IllustrationHEAD GASKET LEAK. *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
What owners actually said
43 reportsCONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT PROBLEM. THERE WAS A SMELL AND CHATTERING WITHIN THE CLUTCH. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. LATER, CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BROKE APART, INCLUDING THE BELL HOUSING AND THE CONE.*AK PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
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
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
VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO OVERDRIVE WITHOUT ENTERING ANY OF THE OTHER GEARS. VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIFTED MANUALLY THROUGH THE GEARS. PROBLEM WAS THAT THERE WAS A COLD SOLDER JOINT ON ALL THREE SOLENOIDS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THESE SOLENOIDS ARE USED TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE GEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS INT…
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VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO OVERDRIVE WITHOUT ENTERING ANY OF THE OTHER GEARS. VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIFTED MANUALLY THROUGH THE GEARS. PROBLEM WAS THAT THERE WAS A COLD SOLDER JOINT ON ALL THREE SOLENOIDS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THESE SOLENOIDS ARE USED TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE GEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND WOULD OCCUR AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIME LIKE PASSING A VEHICLE, ENTERING A MAJOR INTERSTATE, OR STARTING FROM A STOP. COST OF THE PARTS ALONE AMOUNTED TO OVER $500.00 FOR PARTS THAT SHOULD COST NO MORE THAN $100.00.*AK
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
MY TIRES ARE NOT RECALLED, BUT THEY ARE LISTED ON THE DANGEROUS LIST, THERE ARE CHUNKS OF RUBBER FALLING OFF OF THEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRESTONE AND HE OFFERED TO SELL ME SOME TIRES FOR 'REAL CHEAP'. YEAH I BET THEY ARE REAL CHEAP. I DO NOT THINK THAT THESE TIRES ARE SAFE TO DRIVE ON. THEY ONLY HAVE LIKE 10K MILES ON THEM, …
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MY TIRES ARE NOT RECALLED, BUT THEY ARE LISTED ON THE DANGEROUS LIST, THERE ARE CHUNKS OF RUBBER FALLING OFF OF THEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRESTONE AND HE OFFERED TO SELL ME SOME TIRES FOR 'REAL CHEAP'. YEAH I BET THEY ARE REAL CHEAP. I DO NOT THINK THAT THESE TIRES ARE SAFE TO DRIVE ON. THEY ONLY HAVE LIKE 10K MILES ON THEM, SO I DONT THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR FIRESTONES MISTAKES. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH FIRESTONE AND WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE ABOUT WHAT I CAN DO TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. J SASS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 )
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65 - 70 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF TRUCK, BUT DID NOT HAVE A CRASH. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE TRUCK, AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A REPLACED TIRE. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT TIRE. *AK THE BLOW OUT CAUSE…
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PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65 - 70 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF TRUCK, BUT DID NOT HAVE A CRASH. DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE TRUCK, AND WAS NOT INJURED. TIRE WAS A REPLACED TIRE. FIRESTONE HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT TIRE. *AK THE BLOW OUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CHROME BUMPER, BODY PAINT AND MUD FLAP WHICH WAS TORN TO PIECE. *YH
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM STEERING. LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE SLID AND WENT INTO AN ENBANKMENT. *AK
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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