1994 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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 ...
Mileage: 90,700
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...
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 ...
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
Mileage: 153,000
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
Mileage: 125,000
PROBLEM WITH 5 CYLINDER ENGINE ON 1994 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. *PH *MR
Mileage: 75,000
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...
Mileage: 95,668
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
Mileage: 198,000
UNDER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN# 54015, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE ON 5/15/2002 FOR THE SECOND TIME. ONE YEAR LATER THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE OIL NOT BEING CHANGED. THE CONSUMER SAYS THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY TAKEN FOR MAINTENANCE. *PH THERE ...
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
TRANSMISSION WILL INTERMITTENTLY DROP OUT OF 1ST AND 3RD GEAR. WHEN AT A DEAD STOP, TRANSMISSION WILL DROP OUT OF 1ST GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING, CAUSING LOST OF POWER. ALSO WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY, TRANSMISSION WILL DROP OUT OF THIRD GEAR, CAUSING LOST OF POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AT ABOU...
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED A VERY UNUSUAL NOISE OCCURS. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE PUMPED TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
PRIOR TO ANY KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL, RADIATOR IN VEHICLE BLEW UP, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO OPERATE, UPON SECOND VISIT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT B...
CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR IN VEHICLE, MECHANIC REPLACED A DEFECTIVE FUEL HOSE UNDER THE AIR PLENUM CHAMBER.*JB
VEHICLE SKIDDED AND ROLLED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S DEATH DUE TO CHEST INJURIES AND SUFFOCATION FROM BEING TRAPPED UPSIDE DOWN. *AK
BRAKES AND ROTORS CONTINUE TO FAIL OR WARP-FRONT ONLY-RESULTING IN DANGEROUS WOBBLE/SHUTTER WHEN BRAKEING. NUMEROUS REPAIRS INCLUDING TURNING/REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES AND AT 98800 MILES IT IS IN NEED OF REPAIR AGAIN. ONLY HAVE 12,500 MILES SINCE LAST FRONT BRAKE CHANGE AND RO...
BRAKES AND ROTORS CONTINUE TO FAIL OR WARP-FRONT ONLY-RESULTING IN DANGEROUS WOBBLE/SHUTTER WHEN BRAKEING. NUMEROUS REPAIRS INCLUDING TURNING/REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES AND AT 98800 MILES IT IS IN NEED OF REPAIR AGAIN. ONLY HAVE 12,500 MILES SINCE LAST FRONT BRAKE CHANGE AND RO...
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN, PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ONCE AND REPAIRED 5/98 AT 53K MILES, BLOWN AGAIN AT 85K MILES, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE. HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA - TOLD TO GO THROUGH DEALER THAT PERFORMED RECALL. HAVE CONTACTED REPAIR DEALER, NO RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME....
NO SUMMERY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAK AND CHECKED WITHIN ONE MONTH. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE COMPLETED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE CAR WITH VERIFICATION. HEAD GASKETS CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY AS DIRECTED 1.5 YEARS PRIOR TO FAILURE. AT 60MPH, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE SEIZED UP. DEALER NOTES THAT O...
WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE & GUIDED IT TO SIDE OF ROAD. CHECKED THE TIRE & NOTICED TREAD HAD PEELED OFF. \ HAD TIRE EXCHANGED WITH SPARE. TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. FIRESTONE ATX 311050R15F WITH 91,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE ON I-10W, TRAVELING @60MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY AND CALL ROAD SERVICE TO CHANGE TIRE. LUCKLY NO ONE WAS INJURED. CHANGED ALL FOUR TIRES IMMEDIATELY AFTER RETURNING HOME. TREAD ON TIRES WERE GOOD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: U8860 TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )
THE REAR WINDOW GOES UP AND DOWN IN THE TAIL GATE IN ORDER TO OPEN THE TAIL GATE YOU MUST MOVE THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN ALL THE PARTS THAT MOVE THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN RUSTED OUT WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE REPAIR AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PARTS COST AND IF THEY HAD THEM ON HAND THE GENT...
DO TO WEAK MANUFACTURED MATERIAL LIQUID HEATS UP AND IT FLOWS OUT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1/2000, ON 6/1/2000, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A FAST-FOOD DRIVE-THROUGH I WAS STOPPED, I PRESSED ON THE GAS, THE ENGINECHECK LIGHT WENT ON, THE CAR QUIT AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR STATED THAT THE PIS...
THE RIM FOR THE SPARE TIRE DID NOT MATCH THE RIM ON THE ROAD WHEELS. YH
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN THEY WERE RECALLED ONCE ALREADY AND REPAIRED IN 12/1998 BY PREVIOUS OWNER. THEY HAVE BLOWN AGAIN ON 11/1999. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS RECALLED ONCE BY THEM. THEY STATED IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED ONCE FOR THE RECALL AND THAT WAS ALL THEY WOULD COVER. ...
THE RIM FOR THE SPARE TIRE DID NOT MATCH THE RIM ON THE ROAD WHEELS. YH
FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION OF OIL, WHICH LEAD TO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ENGINE. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) MJS
ENGINE OIL PAN DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, THE OIL DOES NOT COMPLETELY DRAIN OUT DURING OIL CHANGES CAUSING CONTAMINATION AND DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MJS
ENGINE OIL PAN DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, THE OIL DOES NOT COMPLETELY DRAIN OUT DURING OIL CHANGES CAUSING CONTAMINATION AND DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MJS
ENGINE OIL PAN DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, THE OIL DOES NOT COMPLETELY DRAIN OUT DURING OIL CHANGES CAUSING CONTAMINATION AND DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MJS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND SHE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN VEHICLE IN BACK OF HER HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A SEVEN CAR COLLISION. CONSUMER'S RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN VEHICLE BEHIND HER HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND PUSHED HER INTO ANOTHER VECHICLE AT A COST OF SEVEN CAR COLLISION. ALSO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS AFFECTED. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BODY SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE TRUCK WAS TWISTED AND SHE SUSTA...
THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN VEHICLE BEHIND HER HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND PUSHED HER INTO ANOTHER VECHICLE AT A COST OF SEVEN CAR COLLISION. ALSO THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS AFFECTED. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BODY SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE TRUCK WAS TWISTED AND SHE SUSTA...
VEHICLE ROLLOVER DUE TO INSTABILITY DESIGN OF STRUCTURE, ROOF FRAME/ROLL BAR INSUFFICIENT FOR VEHICLE DURING COLLISION CAUSING DEATH OF OCCUPANT WHEN FRAME SEVERLY CRUSHED INTO PASSENGERS HEAD. MJS
VEHICLE ROLLOVER DUE TO INSTABILITY DESIGN OF STRUCTURE, ROOF FRAME/ROLL BAR INSUFFICIENT FOR VEHICLE DURING COLLISION CAUSING DEATH OF OCCUPANT WHEN FRAME SEVERLY CRUSHED INTO PASSENGERS HEAD. MJS
CRUISE CONTROL SHIFTS DOWN TO GO UP HILL BUT THEN FAILS TO SHIFT BACK UPON REACHING SET SPEED UNTILL IT IS ABOUT 5-10 MPH OVER SET SPEED.
THE WHEEL ADHERES TO THE HUB AND CANNOT BE SAFELY REMOVED BY THE DRIVER.
OIL GAUGE READINGS WOULD FREQUENTLY DROP TO LOW DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. DEALER NOTIFIED SOON AFTER PURCHASE. OWNER WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IF NO EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE WAS NOTICED. FINALLY, ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED UP DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
BRAKES EXPERIENCE SKIDING AND LOSS OF CONTROL. REPLACED BRAKES HOWEVER CONTINUED TO LOOSE CONTROL.
WINDOW WIPERS WORN BADLY CAUSING SCRATCHING OF WINDSHIELD.
MOISTURE ENTERED THE ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALSO CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILTY DUE TO THE THICK SMOKE WHICH CAME FROM THE ENGINE. *AK
WHEN IN GEAR AND IN MOTION THE TRUCK STOPS. THE DEALER HAS SEEN IT 4 TIMES AND DOESNT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK
THE FRONT BUMPER OF THIS VEHICLE APPERAS TO BE LESS SUBSTANTIAL THAN MOST PASSENGER VEHICLES. *AK
STEERING BOX EXPLODED, RESULTING IN COM[PLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND VEHICLE CRASHED. *AK
OWNER STATES THAT ONCE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF AND FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE VEHICLE CONTUIES TO LUNGE FORWARD.OWNER NOTES THAT DEALERS SAY THAT IS NORMAL OPERATION.O WNER IS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY. *AK
THE TRUCK BURNED A LOT OF OIL, CONSUMER THINKS IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL WEAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
THE TRUCK BURNED A LOT OF OIL, CONSUMER THINKS IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL WEAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
BRAKES PULSATE/FAIL. *DSH
DRIVER MANEUVERED TO AVOID HITTING ANIMAL AND TRUCK ROLLED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE REAR BUMPER IS NOT REALLY A BUMPER AND WHEN IT HIT SOMETHING AT 2 MILES AN HOUR IT CAVED IN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP BECAUSE A ROD WAS NOT ADJUSTED CORRECTLY FROM FACTORY, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
REAR VEHICLE FIRE NEAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TT
DRIVER'S EXTERIOR MIRROR FAILED. *SKD
GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRE FAILURE. *AW
WHILE PULLING OUT THE DRIVE WAY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. TT
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 55 MPH HOOD FLEW UP. TT