1993 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
150,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 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 39 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 9 | 23.1% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 12.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
| Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 27 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 | 6 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 3; 2000: 6; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 3; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10006493 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018032 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MR THE CONSUMERS HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN LESS THAN 50 MILES AFTER THE ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS DONE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020682 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
SECOND HEAD GASKET HAS NOW FAILED AND ENGINE IS RUINED. FIRST HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. NOW, AT 130,000, THE HEAD GASKET IS GONE AND THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. PERHAPS THE REPLACEMENT WAS AS FAULTY AS THE ORIGINAL?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036922 · 2003-08-31 (August 31, 2003)
FUEL PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE ON INJECTOR ASS. FAILED AT SEAMS AND SPRAYED FUEL ALL OVER TOP OF ENGINE. FUEL WAS AT IGNITION POINT WHEN SMELLED GAS AND SAW GAS DRIPPING OFF ENGINE AND EXHAUST. FUEL WAS POPPING AND BOILING. EXTREME FIRE OR EXPLOSION POTENTIAL. HAVE PART FOR INSPECTION IF YOU WANT SENT TO YOU.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 123,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055326 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065460 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
THE HEAD GASKETS LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE OIL WHICH CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT TO FAIL. *PH TOYOTA WOULD NOT ASSIST THE CONSUMER. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112763 · 2005-03-09 (March 9, 2005)
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 REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143808 · 2005-11-28 (November 28, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143808 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 ↗