IllustrationOWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE IS A MISFIRE IN ENGINE; ALSO, HEARD A LOUD BOOM WHILE DRIVING, HE PULLED OVER TO FIND OUT THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND THE HEAD BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK
1991 Toyota 4RUNNER
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Toyota 4RUNNER do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4RUNNER years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 43 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
20 reportsWHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS DOWN EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE VEHICLE , CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO EXPERIENCE THE EFFECTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE.
WHILE DRIVING, SMELLED COOLANT, VEHICLE WAS SHAKING, CAUSED BY HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. *AK
TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF FIRST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING, ALSO DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD CAUSED RADIATOR COOLANT TO ENTER THE CYLINDER, CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. *AK
PURCHASED TRUCK USED, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKETS, CAUSED ENGINE OIL TO LEAK. TT
OIL PUMP FAILURE, ENGINE MALFUNCTION BECAUSE OF LACK OF LUBRICATION. TT
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW; CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM EXHAUST PIPE; HEAD BLOCK/HEAD GASKET REPLACED. TT
HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AW
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS DAMAGED, LEAKING COOLANT. TT
Official recalls
105V389000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Sep 6, 2005
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4DP02002 · Rear Seat Belt Routing
Opened Mar 26, 2002 · Closed Aug 26, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
No summary supplied.
SQ99003 · Corroded Brake Lines
Opened Jan 27, 1999 · Closed Apr 22, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TOYOTA IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA 98-253. CORRODED BRAKE LINES COULD FAIL RESULTING IN A PARTIAL BRAK SYSTEM LOSS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES
EA92011 · Loss Of Brk Effectiveness
Opened Mar 24, 1992 · Closed Jan 21, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91147 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened Nov 6, 1991 · Closed Mar 24, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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