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1990 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Toyota 4RUNNER do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.

About this comparison →
78Owner complaints

Model-year median: 58

1Recall campaigns

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4Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
19879
19886
198978
199043
199153
199251
1993
Compare all 4RUNNER years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
38Power Train
14Structure
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7Vehicle Speed Control
5
All reported categories
Latches/locks/linkages
2Service Brakes
2Steering
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Electrical System
1Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seat Belts
1Suspension
1Visibility
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: 15 of 78 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports6 fire reports6 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

2 reports
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163,045 miles · Jan 31, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

I WAS LOCKED INSIDE THIS VEHICLE AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. I ENDED UP SMASHING THE WINDOW AFTER 45 MINUTES AND CRAWLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE "ENERGIZED" AND HOLDING THE LOCK LEVERS DOWN. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED AND THE LOCK SOLENOIDS ARE STILL IN THIS SAME SITUATION. THE LOCK ARMS HAVE BEEN…

Read full complaint

I WAS LOCKED INSIDE THIS VEHICLE AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. I ENDED UP SMASHING THE WINDOW AFTER 45 MINUTES AND CRAWLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE "ENERGIZED" AND HOLDING THE LOCK LEVERS DOWN. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED AND THE LOCK SOLENOIDS ARE STILL IN THIS SAME SITUATION. THE LOCK ARMS HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED.

NHTSA ODI #10005012

132,000 miles · Jan 22, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER WAS LOCKED INSIDE OF HIS VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10004333

Official recalls

1

05V389000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting

Sep 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

4

DP02002 · Rear Seat Belt Routing

Opened Mar 26, 2002 · Closed Aug 26, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other

No summary supplied.

SQ99003 · Corroded Brake Lines

Opened Jan 27, 1999 · Closed Apr 22, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TOYOTA IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA 98-253. CORRODED BRAKE LINES COULD FAIL RESULTING IN A PARTIAL BRAK SYSTEM LOSS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES

EA92011 · Loss Of Brk Effectiveness

Opened Mar 24, 1992 · Closed Jan 21, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE91147 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes

Opened Nov 6, 1991 · Closed Mar 24, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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