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1993 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 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: 12 of 51 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 →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

51 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2007
Power Train

1993 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WITH TRANSMISSION AND STEERING PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATES SHE HAS FIXED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM RETURNS. SHE JUST RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE STEERING AND CAN'T GET TO A DEALER. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10204913

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2007
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR FALCON TIRES HAVE CRACKED. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED OR DIAGNOSED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10194833

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2007
SteeringTiresCrashInjury

TL*- THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS THE 2003 TOYOTA RUNNER, WHICH CRASH ON 08/26/04. HE HIT A POT HOLE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONE YEAR AFTER THE CRASH RECEIVED RECALL 05V389000 FOR STEERING: LINKAGES: ROD: RELAY: CONNECTING. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND SLI…

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TL*- THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS THE 2003 TOYOTA RUNNER, WHICH CRASH ON 08/26/04. HE HIT A POT HOLE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONE YEAR AFTER THE CRASH RECEIVED RECALL 05V389000 FOR STEERING: LINKAGES: ROD: RELAY: CONNECTING. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT STATED A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID A CLAIM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE COULDN'T PROVE THAT THE LOSS OF STEERING HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE BLEW OUT. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184035

79,532 miles · Jan 26, 2007
Steering

TL* - THE CONTACT WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE , AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. WHILE DRIVING THE 1993 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER TRUCK AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POT HOLE AND THE STEERING ROD FELL OFF. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCEFULLY STEER THE VEHIC…

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TL* - THE CONTACT WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE , AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. WHILE DRIVING THE 1993 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER TRUCK AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POT HOLE AND THE STEERING ROD FELL OFF. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCEFULLY STEER THE VEHICLE SO THAT HE COULD PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING RELAY ROD BAR. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONCERN WAS THAT BEING THE SECOND OWNER THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10180858

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2006
Steering

2 CYS OF FOIA REQUEST FOR ALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE ATTACHED NOTICE OF DEFECT IN THE STEERING MECHANISM OF THE 1989-1995 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169085

180,000 miles · May 5, 2006
Steering

CONTACT HAS A TOYOTA 1993 4 RUNNER. RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V389000 ON STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. CONTACTED TOYOTA IN PUERTO RICO AT 787 641 3800, ASKING FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. CONTACT DID NOT GET A RESPONSE. TRIED CALLING AGAIN, AND THE RESPONSE BY TELEPHONE WAS THAT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE SITUATION TO BE ANA…

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CONTACT HAS A TOYOTA 1993 4 RUNNER. RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V389000 ON STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. CONTACTED TOYOTA IN PUERTO RICO AT 787 641 3800, ASKING FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. CONTACT DID NOT GET A RESPONSE. TRIED CALLING AGAIN, AND THE RESPONSE BY TELEPHONE WAS THAT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE SITUATION TO BE ANALYZED. ALSO, THIS PART WAS TO CHANGE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. HOWEVER, CONTACT GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY, 2006 PERTAINING TO THIS SAME PROBLEM. THAT WAS WHY HE DECIDED TO APPLY FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10156850

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2005
Steering

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V389000 CONCERNING THE STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. SHE SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V389000 CONCERNING THE STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. SHE SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 12/3/2005. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143808

150,000 miles · Mar 9, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 3.0 L WITH APPROXIMATELY 150K MILES ON IT. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. I WAS STUCK ON THE 395N IN WASHINGTON, DC IN THE COLD FOR 3 HOURS BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK CAME WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD SON. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT…

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I OWN A 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 3.0 L WITH APPROXIMATELY 150K MILES ON IT. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. I WAS STUCK ON THE 395N IN WASHINGTON, DC IN THE COLD FOR 3 HOURS BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK CAME WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD SON. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THE 3.0 ENGINES HAD A RECALL ON IT FOR THE HEAD GASKETS BACK IN 1996. I CALLED TOYOTA AND GAVE THEM MY VIN ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY CAR ISN'T ELIGIBLE. I THINK THAT IT IS UNFAIR TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AT FAULT. PLEASE HELP ME, I AM AN E-4 IN THE NAVY WITH A 1 YEAR OLD SON. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $1500 IN REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10112763

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKETS LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE OIL WHICH CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT TO FAIL. *PH TOYOTA WOULD NOT ASSIST THE CONSUMER. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10065460

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

1993 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER ENGINE FAILURE. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A HEAD GASKET RECALL, BUT WHEN IT WAS RETURNED, LOW OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA REFUSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE EVENTHOUGH MANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REFER TO THE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO THE LEAKING HEAD GASKE…

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1993 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER ENGINE FAILURE. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A HEAD GASKET RECALL, BUT WHEN IT WAS RETURNED, LOW OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA REFUSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE EVENTHOUGH MANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REFER TO THE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO THE LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10055326

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

2

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