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
Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS. BLOWN HEAD GASKET IDENTIFIED. I CHECKED WITH MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT HEAD GASKET RECALL IS BY VIN NUMBER ONLY AND THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A …
Read full complaint
BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS. BLOWN HEAD GASKET IDENTIFIED. I CHECKED WITH MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT HEAD GASKET RECALL IS BY VIN NUMBER ONLY AND THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A HEAD GASKET TO PREMATURELY FAIL AT 100K MILES. AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ON TOYOTA 4RUNNERS AND THE RECALL SHOULD NOT BE BY VIN NUMBER BUT A TOTAL RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #750647
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Electrical System
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN A SINGLE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IS TURNED ON (LIGHTS/AC/WWIPERS/ETC.) THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING GO OUT, EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE, AND CAR OFTEN TAKES MINUTES TO RESTART. TOYOTA SAYS "NO KNOWN REPAIR...DUE TO SHORT DISTANCE DRIVING(20/DAY AVG)... DRIVES AS ANY 1995 4 RUNNER WOULD UNDER SAME DRIVI…
Read full complaint
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN A SINGLE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IS TURNED ON (LIGHTS/AC/WWIPERS/ETC.) THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING GO OUT, EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE, AND CAR OFTEN TAKES MINUTES TO RESTART. TOYOTA SAYS "NO KNOWN REPAIR...DUE TO SHORT DISTANCE DRIVING(20/DAY AVG)... DRIVES AS ANY 1995 4 RUNNER WOULD UNDER SAME DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES" THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. HAS HAPPENED AT INTERSECTION, ON INTERSTATE,ETC. IT IS A CRASH WAITING TO HAPPEN. TOYOTA IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AND UNWILLING TO BUY BACK EXISTING VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #749929
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INDICATED HEAD GASKET MAY BE BLOWN. COOLANT LOSS CAUSED ENGIN TO OVERHEAT. WATERPUMP AND PULLIES FROZE BREAKING TIMING BELT. DEALER FIXED WATER PUMP, PULLIES AND TIMING BELT. SAID HEADGASKET NOT COVERED BY CURRENT RECALL AND COOLANT LOSS IS DUE TO BAD RADIATOR CAP. ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH ON COLD START.…
Read full complaint
INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INDICATED HEAD GASKET MAY BE BLOWN. COOLANT LOSS CAUSED ENGIN TO OVERHEAT. WATERPUMP AND PULLIES FROZE BREAKING TIMING BELT. DEALER FIXED WATER PUMP, PULLIES AND TIMING BELT. SAID HEADGASKET NOT COVERED BY CURRENT RECALL AND COOLANT LOSS IS DUE TO BAD RADIATOR CAP. ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH ON COLD START. DEALER SAID THEY FORGOT TO CORRECTLY GAP SPARK PLUGS- DID NOT FIX RUNNING ROUGH. ENGINE STILL LOOSING COOLANT 1 GAL/WEEK. APPEARS TO BE HEADGASKET PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA SAYS THICKER HEADGASKET WAS INSTALLED IN ALL V6 4-RUNNERS AFTER 10/94 AND THAT IS WHY 1995'S ARE NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY NHTSA TO TOYOTA. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747248
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745728
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT COMES UP THROUGH SEAT AND UNDERNEATH CONSUMER. SEAT BELT WILL NOT ATTACH WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM A PASSENGER, IF AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #887127
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED AND RADIATOR BLEWOUT. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF ROAD, AND SAW STAIN COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE. THEN, SAW A LEAK CAUSED BY A BLOWN OUT HEAD GASKET.*AK
NHTSA ODI #885599
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE, POTENTIAL FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #743654
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 20-25 MPH AND WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE WAS DRIVING VERY ROUGH. ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #884748
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001
Structure
THE BRACE BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRAME THAT RAN BENEATH THE RADIATOR IS RUSTING THROUGH AT THE POINT WHERE FOAM RUBBER IS STUFFED BENEATH THE RADIATOR. NLM
NHTSA ODI #560208
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #741403
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
Illustration