TOYOTA 4RUNNER · model year

1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

58 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993TOYOTA4RUNNER carries 58 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. 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 1993 4RUNNER is engine and engine cooling:engine with 15 filings, followed by steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (3). 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 1993 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.

58
Complaints
6
Crashes
3
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

58 filings

Crashes Reported

6 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:ENGINE15
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
SUSPENSION:REAR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
POWER TRAIN2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK1
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
WHEELS:RIM1

Recent Complaints

20180405FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL PRESSURE DAMPER FAILED SPILLING FUEL ONTO EXHAUST CROSSOVER. I HAD AN ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH. UNABLE TO LOCATE ISSUE. FUEL SMELL WOULD ALSO COME THROUGH THE A/C INTO THE CABIN. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I CAME ACROSS MANY FORUM THREADS WITH OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND MANY FIRES HAVE STARTED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. CLUES TO FAILURE ARE ERRATIC RPM DUE TO LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE AND STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MANY OWNER COMPLAINTS ON FORUM THREADS. GRANTED IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE, BUT MANY THREADS ARE FROM OVER 10 YEARS AGO INDICATING THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE WAS 15 YEARS OLD. PART COSTS OVER $200 AND I AM MAKING REPAIRS MYSELF TO AVOID FURTHER LABOR COSTS. HTTPS://WWW.YOTATECH.COM/FORUMS/F116/3ZVE-FUEL-PULSATION-DAMPENER-188341/

Mileage: 200,000

20130903POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE METAL BRACKET WHICH HELD THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL IN WHICH THE METAL BRACKET WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *JB

Mileage: 150,000

20130623SEAT BELTS

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT OF MY 1993 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK WILL NOT EXTEND. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART, AND IF SO, WOULD IT STILL BE IN EFFECT? *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20130519ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

DESERT TOYOTA IN TUCSON LOCATED AT 7150 E. 22D STREET, TUCSON, AZ 85710 SOLD US THIS CAR AND MALICIOUSLY HID THE TRUE ODOMETER READING... BY 85,000 MILES DIFFERENCE... A MISDEMEANORS. THEY ADMITTED THIS AND AFTER WE RETAINED AN ATTORNEY, THEY UNDID THE DEAL. BIG LIARS, FRAUDS, CHEATS. THE SALESMAN WHO DID THIS, ALONG WITH HIS FRAUDULENT SALES MANAGER, IS NAMED [XXX]. THEY LIED FROM THE START, SAYING "THE CAR IS TOO OLD TO PULL A CARFAX". THE CAR BROKE DOWN WITHIN HOURS OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MILES PER HOUR. OUR ATTORNEY PULLED A CARFAX IMMEDIATELY AND EXPOSED THE ALTERED MILEAGE AS WELL AS A SERIOUS PRIOR COLLISION WHICH DEEMED THE CAR DISABLED. WE HAVE NOTIFIED THE POLICE, THE BBB, TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, LOCAL NEWS STATION, AND MULTIPLE WEBSITES... HOPING TO SPARE CONSUMERS THIS GRIEF. THEY ARE SCAM ARTISTS AND I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK TO BACK IT UP. I WILL TELL ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. I HATE LIARS. THESE GUYS ARE PATHETIC LOSERS, WIMPY LITTLE WO

20110625FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER TRAVELING 1/4 MILE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO GAS LEAK IN FUEL LINE. BASED ON THE FIRE DAMAGE, THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK IS APPROXIMATELY BEHIND THE FIRE WALL OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

Mileage: 185,000

20110625FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

AFTER TRAVELING 1/4 MILE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO GAS LEAK IN FUEL LINE. BASED ON THE FIRE DAMAGE, THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK IS APPROXIMATELY BEHIND THE FIRE WALL OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

Mileage: 185,000

20100629ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THEN A MONTH AGO. IT HAS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. NOW WHEN YOU START DRIVING IT WILL SHUT OFF AFTER 10 MINUTES. I WAS TOLD ITS EITHER A FLY WHEEL OR THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED. I PAID CASH AND HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. IM 5.5 MONTHS PREGNANT TOO. *TR

20081127ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY 1993 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER HAS GONE THROUGH FOUR HEAD GASKETS IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. AND NOW IT NEEDS A FIFTH! TOYOTA ACTUALLY REPLACED THE FIRST TWO AT NO COST. TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET (THOUGH I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE DEALER). SO THE FIRST HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE, THEN IT FAILED WITHIN NINE MONTHS, SO THEY PAID FOR THE SECOND. BUT THEY HAVE NOT PAID FOR THE THIRD, FORTH, NOR NOW NOT THE FIFTH. *TR

Mileage: 127,381

20080212ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MILEAGE WAS RESET; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER IS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,203 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

Mileage: 36,000

20080207CrashSUSPENSION:REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE VEHICLE WAS GIVEN A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE SPEED DECREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS DONE IMPROPERLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 181,296 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,240.

Mileage: 181,240

20080201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

93 4RUNNER HEAD GASKET BLOWN AGAIN. THEY REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME IN 2001, BUT THE DESIGN OF THE GASKET WAS STILL FLAWED. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR ALL DEFECTIVE PARTS. IF A PART IS RECALLED, "FIXED", AND THEN CONTINUES TO BE DEFECTIVE THEN TOYOTA HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LITERAL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE IN MY SAME SHOES. *TR

Mileage: 187,000

20070927POWER TRAIN

1993 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WITH TRANSMISSION AND STEERING PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATES SHE HAS FIXED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM RETURNS. SHE JUST RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE STEERING AND CAN'T GET TO A DEALER. *KB

20070628TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR FALCON TIRES HAVE CRACKED. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED OR DIAGNOSED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.

20070302CrashSTEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

TL*- THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS THE 2003 TOYOTA RUNNER, WHICH CRASH ON 08/26/04. HE HIT A POT HOLE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONE YEAR AFTER THE CRASH RECEIVED RECALL 05V389000 FOR STEERING: LINKAGES: ROD: RELAY: CONNECTING. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT STATED A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID A CLAIM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE COULDN'T PROVE THAT THE LOSS OF STEERING HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE BLEW OUT. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

20070302CrashTIRES

TL*- THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS THE 2003 TOYOTA RUNNER, WHICH CRASH ON 08/26/04. HE HIT A POT HOLE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONE YEAR AFTER THE CRASH RECEIVED RECALL 05V389000 FOR STEERING: LINKAGES: ROD: RELAY: CONNECTING. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT STATED A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID A CLAIM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE COULDN'T PROVE THAT THE LOSS OF STEERING HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE BLEW OUT. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

20070126STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TL* - THE CONTACT WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE , AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. WHILE DRIVING THE 1993 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER TRUCK AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STRUCK A POT HOLE AND THE STEERING ROD FELL OFF. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCEFULLY STEER THE VEHICLE SO THAT HE COULD PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING RELAY ROD BAR. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONCERN WAS THAT BEING THE SECOND OWNER THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL.*AK

Mileage: 79,532

20060921STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

2 CYS OF FOIA REQUEST FOR ALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE ATTACHED NOTICE OF DEFECT IN THE STEERING MECHANISM OF THE 1989-1995 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER). *JB

20060505STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

CONTACT HAS A TOYOTA 1993 4 RUNNER. RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V389000 ON STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. CONTACTED TOYOTA IN PUERTO RICO AT 787 641 3800, ASKING FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. CONTACT DID NOT GET A RESPONSE. TRIED CALLING AGAIN, AND THE RESPONSE BY TELEPHONE WAS THAT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE SITUATION TO BE ANALYZED. ALSO, THIS PART WAS TO CHANGE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. HOWEVER, CONTACT GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY, 2006 PERTAINING TO THIS SAME PROBLEM. THAT WAS WHY HE DECIDED TO APPLY FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK

Mileage: 180,000

20051128STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

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

20050309ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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 REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AT FAULT. PLEASE HELP ME, I AM AN E-4 IN THE NAVY WITH A 1 YEAR OLD SON. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $1500 IN REPAIRS.*AK

Mileage: 150,000

Compare 1993TOYOTA4RUNNER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER have?
The 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER has 58 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER?
The most-complained component for the 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1993 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.