TOYOTA 4RUNNER · model year

1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

95 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990TOYOTA4RUNNER carries 95 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 4RUNNER is engine and engine cooling:engine with 27 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5) and power train:automatic transmission (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1990 4RUNNER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

95
Complaints
12
Crashes
6
Fires
8
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

95 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE27
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR4
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2

Recent Complaints

20180426SERVICE BRAKES

CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET BROKE/CRACKED AFTER PRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. WAS ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED AS A BAD CLUTCH AND ALMOST PULLED THE PLUG TO GET THE CLUTCH REPLACED. WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOAD OF WASTED MONEY ON A POOR DIAGNOSIS. PEDAL BRACKET CRACKED WITH CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO START THE CAR. HEARD LOUR CRACK, CAR STARTED, BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR.

Mileage: 215,000

20180426UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET BROKE/CRACKED AFTER PRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. WAS ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED AS A BAD CLUTCH AND ALMOST PULLED THE PLUG TO GET THE CLUTCH REPLACED. WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOAD OF WASTED MONEY ON A POOR DIAGNOSIS. PEDAL BRACKET CRACKED WITH CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO START THE CAR. HEARD LOUR CRACK, CAR STARTED, BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR.

Mileage: 215,000

20160412ENGINE

THIS SPECIFIC TOYOTA FORERUNNER MODEL HAD A RECALL FOR GASKET FAILURE. WE HAD IT REPLACED AT APPX 74,000 MILES DONE BY TOYOTA AS A COURTESY RECALL. THIS TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE CONSIDERING THE AGE OF THE TRUCK, ABOUT 148,000 MILES. IT RECENTLY ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE OVERHEATING AFTER ANOTHER GASKET FAILURE. WE FEEL THAT EITHER THE ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS NOT PROPERLY COMPLETED OR ANOTHER FAULTY GASKET WAS INSTALLED. IT'S AMAZING THAT BOTH TIMES THE GASKET FAILED AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE, 75,000. THIS CAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND GARAGED WITH A SINGLE OWNER.

Mileage: 148,000

20121003SERVICE BRAKES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET SUB-ASSEMBLY THAT HELD THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF UPDATED 11/14/12

Mileage: 150,000

20121003POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET SUB-ASSEMBLY THAT HELD THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF UPDATED 11/14/12

Mileage: 150,000

20110614ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FAN BLADE DISINTEGRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DENTED HOOD, CRACKED BATTERY, RUINED SHROUD AND ALTERNATOR BELT. *TR

Mileage: 300,854

20061204STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE WELDS ON THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE POPPED AND FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE READ END TO FALL OFF. THE WELD DID NOT FRACTURE, BUT INSTEAD POPPED AWAY FROM THE REAR END WHICH HELD THE REAR SWAY BAR ONTO THE AXLE. THE WELDS POPPED ON BOTH SIDES. THE TRUCK HAD NEVER HAD A HITCH OR CARRIED A HEAVY LOAD ON THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 200,000

20060323ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I BROUGHT MY TOYOTA TO THE REPAIR SHOP,THE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME MY CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET AND TOLD ME TO CALL THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. I CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT AGAIN. I THINK THAT IS NOT FAIR FOR A CONSUMER TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. KEEPS BLOWING HEAD GASKET BUT ONLY REPAIR ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH. *JB

Mileage: 91,012

20060317CrashSTEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

1990 4 RUNNER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED DUE TO FAULTY STEERING RELAY ROD. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE STEERING RELAY ROD SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE COMPONENT HAD ALREADY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. CONSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER NOW REALIZES THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS LIKELY DUE TO THE STEERING RELAY ROD PROBLEM MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *NM

Mileage: 169,542

20051121POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE NO EVENTS WERE PRESENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY. WHILE APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT IN TRAFFIC I DEPRESSED MY CLUTCH PEDAL IN ORDER TO GEAR DOWN FOR THE STOP. WHILE DEPRESSING THE PEDAL I HEARD A LOUD SNAP - THE SOUND OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BREAKING. WITH THE BRACKET BROKEN THERE WAS NO ACCEPTABLE WAY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR TO STOP FOR THE STOP LIGHT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP (WHICH STALLED THE VEHICLE) BEFORE REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I HAD TO USE THE STARTER WITH THE VEHICLE IN GEAR TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE SO I CAN DECIDE HOW TO FIX THIS. IT SEEMS TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND OFFERS AN "UPGRADED" BRACKET AT A PREMIUM PRICE ALONG WITH A PREMIUM INSTALLATION FEE. AFTER BROWSING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS AS IF THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AMONG TOYOTA TRUCK, 4-R

Mileage: 213,012

20050221ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. VALVE PROBLEMS

Mileage: 139,860

20050221ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. VALVE PROBLEMS

Mileage: 139,860

20041012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I PURCHASED MY 4RUNNER USED IN 1998. THE MILEAGE AT PURCHASE WAS ONLY 30K, AS IT HAD BEEN USED PRIMARILY FOR DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE ORIGINAL OWNER INFORMED ME THAT A NOTICE HAD BEEN SENT BY TOYOTA REGARDING HEAD GASKET FAILURES (TSB #97121797017), AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD HONOR THE REPAIRS (IF NECESSARY) UP TO 100K MILES, REGARDLESS OF TIME SINCE ORIGINAL USE. THE TSB, HOWEVER, STATES THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LASTS UNTIL 8 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL USE OR 100K MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. SINCE OCTOBER 2000, I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW ENGINE IDLING (AND STALLING) AFTER DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. ON AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, I HAVE ASKED THAT THE VEHICLE'S IDLE SPEED BE ADJUSTED AND THE THROTTLE PLATE BE CLEANED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL JUST RECENTLY THAT THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I GO TO HERE IN GLENDALE, CA REPORTED THIS DIAGNOSIS AFTER I QUESTIONED THEM ON WHY THE VEHICLE NEEDED REPEAT

20031028SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING FUNCTION. WIFE AND GRAND DAUGHTER IN CAR. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. EMNERGENCY BRAKE STILL FUNCTIONED. ROOT CAUSE WAS DUE TO LONG-TERM WEAR ON LEFT REAR METAL BRAKE LINE BY ANIT-LOCK-BRAKES CONTROL ARM. THIS ACTION RESULTED IN THE METAL BRAKE LINE INTEGRITY FAILURE.*AK

Mileage: 212,000

20030808ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I PURCHASED MY 4RUNNER USED IN 1998. THE MILEAGE AT PURCHASE WAS ONLY 30K, AS IT HAD BEEN USED PRIMARILY FOR DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE ORIGINAL OWNER INFORMED ME THAT A NOTICE HAD BEEN SENT BY TOYOTA REGARDING HEAD GASKET FAILURES (TSB #97121797017), AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD HONOR THE REPAIRS (IF NECESSARY) UP TO 100K MILES, REGARDLESS OF TIME SINCE ORIGINAL USE. THE TSB, HOWEVER, STATES THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LASTS UNTIL 8 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL USE OR 100K MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. SINCE OCTOBER 2000, I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW ENGINE IDLING (AND STALLING) AFTER DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. ON AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, I HAVE ASKED THAT THE VEHICLE'S IDLE SPEED BE ADJUSTED AND THE THROTTLE PLATE BE CLEANED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL JUST RECENTLY THAT THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I GO TO HERE IN GLENDALE, CA REPORTED THIS DIAGNOSIS AFTER I QUESTIONED THEM ON WHY THE VEHICLE NEEDED REPE

Mileage: 50,000

20030731ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH

20030626ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WARRANTY, BUT BLEW OUT 5000 MILES LATER.*AK

20030212FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A BANGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHITE SMOKE, AND FIRE IN THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED

Mileage: 53,000

20030131LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

I WAS LOCKED INSIDE THIS VEHICLE AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. I ENDED UP SMASHING THE WINDOW AFTER 45 MINUTES AND CRAWLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE "ENERGIZED" AND HOLDING THE LOCK LEVERS DOWN. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED AND THE LOCK SOLENOIDS ARE STILL IN THIS SAME SITUATION. THE LOCK ARMS HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED.

Mileage: 163,045

Compare 1990TOYOTA4RUNNER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER have?
The 1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER has 95 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER?
The most-complained component for the 1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 27 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1990 TOYOTA 4RUNNER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.