FaultScore report
Owners have filed 61 complaints about the 1994 Toyota 4 Runner with NHTSA between 1995 and 2006. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 11 of 12 worst.
FaultScore 45/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Toyota 4 Runner.
How this is worked out61
Complaints
9
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
3 complaints report a death.
110,334 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
2 crashes, 0 fires · median 153,000 mi
4 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 125,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 198,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
WHEELS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10113308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
VEHICLE SKIDDED AND ROLLED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S DEATH DUE TO CHEST INJURIES AND SUFFOCATION FROM BEING TRAPPED UPSIDE DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #747558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
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 SUSTAINED HEAD AND RIGHT SHOULDER AND LEFT ELBOW INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #851319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #851317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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 SUSTAINED HEAD AND RIGHT SHOULDER AND LEFT ELBOW INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #851319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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
NHTSA complaint #547187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10169474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10149743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10129392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10113308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10099597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PROBLEM WITH 5 CYLINDER ENGINE ON 1994 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10059398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10056929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
NHTSA complaint #10048658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 WAS ENGINE NOISE. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10031726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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 ABOUT 40, 000 MILES AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 99,000 MILES. DT
NHTSA complaint #768680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR IN VEHICLE, MECHANIC REPLACED A DEFECTIVE FUEL HOSE UNDER THE AIR PLENUM CHAMBER.
NHTSA complaint #562570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #759701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #8002687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #898337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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 BE DETERMINED, BUT THOUGHT THAT IT MAY BE THE HEAD GASKET AND TO TAKE VEHICLE TO AN OFFICIAL DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED BY DEALER OF THE OUTSTANDING RECALL AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILING HEAD GASKETS WERE ALMOST CERTAINLY THE CAUSE OF THE RADIATOR BLOWING UP AND THE OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBILE FOR THE WATER PUMP,VARIOUS BELTS, AND TIMING DEVICES.
NHTSA complaint #562570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
VEHICLE SKIDDED AND ROLLED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S DEATH DUE TO CHEST INJURIES AND SUFFOCATION FROM BEING TRAPPED UPSIDE DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #747558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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 ROTOR TURN.
NHTSA complaint #744142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
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 ROTOR TURN.
NHTSA complaint #744142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #740243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMERY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #739816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 OIL PUMP FAILED ACUTELY DRIVING THE ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE AT ONLY 6 YEARS AND 80,000 MILES WITH FULL MAINTENANCE. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVER WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON BUSY FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #733286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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.
NHTSA complaint #869940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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 )
NHTSA complaint #727752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
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 GENTLEMEN IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND THEY KEEP THE PARTS ON HAND. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO BE FIXED WHILE FIXING THE PARTS THEY BROKE THE GLASS ON THE WINDOW AND TRIED TO GET ME TO PAY FOR IT OR FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #725720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.