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 · Feb 7, 2001

Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY DIE AT ANY SPEED AND NOT RESTART FOR 30+ MINUTES; 3 ATTEMPTS BY DEALER TO FIX; ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION RELAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740596

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE GASKET DEFECT/PROBLEM, WHEN OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS PART!?*AK

NHTSA ODI #740198

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FORMED FROM FUEL EXHAUST AND ENGINE COOLANT MIXED. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER FAILURE BECAUSE OF BUILD UP OF COOLANT INSIDE THE CYNLINDER SO PISTON WOULD NOT COMPRESS AND CAR WOULD NOT START. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740091

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

AT 70 MPH CPU RESET,HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF, ENGINE SHUT OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10- 15 TIMES SO FAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878689

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2001

Tires

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES 30X9.5/R15 DOT VD66AW2238 EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE TIRES HAVE BEEN PUNCTURED BY ROCKS, CONSUMER STATES TIRES ARE WEARING ON OUTSIDE EDGE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #877423

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2000

StructureInjury

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES. THE ROLLOVER MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO POOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN ERRATIC OPERATION, POOR CONTROL AND STABILITY. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER - F.R. BREEN, ESQ. AND PAT CASHILL) *MJS

NHTSA ODI #553972

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW CAUSED THE ANTI-FREEZE TO GET INTO THE SPARK PLUGS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE ROUGH ON A COLD START. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #736765

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2000

TiresCrashInjury

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I WAS DRIVING MY EX-FIANCE'S SUV ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED OF 70 MPH. I STARTED HEARING A NOISE AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT'S JUST THE CAR IN BACK OF ME. THEN THE CAR STARTED OUT OF CONTROL. I COULDN'T STEER IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I HIT THE CAR ON RIGHT SIDE, BUT MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP. SO THE CAR KEEP GOING AND I HIT THE GUARD RAIL OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR THEN FLIPPED AT IMPACT. WITNESS SAID THAT I ROLLED OVER 6 TIMES, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD NEVER STOP. I CAME OUT ONLY TO HAVE CUTS TO ME ELBOW WHICH REQUIRES 8 STICHES. I WAS IN SHOCK AND STILL AM NOW EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR. I DON'T DARE DRIVE AN SUV ANYMORE. WHAT HAPPEN WAS THAT THE TREAD OF MY TIRES CAME OFF, WHICH CAUSE THE TIRE BLOWOUT. I'M STILL SCARE AND SHOCKED FROM ALL THAT HAD HAPPEN, BUT I AM LUCKY AND THANK GOD THAT I'M STILL ALIVE. (TIRESIZE: ATX)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: ATX )

NHTSA ODI #736114

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

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BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL, ENGINE FAILURE. BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL BY COOLANT, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE NEEDS NEW SHORT BLOCK, AT COST OF $5,200-$6,200. TOYOTA SAYS "IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM." HEAD GASKET REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 58,652 MILES. NOW ENGINE FAILS. HAVE LEARNED INDEPENDENTLY OF POSSIBLE COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF THE OIL AND SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ENGINE (E.G. CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS) WHEN HEAD GASKET FAILED. CUSTOMER NEVER NOTIFIED OF HEAD GASKET DEFECT OR RECALL UNTIL MINE FAILED. NEVER TOLD OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED THAT THE SHORT BLOCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT TIME HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF PROBABLE COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF OIL, WHICH DAMAGES BEARINGS AND EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN ENGINE FAILURE. TOYOTA ONLY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. NOW UNWILLING TO COVER RESULTING DAMAGE TO ENGINE B/C OUTSIDE OF 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEY DENY RELATED TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #735414

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S 4RUNNER. WHY NO ACTION YET??? TOYOTA DID A NON-MANDATORY CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRIOR MODEL YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN OBLIGATED TO DO ONE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AS WELL? WHEN I TRY TO SPEAK WITH TOYOTA THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY AMBIGUOUS AND NEVER WILLING TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES THEY PERFORMED ON THE PREVIOUS MODELS. IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE TO BOTH TOYOTA AND INDEPEDENT MECHANICS THERE ARE INTRINSIC PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. CURRENTLY 25% OF YOUR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL ARE RELATED TO THIS INTRINSIC ENGINE PROBLEM. HOW CAN YOU A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY JUSTIFY YOUR LACK OF ATTENTION AND SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC???? YOU NEED TO BEGIN SOME TYPE OF ACTION!!!! *AK

NHTSA ODI #735217

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.