IllustrationCAR OVER HEATED AND CUT OFF. NOW LEAKING WATER INTO SPARK PLUGS.*AK
1991 Toyota 4RUNNER
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Toyota 4RUNNER do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4RUNNER years →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: 9 of 43 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
20 reportsBLOWN HEAD GASKET, 1991 TOYOTA V6 4RUNNER, RECALLED IN 1998 FOR THE PROBLEM, CORRECTED AND GASKET FAILED AGAIN IN 2007. *NM
HEAD GASKET LEAK. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL. *JB THE MAIN WIRES ON THE ENGINE SHORTED OUT WITH MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURES. OVER $3500 SPENT IN REPAIRS WITHIN 2 WEEKS. * CB *JB
FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE GASKET AND CAUSED A FUEL ODOR TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. *NLM
THERE HAD BEEN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL OF HEAD GASKETS. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RAPAIRS, BUT DEALER WAS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECALL REPAIRS. INSTEAD DEALER WAS CHARGING CONSUMER FULL PRICE ON REPAIRS WHEN, IN OTHER SITUATIONS, DEALER WOULD NOT CHARGE FULL PRICE FOR HEAD GASKET.*AK
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT +-77,000 MILES. I REPLACED THE GASKET AND HAD THE VALVES INSPECTED AND REFINISHED AT THIS TIME. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE WATER PORTS AT TWO CYLINDERS. SUBSEQUENTLY, TOYOTA HAD A 'VOLUNARY WARRANTY EXTENSION' CONCERNING THE HEAD GASKET FAILURES. AT +- 118,000 MILES, TOYOTA…
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THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT +-77,000 MILES. I REPLACED THE GASKET AND HAD THE VALVES INSPECTED AND REFINISHED AT THIS TIME. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE WATER PORTS AT TWO CYLINDERS. SUBSEQUENTLY, TOYOTA HAD A 'VOLUNARY WARRANTY EXTENSION' CONCERNING THE HEAD GASKET FAILURES. AT +- 118,000 MILES, TOYOTA REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, THIS TIME, AT THEIR COST. I NOW HAVE LOW COMPRESSION (FAILING VALVES OR PISTON RINGS) ON THE TWO CYLINDERS WHERE THE WATER PORT DESIGN FLAW EXISTS.*AK
RECEIVED RECALL A NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER REGARDING LEAKING ENGINE HEAD GASKETS.ALSO, WAS INFORMED A PIN CAME LOOSE OUT OF WATER PUMP. NEEDED NEW WATER PUMP DUE TO NEW DESIGN OF WATER PUMP FOR TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS. RECALL NOT IN SYSTEM. *AK
ENGINE FAN BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT CAME BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED ON JUNE 10,1998. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO RESPOND TO A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REPAIR NEEDED TO BE DONE. ALSO ALONG WITH RECALL, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ADDITIONAL WORK NEEDED TO BE DONE WHICH COULD COST CONSUMER $400.0…
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ENGINE FAN BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT CAME BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED ON JUNE 10,1998. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO RESPOND TO A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REPAIR NEEDED TO BE DONE. ALSO ALONG WITH RECALL, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ADDITIONAL WORK NEEDED TO BE DONE WHICH COULD COST CONSUMER $400.00 MORE . CONSUMER INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL SHE RESPONDED TO THAT RECALL. AFTER REPAIRS, COMSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS. DEALER/MFR NOTIFIED. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CREATING CONDITIONS FOR A POSSIBLE FIRE. ALSO DAMAGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Official recalls
105V389000 · 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
4DP02002 · 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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