHICLES TO FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS ON BOTH VEHICLES. RECALL NOTICE: A 3VZ-E HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT JUNE 26, 1998 VEHICLE: TOYOTA TRUCK 4X4MILEAGE: 46,623 JULY 17, 1998 VEHICLE: TOYOTA 4RUNNERMILEAGE: 38,037 THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2006 OF THIS YEAR, MY TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHEN I CRANKED IT UP ONE AFTERNOON. DENSE SMOKE AND RADIATOR FLUID FLOWED FROM THE TAILPIPE AND THE ENGINE WAS VIBRATING.LESS THAN 12 HOURS AFTER THE HEAD GASKET BLEW IN MY PICKUP TRUCK, THE VERY NEXT MORNING I STARTED MY WIFE'S 4RUNNER TO MAKE A TRIP INTO TOWN. IMMEDIATELY WHEN I STARTED IT, DENSE SMOKE AND RADIATOR FLUID FLOWED FROM THE TAILPIPE AND THE ENGINE WAS VIBRATING EVEN WORST THAN BEFORE. I IMMEDIATELY TURN THE TRUCK OFF. TOYOTA OPENED A CASE# 200602060829. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL CHAN COLEMAN AT SANFORD TOYOTA AND TRY TO GET A SPECIAL PRICE. I CALLED CHAN AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN HIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. HE TRANSFERRED ME TO SERVICE AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,600 PER VEHICLE TO REPAIR. I HAD BOTH VEHICLES TOWED AND REPAIRED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BELOW ARE THE DATES AND MILEAGE FOR THE REPAIRS. FEBRUARY 16, 2006 VEHICLE: TOYOTA TRUCK 4X4 MILEAGE: 120,000 FEBRUARY 4, 2006 VEHICLE: TOYOTA 4RUNNER MILEAGE: 102,000 I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC AT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT THE REA
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Filed Jan 24, 2006DC
CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE 1994 4-RUNNER STEERING ROD. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 05V389000 REFERENCING A STEERING ROD. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THE RECALL ESPECIALLY SINCE HIS FATHER, WHO ALSO OWNED A TOYOTA 4RUNNER, WAS KILLED FOUR YEAR AGO WHEN HIS VEHICLE VEERED OFF A FREEWAY. *NM
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 19, 2005CO
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA RUNNER SR5. HE ALMOST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, AND HE WENT ON TO THE WEBSITE TO OBTAIN A CAR FAX REPORT. THE REPORT WAS SHOWING AN ODOMETER READING OF 147124 ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2004. NOW THE CAR IS SHOWING AN ODOMETER READING OF A LITTLE MORE THAN 98,000. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE BECAUSE THAT UNIT WAS OUT AT THE TIME. HE DID LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THEM TO CONTACT HIM BACK, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO AS OF YET.*AK
WheelsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 6, 2005153,000 milesCO
LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF THE VEHICLE AT 65 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES.*AK THE LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE CAUSING ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED ROAD RASH TO LEFT HAND AND ARM WHICH RESULTED IN PERMANENT SCARING. *NM
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Nov 8, 2004125,000 milesFL
DAYTON TIMBERLINE A/T, P235/75R15, DOT#VDHLTD3110.CONSUMER THAT THE SIDEWALLS BLEW OUT. THE TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRES WAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT OUT FIRST. FOLLOWED BY LEFT FRONT TIRE WHICH EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE.*AK
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 19, 200475,000 milesCA
PROBLEM WITH 5 CYLINDER ENGINE ON 1994 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. *PH *MR
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 10, 200495,668 milesPA
IN SHORT, I BROUGHT A 1994 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH A WARRANTY BACK IN JUNE 2002 FROM POTAMKIN SPRINGFIELD AUTO WORLD. IN NOVEMBER 2003, THE TRUCK WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. I HAD THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE PLUS OTHER REPAIRS AND TOOK THE TRUCK TO BE SERVICED WHENEVER THERE WAS A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS SITUATION. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND OF COURSE THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE PART. I PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR NOT KNOWING THEN THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR DEFECTED HEAD GASKETS ON THIS MODEL. I HAD THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED BUT WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND GUESS WHAT, I'M STILL NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THIS MAY OF HAPPEN BEFORE ME BUT I KNOW THE DEALER KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS SOLD.*AK
Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 25, 2003198,000 milesCA
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE WITHOUT WARNING AND AS A RESULT THE TIRE FELL OFF INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.