Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
325–50K
150–75K
1175–100K
16100–150K
6150K+
37 reports with mileage · 88 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
125 reports
122,000 miles · Dec 18, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
I PURCHASED A 1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH A V6 IN JULY OF 2003 DURING SUMMERTIME. WHEN WINTER APPROACHED, IT APPEARED THE THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN STUCK OPEN (HEATER WAS NOT WORKING). LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REMOVED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE (DEALER APPARENTLY DIDN'T KNOW) BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. REPLACED TH…
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I PURCHASED A 1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH A V6 IN JULY OF 2003 DURING SUMMERTIME. WHEN WINTER APPROACHED, IT APPEARED THE THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN STUCK OPEN (HEATER WAS NOT WORKING). LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REMOVED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE (DEALER APPARENTLY DIDN'T KNOW) BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS AT $2500 AND NOW THE ENGINE BURNS OIL CONSISTENTLY AND THE POWER OF THE V6 IS JUST NOT THERE. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA BY NOT REPAIRING OR TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OF THEIR PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104053
102,376 miles · Aug 9, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED OIL. THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10087500
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WAS OVER 1000.00. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10083513
104,000 miles · May 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW WHILE DRIVING UP A LONG GRADE ON THE HIGHWAY. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ NORMAL. I REALIZED IT WAS OVERHEATING WHEN ANTI-FREEZE STARTED SPRAYING ON MY WINDSHIELD. BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND CRACK BLOCK. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE AT $8,000.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10073068
163,000 miles · Apr 30, 2004
SuspensionCrashInjury
I FEEL BLESSED TO BE SITTING HERE. I LIVE IN WINDSOR AND ON FEBRUARY 26,2004 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 3 TODDLERS TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. I WENT AROUND A CORNER AND THE REAR SUSPENSION LOCKED AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR. IT FLIPPED OVER WITH ME AND THE TODDLERS IN IT.WE WERE ALL RESTRAINED. THEY WERE NOT INJURED HOW…
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I FEEL BLESSED TO BE SITTING HERE. I LIVE IN WINDSOR AND ON FEBRUARY 26,2004 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 3 TODDLERS TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. I WENT AROUND A CORNER AND THE REAR SUSPENSION LOCKED AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR. IT FLIPPED OVER WITH ME AND THE TODDLERS IN IT.WE WERE ALL RESTRAINED. THEY WERE NOT INJURED HOWEVER I SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY AND SOME NUEROLOGICAL DAMAGE. I NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE CAR SAGGED BUT WAS ASSURED THAT THEY ALL DO THAT IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT YEAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS YEAR. I HONEST TO GOD COULD NOT STOP THAT CAR FROM GOING ANYWHERE . *LA
NHTSA ODI #10068084
89,000 miles · Apr 25, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
IN SEPT 2003, 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (3V2-E -V6) EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER, POOR GAS MILEAGE. SAN FRANSICSO TOYOTA INVESTIGATED AND RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AT $10,000. (PAPERWORK AVAILABLE.) TOOK TO INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR REBUILT FOR $3000. IN DECEMBER 2003, 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER CONTINUES LOSS OF POWER. PALO ALTO TOYOTA …
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IN SEPT 2003, 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (3V2-E -V6) EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER, POOR GAS MILEAGE. SAN FRANSICSO TOYOTA INVESTIGATED AND RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AT $10,000. (PAPERWORK AVAILABLE.) TOOK TO INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR REBUILT FOR $3000. IN DECEMBER 2003, 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER CONTINUES LOSS OF POWER. PALO ALTO TOYOTA INVESTIGATES AND DISCOVERS HEAD GASKET LEAK FOR VALVE #6. I INQUIRED ABOUT 4RUNNER HEAD GASKET RECALL. INFORMED THAT SERVICE NOTICE DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE VIN, EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA CAMPAIGN NOTICE IS CONSISTENT WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICE BREAKS FROM MFG. TOTAL PRICE PAID WAS $3800, AND DEALER PROVIDED NO CAR RENTAL. I BELIEVE FIRST TOYOTA DEALER INCORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND ALL CAR FAILURE ARE CONSISTENT WITH TOYOTA SERVICE CAMPAIGN NOTICES FOR HEAD GASKETS FOR VEHICLE. TOYOTA SHOULD COVER COST OF HEAD GASKET PARTS AND LABOR AND INITIAL INCORRECT DIAGNOSIS BY SAN FRANCISCO TOYOTA.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10067791
90,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Unknown Or Other
MY 95 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HAS 90K MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET HAS BROKEN. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED W/ 89 - 95'S. TOYOTA DID A COMPLIMENTARY CAMPAIGN TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET @ TOYOTA'S EXPENSE, BUT OUR VIN # WAS NOT COVERED, DUE B/C OUR VIN # WAS 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE NEW ENGINES W/ THE CORRECTED PROBLEM. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE BETTER BU…
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MY 95 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HAS 90K MILES AND THE HEAD GASKET HAS BROKEN. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED W/ 89 - 95'S. TOYOTA DID A COMPLIMENTARY CAMPAIGN TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET @ TOYOTA'S EXPENSE, BUT OUR VIN # WAS NOT COVERED, DUE B/C OUR VIN # WAS 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE NEW ENGINES W/ THE CORRECTED PROBLEM. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, TOYOTA CORP. OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS,OUR LOCAL TOYOTA REGIONAL REP, BUT TO NO AVAIL WILL TOYOTA ASSIST US IN ANYWAY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A DANGER AND IF TOYOTA IS AWARE THEN THEY SHOULD ACCOMODATE THEIR CUSTOMER AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.
NHTSA ODI #10066534
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2004
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT CATCH. DRIVER AIRBAY DID NOT BEPLOY. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN WE CRASHED AND MY FACE WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. MY FACE IS CUT UP AND MY NOSE IS BROKE IN THREE PLACES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10064267
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10058413
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
30 MPH HEAD-ON CRASH INTO A TREE IN GOLETA, CA. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CRASH RESULTED IN BROKEN ARMS, RIBS, AND SCALP LACERATIONS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10052718
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1995 Toyota 4 Runner Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year