1992 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
141,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 34 complaints (26.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 23.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 22 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 3; 2000: 5; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 3; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012349 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. ANTIFREEZE WAS BURNING AND CAUSED THE FUMES TO COME INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023788 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
MY WIFE AND I OWN A 1992 4RUNNER. THE HEAD GASKET IN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING OIL AND WATER TO BASICALLY GET MIXED. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN OUR AREA (KENDALL TOYOTA IN MIAMI FLORIDA). WE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT IS LISTED ON YOUR WEB SITE AS KNOWN DEFECT IN OUR CAR'S MODEL AND YEAR. HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. WE ENDED UP SPENDING $2896.62 AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOP TO FIX THE ENGINE PROBLEM. CONSIDERING THAT PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DEFECT AS PUBLISHED ON THIS WEB SITE. IS THERE A WAY YOUR OFFICE CAN H…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041481 · 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)
THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE 1992 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER'S DRIVER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW WHEN BEING PUSHED DOWN ALL THE WAY TO ACTIVATE THE AUTOMATIC DOWN AND LETTING GO WHILE THE WINDOW IS STILL GOING DOWN THE FLICK BUTTON TOWARDS THE UP POSITION INSTEAD OF STOPPING IT GOES UP TO THE AUTOMATIC MODE (GOING UP) AND CONTINUES ON TILL IT COMPLETELY CLOSES THE WINDOW. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080125 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. IT TOOK LONGER FOR VEHICLE TO STOP. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE PARKING LOT, WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE, AND DISCOVERED A CORRODED BRAKE LINE THAT WAS LEAKING FLUID. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086618 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
I HAVE A 1992 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH V6 3VZE ENGINE WHICH TOYOTA KNOWS HAS A BAD HEAD DESIGN AND HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR ONE TIME ONLY REPLACEMENT WHICH WAS DOEN IN 97 AT 51K MI. BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. LAST DEC. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DID NOT ADVISE ME THAT I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THEY WANTED TO CHANGE OUT FUEL INJECTORS SINCE IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. THE ROUGHNESS WAS FROM COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND ALL THIS INFO. OUT. AT THE TIME I WAS IGNORANT AS TO THIS PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102714 · 2004-12-11 (December 11, 2004)
2ND ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE @ 94,000 MILES ON 12/06/2004, REPAIRED @ ORIGINAL DEALER, @ OWNER'S EXPENSE OF $1400. 1ST FAILURE @ 33,000 MILES ON 09/12/1996, REPAIRED, INCLUDING NEW ENGINE BLOCK, @ ORIGINAL DEALER AS PER TOYOTA TSB # SSCV06 SPECIAL CAMPAIGN & TSB # SPAP9610 SPECIAL CAMPAIGN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 94,847 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110020 · 2005-02-07 (February 7, 2005)
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. FIRE INSPECTOR/INVESTIGATOR REPORTS FINDING ELECTRICAL CHARGE THAT HAPPENED IN BUNDLE OF WIRES LEADING TO HEATER CONTROLS "LEAVING NOTHING MORE THAN THE END OF THE FUSED WIRES THAT WERE CONNECTED TO IT." TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS QUICKLY AND COMPLETELY ON FIRE DUE TO AN "ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND/OR SHORT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 165,964 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121117 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
MY HUSBAND, STANLEY W. SIRNIK BOUGHT A 1992 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. HE ONLY HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS WHEN HE DECIDED TO TRAVEL TO WEST VIRGINIA. STANLEY, MY BROTHER -IN-LAW AND MY YOUNG SON WAS COMING BACK FROM SHOPPING THE NEXT DAY. STANLEY PUT THE TRUCK INTO CRUISE CONTROL AT 40 MPH. HE WAS TRAVELING ALONG AT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE TRUCK STARTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. HE TRIED TO TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL BUT HE COULD NOT. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. TO KEEP FROM GOING OVER A CLIFF, HE RA…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121117 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V389000 · Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting
Reported: 2005-09-06 (September 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗