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1986 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 58

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19842
19858
19865
19879
19886
1989
Compare all 4RUNNER years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Parking Brake
2Tires
2Equipment
1Seat Belts
1
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

8 reports
300,000 miles · Apr 4, 2023
Seat Belts

The contact owns a 1986 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts failed to unlock as needed. The contact and his passenger was unable to unlatch or release the seat belt. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repa…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 1986 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts failed to unlock as needed. The contact and his passenger was unable to unlatch or release the seat belt. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI #11515408

268,000 miles · Dec 12, 2003
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

ON 1986 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS THE HAND BRAKE IS SOLELY RELIED ON TO ADJUST THE BACK BRAKES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE BELL CRANK BOOT DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY PREVENT CORROSION BETWEEN THE BELL CRANK AND ITS FRAME AT THE BACKING PLATE. THIS CAUSES THE ADJUSTING SCREW TO NOT ENGAGE AND THEREFORE THE BACK BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPER…

Read full complaint

ON 1986 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS THE HAND BRAKE IS SOLELY RELIED ON TO ADJUST THE BACK BRAKES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE BELL CRANK BOOT DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY PREVENT CORROSION BETWEEN THE BELL CRANK AND ITS FRAME AT THE BACKING PLATE. THIS CAUSES THE ADJUSTING SCREW TO NOT ENGAGE AND THEREFORE THE BACK BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WITH LESS FORCE ON THE BACK BRAKES THAN THE FRONT BRAKES THE FRONT BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP. STEERING CONTROL IS THEN LOST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049623

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Tires

TIRE SIDEWALLS ARE EXHIBITING DIMPLING OR REDUCED THICKNESS FROM THE TREAD EDGE TO RIM ABOUT 1 INCH WIDE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VD60AW3529 TIRESIZE: 31X10.5R15)

NHTSA ODI #734522

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Equipment

TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AND T-BAR RUSTED AND SPARE TIRE FELL DOWN. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #870518

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2000
TiresCrash

PE00-00; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. THEN CONSUMER CHANGED THE TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT TREAD AND WIRES SEPARATED FROM TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #866639

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD WARPED, CAUSING HEAD GASKET LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #519135

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1996
Parking BrakeCrashInjury

VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN HILL DUE TO FAILURE OF PARKING BRAKE, INJURING ONE/KILLING ONE. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #503800

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. *SD

NHTSA ODI #491000

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.