Total Complaints
15 filings
TOYOTA 4RUNNER · model year
15 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994TOYOTA4RUNNER carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire, 3 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 1994 4RUNNER is engine and engine cooling with 5 filings, followed by unknown or other (2) and steering (1). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
15 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
MY VEHICLE WAS IN A ACCIDENT ON THE PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL THE DAMAGE CAUSED A ELECTRICAL OUTAGE TO ALL THE BLINKERS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS THEY LOCKED UP AND STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WITH THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS NOT WORKING MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Mileage: 160,000
A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THIS TOYOTA 4-RUNNER THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. THEY LEAKED. A RECALL WAS (SUPPOSEDLY) DONE. 100,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAD TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE FIX. THAT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY HAD ACTUALLY FIXED IT. A (FIX) IMPLIES THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY FIXED. HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK . . . EVER! SO I AM WONDERING OF THEY REALLY ACCOMPLISHED A FIX THE FIRST TIME. OBVIOUSLY NOT SINCE IT COST ME $2000 TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF THEY DID ATTEMPT A FIX THEY CERTAINLY MUST HAVE USED INFERIOR OF DEFECTIVE PARTS SINCE THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW THAT IF A RECALL (FIX) FAILS AND NEED TO BE DONE OVER THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REDO. THANK YOU *TR
Mileage: 155,000
A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THIS TOYOTA 4-RUNNER THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. THEY LEAKED. A RECALL WAS (SUPPOSEDLY) DONE. 100,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAD TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE FIX. THAT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY HAD ACTUALLY FIXED IT. A (FIX) IMPLIES THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY FIXED. HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK . . . EVER! SO I AM WONDERING OF THEY REALLY ACCOMPLISHED A FIX THE FIRST TIME. OBVIOUSLY NOT SINCE IT COST ME $2000 TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF THEY DID ATTEMPT A FIX THEY CERTAINLY MUST HAVE USED INFERIOR OF DEFECTIVE PARTS SINCE THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW THAT IF A RECALL (FIX) FAILS AND NEED TO BE DONE OVER THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REDO. THANK YOU *TR
Mileage: 155,000
A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THIS TOYOTA 4-RUNNER THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. THEY LEAKED. A RECALL WAS (SUPPOSEDLY) DONE. 100,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAD TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE FIX. THAT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY HAD ACTUALLY FIXED IT. A (FIX) IMPLIES THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY FIXED. HEAD GASKETS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAK . . . EVER! SO I AM WONDERING OF THEY REALLY ACCOMPLISHED A FIX THE FIRST TIME. OBVIOUSLY NOT SINCE IT COST ME $2000 TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF THEY DID ATTEMPT A FIX THEY CERTAINLY MUST HAVE USED INFERIOR OF DEFECTIVE PARTS SINCE THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I THINK THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW THAT IF A RECALL (FIX) FAILS AND NEED TO BE DONE OVER THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REDO. THANK YOU *TR
Mileage: 155,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF OIL. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND UPON EXITING, NOTICED A FLAME UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND REPORTED TO THE SCENE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER . THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO FALL OFF. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 291,000.
Mileage: 291,000
THIS IS A FAILURE THAT HAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT . I OWN A 1994 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAS BROKEN MORE THAN 3 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE KEY THAT FITS INTO THE SLOT ON THE CRANK SHAFT IS TOO SHORT. THE KEY THAT FITS INTO THE SLOT ALSO KEEPS THE HARMONIC BALANCER IN PLACE AS IT ALSO HAS A SLOT FOR THE KEY TO FIT INTO. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS SUDDEN AND GIVES YOU LITTLE OR NO TIME TO REACT. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS COME ON AT ONCE AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH DOZENS OF MECHANICS AND TOYOTA OWNERS AND THEY ALL SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD BUT ALSO A COSTLY REPAIR. THIS HAPPENED TO MY CAR AGAIN FOR THE FOURTH TIME RECENTLY. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
ENGINE BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. TOYOTA REPAIRED UNDER RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND NOW IT WILL COST ME $1,900.00 TO REPAIR THEIR POOR QUALITY, OR CRAFTSMANSHIP. WHY CAN'T WE GET TOYOTA TO WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF POSTS REGARDING THIS MATTER, AND WE CANNOT GET FAIR RESULTS FROM ANYONE. MY FRIEND HAD TOYOTA OFFER HIM $500.00 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW TOYOTA, PRETTY FUNNY OFFER. *TR
Mileage: 115,000
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1994 TOYATA 4RUNNER. 98K ON ENGINE. *TR
Mileage: 98,000
I BOUGHT 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER USED. THE OUTFIT NEEDED NEW TIRES WHEN I TRIED TO REMOVER THE WHEELS I COULD NOT GET THEM OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER ALOT OF WORK THEY FINALLY CAME OFF. WHEN I REINSTALLED THEM I USED ANTI-SEIZE AND HOPE TO NEVER HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA FORERUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO MAKE A TURN OR STEER THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT WORK. THE CONTACT HAD THE STEERING COLUMN FIXED. THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM WAS CONSISTENT AND KEPT GETTING WORSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 83000. *AK
Mileage: 83,000
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 8:00 AM AND THE SUV SLID TO THE LEFT ON ICE, SHE THEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WOULDN'T STRAIGHTEN UP AND AS A RESULT SHE WENT DOWN AN INBANKMENT AND THE SUV ROLLED ALL THE WAY OVER AND BACK ON ITS WHEELS. THE VEHICLE SINCE HAS BEEN TOTALED AND PARTED OUT BUT I'M THINKING THIS RECALL MAY HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB
1994 4 RUNNER 4 WD STEERING CONTROL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMERS WIFE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AN EMBANKMENT INTO A STREAM. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *JB
1994 4 RUNNER 4 WD STEERING CONTROL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMERS WIFE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AN EMBANKMENT INTO A STREAM. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *JB
I OWN A 94 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND A 94 TOYOTA SR5 PICKUP TRUCK. BACK IN '98 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE I BROUGHT BOTH MY VEHICLES TO FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS ON BOTH VEHICLES. RECALL NOTICE: A 3VZ-E HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT JUNE 26, 1998 VEHICLE: TOYOTA TRUCK 4X4MILEAGE: 46,623 JULY 17, 1998 VEHICLE: TOYOTA 4RUNNERMILEAGE: 38,037 THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2006 OF THIS YEAR, MY TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHEN I CRANKED IT UP ONE AFTERNOON. DENSE SMOKE AND RADIATOR FLUID FLOWED FROM THE TAILPIPE AND THE ENGINE WAS VIBRATING.LESS THAN 12 HOURS AFTER THE HEAD GASKET BLEW IN MY PICKUP TRUCK, THE VERY NEXT MORNING I STARTED MY WIFE'S 4RUNNER TO MAKE A TRIP INTO TOWN. IMMEDIATELY WHEN I STARTED IT, DENSE SMOKE AND RADIATOR FLUID FLOWED FROM THE TAILPIPE AND THE ENGINE WAS VIBRATING EVEN WORST THAN BEFORE. I IMMEDIATELY TURN THE TRUCK OFF. TOYOTA OPENED A CASE# 200602060829. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL CHAN COLEMAN AT SANFORD
Mileage: 102,000
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.