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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

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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: 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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #725461

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2000
Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE HAS FAILED TWICE--WHERE CABLE ATTACHES TO HAND LEVER (TO ACTUATE BRAKE, DRIVER PULLS LEVER OUT AND ROTATES 90 DEGREES TO LOCK, APPARENTLY TWISTING CABLE AND FATIGUING IT)--SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN NOV 90. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD. FAILURE IS SUDDEN AND COMPLETE AND WITHOUT ANY WARN…

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PARKING BRAKE HAS FAILED TWICE--WHERE CABLE ATTACHES TO HAND LEVER (TO ACTUATE BRAKE, DRIVER PULLS LEVER OUT AND ROTATES 90 DEGREES TO LOCK, APPARENTLY TWISTING CABLE AND FATIGUING IT)--SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN NOV 90. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD. FAILURE IS SUDDEN AND COMPLETE AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, RENDERING PARKING BRAKE INOPERABLE. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE PARKED, IT COULD ALLOW VEHICLE TO ROLL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720696

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #833327

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #829354

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CREATING CONDITIONS FOR A POSSIBLE FIRE. ALSO DAMAGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

NHTSA ODI #780978

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…

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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 · Aug 20, 1997
Fuel System, Other

FUEL LEAKS DUE TO PULSATION DAMPENER COMPONENT.

NHTSA ODI #521145

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #515028

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE IS A MISFIRE IN ENGINE; ALSO, HEARD A LOUD BOOM WHILE DRIVING, HE PULLED OVER TO FIND OUT THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND THE HEAD BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807143

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS DOWN EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE VEHICLE , CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO EXPERIENCE THE EFFECTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE.

NHTSA ODI #514542

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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