SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
43Owner complaints

Model-year median: 58

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
9
19886
198978
199043
199153
199251
199312
1994
Compare all 4RUNNER years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
20Power Train
5Steering
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Tires
4
All reported categories
Wheels
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Other
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes
1Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 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

Steering complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2008
Steering

BROUGHT MY 1991 4RUNNER INTO CONCORD (CA) TOYOTA DEALER FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V389000, FOR :COMPONENT: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE IS TOO MUCH "PLAY" (MOVEMENT) IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE FRONT WHEELS "WOBBLE" BADLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, CREATING UNSAFE DRI…

Read full complaint

BROUGHT MY 1991 4RUNNER INTO CONCORD (CA) TOYOTA DEALER FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V389000, FOR :COMPONENT: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE IS TOO MUCH "PLAY" (MOVEMENT) IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE FRONT WHEELS "WOBBLE" BADLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE FRONT END-END/ALIGNMENT RELATED. I DID NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO TAKING THIS IS IN FOR THE RECALL. THE ASST SVC MGR AT THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THEIR WORK DID NOT CAUSE THE ISSUE, AND THAT THERE IS NOW ANOTHER BAD PART ON MY FRONT-END COMPONENT THAT MUST BE REPLACED, AT MY COST, TO FIX THIS (SAFETY) ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ASAP - MY VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW (01/03/06)*CN

NHTSA ODI #10213614

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2006
SteeringCrash

1991 TOYOTA 4RUNNER STEERING FAILED WHEN TURNING WHEEL. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES TWO MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *JB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150856

170,000 miles · Oct 1, 2003
SteeringCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER WITH TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS WERE DRIVING IN A 91 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER ON A WELL MAINTAINED LOG ROAD WHEN THEY LOST STEERING AND WENT OVER A 30 FT CLIFF. THE STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE THE TILT STEERING AND PLASTIC. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041078

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1998
Steering

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH WHEN STEERING LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE: ARM COMPLETLY DISENGAGED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BEFORE HITTING A TREE, AND CAUSING INJURY TO HIMSELF. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT AT COST TO THE CO…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH WHEN STEERING LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE: ARM COMPLETLY DISENGAGED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BEFORE HITTING A TREE, AND CAUSING INJURY TO HIMSELF. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT AT COST TO THE CONSUMER. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825965

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 1995
Steering

STEERING WHEEL IS COMING APART, STEERING WHEEL IS MADE OF A MATERIAL WHICH IS DISINTEGRATING. TT

NHTSA ODI #976228

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

===