1986 Toyota 4Runner Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Toyota 4Runner, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes225.0%
- Engine225.0%
- Tires & wheels225.0%
- Other / unspecified112.5%
- Seat belts112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON 1986 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS THE HAND BRAKE IS SOLELY RELIED ON TO ADJUST THE BACK BRAKES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE BELL CRANK BOOT DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY PREVENT CORROSION BETWEEN THE BELL CRANK AND ITS FRAME AT THE BACKING PLATE. THIS CAUSES THE ADJUSTING SCREW TO NOT ENGAGE AND THEREFORE THE BACK BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WITH LESS FORCE ON THE BACK BRAKES THAN THE FRONT BRAKES THE FRONT BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP. STEERING CONTROL IS THEN LOST.*AK
VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN HILL DUE TO FAILURE OF PARKING BRAKE, INJURING ONE/KILLING ONE. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD WARPED, CAUSING HEAD GASKET LEAKS. *AK
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRE SIDEWALLS ARE EXHIBITING DIMPLING OR REDUCED THICKNESS FROM THE TREAD EDGE TO RIM ABOUT 1 INCH WIDE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VD60AW3529 TIRESIZE: 31X10.5R15)
PE00-00; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. THEN CONSUMER CHANGED THE TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT TREAD AND WIRES SEPARATED FROM TIRES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AND T-BAR RUSTED AND SPARE TIRE FELL DOWN. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 1986 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts failed to unlock as needed. The contact and his passenger was unable to unlatch or release the seat belt. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000. The VIN was not available.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .