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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Structure complaints

8 reports
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200,000 miles · Dec 4, 2006
Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE WELDS ON THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE POPPED AND FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE READ END TO FALL OFF. THE WELD DID NOT FRACTURE, BUT INSTEAD POPPED AWAY FROM THE REAR END WHICH HELD THE REAR SWAY BAR ONTO THE AXLE. THE WELDS POPPED ON BOTH SIDES…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE WELDS ON THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE POPPED AND FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE READ END TO FALL OFF. THE WELD DID NOT FRACTURE, BUT INSTEAD POPPED AWAY FROM THE REAR END WHICH HELD THE REAR SWAY BAR ONTO THE AXLE. THE WELDS POPPED ON BOTH SIDES. THE TRUCK HAD NEVER HAD A HITCH OR CARRIED A HEAVY LOAD ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10175061

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2000
Structure

DOOR LOCKS FAILED DUE TO FAILED RELAY IN DOOR CONTROL MODUAL, UNABLE TO UNLOCK DOORS MANUALLY OR ELECTRICALLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721129

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1998
Structure

POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED, ALSO DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY, PASSENGERS WERE TRAPPED.

NHTSA ODI #530171

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 1997
Structure

THE STRUCTURE OF THE BODY IS CRACKING, CAUSING THE BRAKE CLUTCH BRACKET TO FAIL, TOOK TO DEALER, SAID IT WAS A BAD DESIG, NEEDS A NEW BRACKET, CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE WELD . *AK

NHTSA ODI #807414

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1996
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

FIREWALL CRACKED, CAUSING PEDALS TO 'ROLL'. *SD

NHTSA ODI #503108

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1996
Structure

ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS JAMMMED, PREVENTING OCCUPANTS FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #981242

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1996
Structure

POWER DOOR LOCKS STICK. *SD

NHTSA ODI #501560

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1995
Structure

TAILGATE ELECTRIC DOOR FAILED AND CANNOT OPEN GATE. TT

NHTSA ODI #974598

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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