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1995 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Toyota 4RUNNER do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.

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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

37 reports with mileage · 10 unknown

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 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 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 reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

47 reports
179,000 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING ERRATICALLY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF BUT WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER FOUR TO FIVE ATTEMPTS. WHEN RESTARTED, THERE WAS THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING ERRATICALLY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF BUT WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER FOUR TO FIVE ATTEMPTS. WHEN RESTARTED, THERE WAS THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425217

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2011
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING TO FLOOR TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT TILL YOU PULL PEDAL BACK UP. THEN IT FINE TILL IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN. IT HAD NEW CLUTCH PUT IN AFTER NOTHING HELPED. IT WAS NOT THE CLUTCH. IT STILL DONE IT .LINES BLEED MANY TIMES. DIFFERENT WEIGHTS OF FLUID DID NOT HELP .PEDAL ASSEMBLY TAKEN APART CLEANED AND GONE OVER .DID …

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CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING TO FLOOR TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT TILL YOU PULL PEDAL BACK UP. THEN IT FINE TILL IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN. IT HAD NEW CLUTCH PUT IN AFTER NOTHING HELPED. IT WAS NOT THE CLUTCH. IT STILL DONE IT .LINES BLEED MANY TIMES. DIFFERENT WEIGHTS OF FLUID DID NOT HELP .PEDAL ASSEMBLY TAKEN APART CLEANED AND GONE OVER .DID NOT HELP .NEW SLIEVE DID NOT HELP .IT MIGHT BE 2 MINUTRS OR 2 MONTHS BETWEEN STICKING.IF TRUCK WAS IN GEAR WHEN PEDAL STUCK IT WOULD TAKE OFF LIKE BAT OUT OF HALL. STANDING ON BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET WOULD NOT STOP TRUCK.HAD TO TURN MOTOR OFF TO STOP TRUCKTHEN PULL PEDAL BACK UP .THEN I SAW ONE DAY THE PEDAL SUCKED ITSELF TO THE FLOOR.IT WAS PULLING ITSELF TO THE FLOOR THEN TAKE OFF IF IN GEAR.MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE WHO THINK PEDAL IS STICKING MAY BE WRONG MINE SUCKED ITSELF TO THE FLOOR.I BUT DANGEROUS I ALMOST REAR ENDED PEOPLE AT STOP LIGHTS BEFORE I COULD GET MOTOR TURNED OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381677

135,000 miles · Feb 5, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

VEHICLE WITH 3.0L V6 HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS IN 135,000 MILES. VIN IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN". GASKET FAILED (AGAIN) WITH NO WARNING, VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, DRIVER LOST CONTROL

NHTSA ODI #10380814

130,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I'VE TALKED WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET RECALL ON THIS 4RUNNER , AND I'VE BEEN TOLD YES THEY WILL FIX THE HEAD GASKET BUT ONLY IF I PAY FOR ANY OTHER REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE AND THEY TELL ME THEY WILL ONLY DO IT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. IS THIS TRUE OR ARE THESE DEALERSHIPS TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY FROM ME . I JUST WANT THE HEA…

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I'VE TALKED WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET RECALL ON THIS 4RUNNER , AND I'VE BEEN TOLD YES THEY WILL FIX THE HEAD GASKET BUT ONLY IF I PAY FOR ANY OTHER REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE AND THEY TELL ME THEY WILL ONLY DO IT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. IS THIS TRUE OR ARE THESE DEALERSHIPS TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY FROM ME . I JUST WANT THE HEAD GASKET FIXED ALL OTHER IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND I WILL REPAIR THE OTHER MYSELF.

NHTSA ODI #10376138

164,299 miles · Aug 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE - YET TOYOTA IS TELLING ME MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN AKA: RECALL. ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE AN OFFICIAL LETTER STATING THAT ALL TOYOTA 3VZ-E ENGINES QUALIFY. . MY STORY: LAST WEEK, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY 1995 V6 3.0L EFI (3VZ-E ENGINE) BEGAN T…

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I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE - YET TOYOTA IS TELLING ME MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN AKA: RECALL. ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE AN OFFICIAL LETTER STATING THAT ALL TOYOTA 3VZ-E ENGINES QUALIFY. . MY STORY: LAST WEEK, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY 1995 V6 3.0L EFI (3VZ-E ENGINE) BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. SUDDENLY A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE EMERGED FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND I LOST ALL POWER. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, LIFTED THE HOOD TO FIND THE RADIATOR CAP SEVERED FROM THE RADIATOR AND ANTIFREEZE/BOILING WATER SPRAYING EVERYWHERE - I LET IT COOL BUT HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING IT. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP ABOUT 7 MILES AWAY.. BLOWN HEAD GASKETS #6 CYLINDER IS NOT FIRING. THIS IS CLEARLY A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN THE MAKING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348347

175,000 miles · Jul 11, 2010
Power Train

1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRONT DRIVESHAFT DISCONNECTED FROM TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING IN FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342475

140,000 miles · Jan 25, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

PROPERLY CARED FOR 1995 4RUNNER BLEW HEAD GASKETS. LOOKING AT APPROX. $2K REPAIR. TOYOTA RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ENDS AT MAN. DATE OF 10-94. THEY WON'T COVER THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS APPARENTLY HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF 95 OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302173

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2009
Tires

TIRES BOUGHT FROM SEARS AUTO CENTER 31X10.50X15 GENERAL ALL TRAIN L/TS WERE BROUGHT IN FOR ROTATION & BALANCE REGULAR (2X) .TIRES ARE WEATHER CRACKING IN THE TREADS , TIRES WERE 2 YEARS OLD WHEN BOUGHT NEVER TOLD NOW THEY WON'T DO NOTHING HALF TREAD ON TIRES IT IS ALL WAY'S PARKED IN GARAGE. NEED YOUR HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293931

155,789 miles · Oct 14, 2009
Power TrainCrash

I BELIEVE, THOUGHT, SWEAR I SET MY 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN THE PARK POSITION. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SECURITY INFORMING ME IT ROLLED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I FOUND MY VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE SUV WAS NOT IN PARK, BUT THE DRIVE. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE LEV…

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I BELIEVE, THOUGHT, SWEAR I SET MY 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN THE PARK POSITION. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SECURITY INFORMING ME IT ROLLED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I FOUND MY VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE SUV WAS NOT IN PARK, BUT THE DRIVE. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE LEVER IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, "ON VEHICLES WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION, THE SELECTOR LEVER MUCH BE PUT IN THE "P" POSITION BEFORE TURNING THE KEY TO "LOCK" POSITION. "LOCK" - ENGINE IS OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED ONLY AT THIS POSITION." THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE LEVER IS IN DRIVE POSITION. I MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287425

110,000 miles · Sep 22, 2009
Structure

I HAVE A 1995 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER THAT HAS FRAME RUST SO BAD THAT THE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING IT. AT THAT TIME WE WERE ADVISED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, IT WAS GARAGED AND WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AS WELL AS TH…

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I HAVE A 1995 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER THAT HAS FRAME RUST SO BAD THAT THE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING IT. AT THAT TIME WE WERE ADVISED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, IT WAS GARAGED AND WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AS WELL AS THE CORPORATE OFFICES SINCE THEY HAVE A BUY BACK PROGRAM FOR THE SAME YEAR TRUCK WITH THE SAME RUST PROBLEM BUT HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284948

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

1

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