1995 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
132,567 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 47 complaints (36.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 13
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2007: 10; 2008: 11; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10152092 · 2006-03-07 (March 7, 2006)
THE 4RUNNER SUDDENLY BEGAN DRIVING VERY ROUGHLY. THE SUV WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THAT AT 130, 000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE DISCOVERED THAT TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (NHTSA # 600350) OUT FOR 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS TO CORRECT THIS TYPE OF ENGINE AND HEAD GASKET TROUBLE; HOWEVER, WE WERE INFORMED BY MARION AT TOYOTA CORP. THAT OUR 1995 SUV DOES NOT QUALIFY EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HAVING IDENTICAL HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO A DEFORMED MANUFACTURED HEAD GASKET. WE ARE IN THE PROC…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168150 · 2006-09-13 (September 13, 2006)
BROUGHT IN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE BECAUSE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT HEAD GASKET LEAKS @ #6 CYLINDER. THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON THIS ITEM. ESTIMATE OF REPAIR IS $3100. I'M LOOKING FOR THE RECALL TO BE EXPANDED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173573 · 2006-11-15 (November 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, WHITE SMOKE WAS SEEN TRAILING BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174413 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DESTINATION, WHERE GREY SMOKE WAS NOTICED EMANATING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT, CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 108,996 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179274 · 2007-01-21 (January 21, 2007)
HEAD GASKET BLOWN ON ORIGINAL ENGINE WITH 100K MILES ON IT DESTROYING ENGINE. USED ENGINE PUT IN WITH 80K MILES ON IT AND HEAD GASKET BLOWN AGAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180669 · 2007-01-24 (January 24, 2007)
EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING SMOOTH AND STRONG WHEN THE 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HIT 143K. JUST TODAY THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING REALLY LOW AND ROUGH, AND FINALLY THIS AFTERNOON THE ENGINE & BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE MORE IT DROVE, THE ROUGHER IT GOT. THE ENGINE WAS NOTICEABLY RUNNING MUCH WORSE THAN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND TOOK OFF FOR HOME. I SHUT IT OFF TO GET A LOOK AT IT, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE, UNTIL I STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND IT BLEW WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. WATER SEEMS TO BE LEAKING BUT NOT AT THE RADIATOR, HOSES, OR PUMP. IT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183569 · 2007-02-26 (February 26, 2007)
ACCIDENT DUE TO STEERING RELAY ROD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10183569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184968 · 2007-03-13 (March 13, 2007)
MY 95 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME VIN NUMBER ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MOST OTHER 4RUNNERS OF THE SAME MODEL BUT, NOT ON MINE. THERE IS A 4 RUNNER WITH THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM AND ALL SAY TOYOTA WILL NOT BAT AN EYELASH AT THE PROBLEM. I AND OTHERS WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184968 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 ↗