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U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

12 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

115,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 12 complaints (41.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior433.3%
Braking behavior18.3%
Electrical and battery issues18.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Unknown Or Other
2
Engine
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
Power Train
1
Steering
1
Steering:Column
1
Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Unknown Or Other2
Engine1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine1
Power Train1
Steering1
Steering:Column1
Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting1

Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train: 1; Steering: 1; Steering:Column: 1; Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
3
2007
1
2008
1
2009
1
2010
2
2011
1
2012
1
2013
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20063
20071
20081
20091
20102
20111
20121
20131
20211

2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10171200 · 2006-10-11 (October 11, 2006)

1994 4 RUNNER 4 WD STEERING CONTROL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMERS WIFE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AN EMBANKMENT INTO A STREAM. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171200 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10172146 · 2006-10-30 (October 30, 2006)

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 8:00 AM AND THE SUV SLID TO THE LEFT ON ICE, SHE THEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WOULDN'T STRAIGHTEN UP AND AS A RESULT SHE WENT DOWN AN INBANKMENT AND THE SUV ROLLED ALL THE WAY OVER AND BACK ON ITS WHEELS. THE VEHICLE SINCE HAS BEEN TOTALED AND PARTED OUT BUT I'M THINKING THIS RECALL MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10172146 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10324604 · 2010-04-08 (April 8, 2010)

THIS IS A FAILURE THAT HAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT . I OWN A 1994 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAS BROKEN MORE THAN 3 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE KEY THAT FITS INTO THE SLOT ON THE CRANK SHAFT IS TOO SHORT. THE KEY THAT FITS INTO THE SLOT ALSO KEEPS THE HARMONIC BALANCER IN PLACE AS IT ALSO HAS A SLOT FOR THE KEY TO FIT INTO. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS SUDDEN AND GIVES YOU LITTLE OR NO TIME TO REACT. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS COME ON AT ONCE AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. …

Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324604 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11414343 · 2021-04-28 (April 28, 2021)

MY VEHICLE WAS IN A ACCIDENT ON THE PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL THE DAMAGE CAUSED A ELECTRICAL OUTAGE TO ALL THE BLINKERS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS THEY LOCKED UP AND STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WITH THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS NOT WORKING MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414343 at NHTSA ↗