NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
77 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Oct 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL, ENGINE FAILURE. BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL BY COOLANT, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE NEEDS NEW SHORT BLOCK, AT COST OF $5,200-$6,200. TOYOTA SAYS "IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM." HEAD GASKET REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 58,652 MILES. NOW ENGINE FA…
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BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL, ENGINE FAILURE. BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL BY COOLANT, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE NEEDS NEW SHORT BLOCK, AT COST OF $5,200-$6,200. TOYOTA SAYS "IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM." HEAD GASKET REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 58,652 MILES. NOW ENGINE FAILS. HAVE LEARNED INDEPENDENTLY OF POSSIBLE COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF THE OIL AND SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ENGINE (E.G. CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS) WHEN HEAD GASKET FAILED. CUSTOMER NEVER NOTIFIED OF HEAD GASKET DEFECT OR RECALL UNTIL MINE FAILED. NEVER TOLD OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED THAT THE SHORT BLOCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT TIME HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF PROBABLE COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF OIL, WHICH DAMAGES BEARINGS AND EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN ENGINE FAILURE. TOYOTA ONLY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. NOW UNWILLING TO COVER RESULTING DAMAGE TO ENGINE B/C OUTSIDE OF 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEY DENY RELATED TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #735414
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S 4RUNNER. WHY NO ACTION YET??? TOYOTA DID A NON-MANDATORY CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRIOR MODEL YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN OBLIGATED TO DO ONE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AS WELL? WHEN I TRY TO SPEAK WITH TOYOTA THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY AMBIGUOUS AND NEVER WILLING TO DISCU…
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THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S 4RUNNER. WHY NO ACTION YET??? TOYOTA DID A NON-MANDATORY CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRIOR MODEL YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN OBLIGATED TO DO ONE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AS WELL? WHEN I TRY TO SPEAK WITH TOYOTA THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY AMBIGUOUS AND NEVER WILLING TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES THEY PERFORMED ON THE PREVIOUS MODELS. IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE TO BOTH TOYOTA AND INDEPEDENT MECHANICS THERE ARE INTRINSIC PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. CURRENTLY 25% OF YOUR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL ARE RELATED TO THIS INTRINSIC ENGINE PROBLEM. HOW CAN YOU A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY JUSTIFY YOUR LACK OF ATTENTION AND SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC???? YOU NEED TO BEGIN SOME TYPE OF ACTION!!!! *AK
NHTSA ODI #735217
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #735213
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
MAJOR OIL LEAKAGE, HAD SAME PROB W/'90 4RUNNER, SEAL FAILED OIL/ANTIFREEZE MIXED AND KILLED ENGINE-OBVIOUSLY TOYOTA HASN'T FIXED THIS DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723173
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW. NO ADVANCE WARNING WAS GIVEN. WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OIL STARTED TO DROP, AND THE TEMPERATURE WENT UP. ALSO THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. AFTER BEING REVIEWED BY A MECHANIC, ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862129
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentStructure
VEHICLE HAS VERY TINY PIN HOLES IN RADIATOR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED FOR AIR CONDITIONING & NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT TINY PIN HOLES IN RADIATOR. ALSO, SPOTS ARE BEGINNING TO RUST AROUND AREAS. DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860681
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ANTI-FREEZE GOES INTO A BLOCK ENGINE BECAUSE OF A BAD HEAD GASKET, AND CAUSES ANTI-FREEZE TO BECOME A TOXIC GAS. CONSUMER CAN SMELL AND TASTE ANTI-FREEZE WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THE VENT. CONSUMER FEELS THE ARE BEING POISENED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860489
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE KNOWN TO TOYOTA BUT FAILS TO COMPENSATE CONSUMER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719527
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. IT WAS DISCOVERED BY AN INDENDENT REPAIRS SHOP. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #855505
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP. YH
NHTSA ODI #550539
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