1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, A LACK OF COMPRESSION WAS NOTICED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TESTED THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE WAITING FOR A SOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

Mileage: 98,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH, THE ENGINE HESITATED WHILE THE THERMOSTAT GAUGE ELEVATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED TO INDICATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 104,441

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE SSC 50N STEERING RELAY ROD REPLACEMENT FOR MY 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. AS OF THIS DATE, THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS, TO MAKE THE REPAIR. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PART DEFECT, MY 2 FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING BADLY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, JUST COST MORE MONEY WHEN THOSE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF A RECALL IF THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO SUPPLY PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS GIVEN ME NO TIMELINE WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON MARCH 6, 2004 AS THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH SOME PINE TREES AND LANDED UPON A POWER LINE POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER MARCH 18, 2006 REGARDING THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL # IS: 05V389000; STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RELAY ROD. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 160,000

ENGINE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. *JB

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE, DUE TO INFERIOR OR SUBSTANDARD HEAD GASKETS AT TIME OF MANUFACTURER AND ALSO AT TIME OF FACTORY RECALL (SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN). SHOULD BE USING THE BEST AVAILABLE, WHICH IS MLS (MULTI-LAYER-STEEL), NOT PLAYING SEMANTIC GAMES OVER "RACING" EQUIPMENT, OR "HIGH PERFORMANCE", WHICH ARE JUST TERMS WHICH TRANSLATE INTO "GREATER DURABILITY" FOR THE CONSUMER. WEBSITE: SEE HTTP://WWW.AA1CAR.COM/LIBRARY/2005/IC010532.HTM CONSIDER CLASSIC SITUATION OF SINGLE MOM WITH CHILD EN ROUTE FROM SKI TRIP THROUGH WILDERNESS HIGHWAY, OR DRIVING IN CRIME-RIDDEN AREAS WHICH IMPAIR DRIVER SAFETY. HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS NOT A ROADSIDE FIX AND STRANDED MOTORIST IS ALSO A SAFETY VIOLATION. THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT MAJOR LINES OF VEHICLES EVERYWHERE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. *JB

Mileage: 106,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A RECALL, #05V389000 CONCERNING THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO VERIFY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 37,683

I BOUGHT A 1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN NOVEMBER, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS IN RUNNING CONDITION WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND DROVE IT ABOUT 1,500 MILES WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN AND PUTTING IN COOLANT IT DID START AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. RESEARCHING THE MATTER I CAME TO FIND THAT TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON THE 4 RUNNER DUE TO A FAULTY COOLING SYSTEM LEADING TO A FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. TOYOTA WAS DOING THE FIRST ROUND OF GASKET REPAIR FOR THE OWNERS. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA FOR THE MATTER THEY DECLINED MY REQUEST FOR THE REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL SAYING THAT MY VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AFTER 60 MONTHS AND/OR 60,000 MILES. NOW THEY WILL CHARGE UP TO $2,500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. IT IS WRONG OF TOYOTA TO INCLUDE SOME AND EXCLUDE SOME OF THE 4 RUNNERS WITH THE SAME ENGINES AND FAULTS. AS A RESULT I AM HAVING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $2,000 AND I HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *NM

Mileage: 170,000

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. WATER ENTERED ENGINE AND ENGINE STOPPED CAUSING OWNER TO HAVE TO HAVE HEAD REBUILT AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED. COST TO OWNER TO REPAIR ENGINE WAS $1,071. *NM

Mileage: 100,050

I PURCHASED A USED 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY A LICENSED MECHANIC. THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS LEADING UP TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE THAT I JUST EXPERIENCED. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES FROM HOME WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND MAY HAVE CAUSED OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS NOT YET DETERMINED. FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY MUCH MORE THAN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA HEAD GASKETS. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN ADMITTING THE PROBLEM, BUT IT LIMITED THE NUMBER YEARS. THE PROBLEM HAS OBVIOUSLY CONTINUED IN THE SAME MANNER SINCE THE CAMPAIGN BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT FACT. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE, AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER FROM THE DANGER OF ENGINE FAILURE ON THE ROADWAY, AS WELL AS EXTREME REPAIR COST BY FORCING TOYOTA TO EXTEND THEIR CAMPAIGN OR ANNOUNCE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 151,000

HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 1995 4WD 3.0 V6 WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES. TAKEN TO SPITZER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. TOYOTA CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE CITING, "INSUFFICIENT MAINTENANCE" DESPITE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MODEL YEAR OWNERS FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND RECALLS AFFECTING MODELS YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER 1995. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH.*MR THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE ROLLED 3 1/2 TIME ACCORDING TO A WITNESS AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S SIDE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY, THE DRIVER'S DAUGHTER WAS UNHURT BUT THE DRIVER'S DOG DIED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER THE WEEK EARLIER TO HAVE AN OLDER TIRE REPLACED AND THE OTHERS INSPECTED. (CONTINENTAL CONTRACT SUV TIRES). *NM

Mileage: 44,000

ENGINE OVERHEATS, ANTIFREEZE DISAPPEARING APPARENTLY INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE DEFECTIVE FAILED HEAD GASKET, ENGINE SKIPPING, HUGE WHITE SMOKE CLOUD EXITS THE TAILPIPE. ANTIFREEZE ENTERS THE ENGINE BLOCK THROUGH THE FAILED HEAD GASKET. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED $2500 , REBUILT OR BEST CASE A NEW HEAD GASKET INSTALLED FOR $1000

Mileage: 150,000

ENGINE ON 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER OVERHEATED. DISCOVERED WATER IN OIL, MECHANIC ADVISED POSSIBLE FAILED HEAD GASKET "IT'S COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE" BUT WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE HEADS TO CONFIRM. TOYOTA STATED MY VIN # IS NOT COVERED AS I SEE MANY MANY OTHERS ARE NOT AS WELL. DEALER ESTIMATED $2,300 TO FIX, IF THERE WAS NOT HEAD DAMAGE. MANUFACTURE DATA IS MARCH 1995 WHY ARE SO MANY 4RUNNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS NOT COVERED?

Mileage: 158,140

AT 108775 MILES THE HEAD GASKET WENT OUT. 1990 THRUOUGH EARLY PRODUCTION '1995 VEHICLES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. LATE PRODUCTION 1995 WERE SUPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A DIFFERENT GASKET AND WERE NOT COVERED. MY VEHICLE WAS A LATE 1995 PRODUCTION, BUT IT STILL HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE GASKET HAD A SLOW LEAK AND CAUSED RUST IN ALL 6 CYLINDERS AND COOLANT PASSAGEWAYS. DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS.*AK

Mileage: 108,775

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HEAD GASKET BLOW OUT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FRO SERVICE, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ENGINE OVERHEATED.*AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING AT 93000 EMAILED TOYOTA WITH VIN # THEY STATE MY VEHICLE NOT PART OF RECALL EVEN THOUGH RECALL WAS FOR SAME YEAR,SAME ENGINE AND SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 93,000

BLOWN HEAD GASKET IN 3.0L V6 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. A "KNOWN PROBLEM" CORPORATE REP AT TOY SAYS THE VIN # DOES NOT FALL IN THEIR 'IDENTIFIED POPULATION.' THE REP TOLD ME IT COVERED FROM LATE 1990 TO EARLY 1995 (MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN APRIL 1995. MY QUESTION IS IF IT TOOK TOYOTA YEARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT AND ISSUE A SERVICE RECALL, HOW IS IT THEY FEEL THIS VEHICLE , MANUFACTURED IN EARLY 1995, WITH THE SAME, KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.....SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THEIR 'POPULATION'???*JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH RIGHT REAR WHEEL AXLE BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID OFF THE ROAD.*AK *JB

Mileage: 104,000

AS I WAS DRIVING UP THE ROAD, MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. THE AXLE BROKE JUST INSIDE THE WHEEL.*AK

Mileage: 104,000