RoadVitals

1991 Toyota 4Runner Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
43
Latest Sep 27, 2017
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
11
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 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

  • Engine2142.9%
  • Brakes612.2%
  • Steering510.2%
  • Tires & wheels48.2%
  • Transmission48.2%
  • Other / unspecified36.1%
  • Fuel system24.1%
  • Visibility12.0%
  • Driver assistance12.0%
  • Powertrain (other)12.0%
  • Body & structure12.0%

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

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

21
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR OVER HEATED AND CUT OFF. NOW LEAKING WATER INTO SPARK PLUGS.*AK

NHTSA ID 10194079 · filed Jun 24, 2007

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, 1991 TOYOTA V6 4RUNNER, RECALLED IN 1998 FOR THE PROBLEM, CORRECTED AND GASKET FAILED AGAIN IN 2007. *NM

NHTSA ID 10179278 · filed Jan 21, 2007
All 21 reports naming engine

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING IN THE STREET AT 40 MPH, IT ACCELERATES FOR NO REASON. I COULD NOT STOP, THE BRAKE PUT HARD, DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY CHANGE AND ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TO MORE THAN 5000. I HAD TO TURN IT OFF STILL RUNNING. TO TURN IT BACK ON, IT WILL NOT DO SO AGAIN.

NHTSA ID 10808466 · filed Dec 4, 2015

CORROSION ON THE BREAK LINES FROM POOR DESIGN IN ALLOWING SAND AND DIRT TO ACCUMULATE AND CAUSE THE LINE TO RUST THROUGH AND CREATE A BREAK FAILURE. THE RUST CREATED A LITTLE LARGER THEN A PIN HOLE THAT ALOUD THE RAPID LOST OF BREAK FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF STOPPING AND ALMOST CAUSED SEVER DAMAGE AND INJURY TO SAME. *NM

NHTSA ID 10139978 · filed Oct 17, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BROUGHT MY 1991 4RUNNER INTO CONCORD (CA) TOYOTA DEALER FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V389000, FOR :COMPONENT: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE IS TOO MUCH "PLAY" (MOVEMENT) IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE FRONT WHEELS "WOBBLE" BADLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE FRONT END-END/ALIGNMENT RELATED. I DID NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO TAKING THIS IS IN FOR THE RECALL. THE ASST SVC MGR AT THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THEIR WORK DID NOT CAUSE THE ISSUE, AND THAT THERE IS NOW ANOTHER BAD PART ON MY FRONT-END COMPONENT THAT MUST BE REPLACED, AT MY COST, TO FIX THIS (SAFETY) ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ASAP - MY VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW (01/03/06)*CN

NHTSA ID 10213614 · filed Jan 3, 2008

1991 TOYOTA 4RUNNER STEERING FAILED WHEN TURNING WHEEL. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES TWO MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID 10150856 · filed Feb 9, 2006

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE STATES THAT HE HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON BRIDGESTONE TIRES. IT WAS THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE. IT PULLED HIM TOWARD THE MEDIAN, AND HE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT BACK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE SEPARATION DAMAGED BUMPER AND FENDER. HE DOES HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE TIRE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 10124587 · filed Jun 8, 2005

MY TIRES ARE NOT RECALLED, BUT THEY ARE LISTED ON THE DANGEROUS LIST, THERE ARE CHUNKS OF RUBBER FALLING OFF OF THEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRESTONE AND HE OFFERED TO SELL ME SOME TIRES FOR 'REAL CHEAP'. YEAH I BET THEY ARE REAL CHEAP. I DO NOT THINK THAT THESE TIRES ARE SAFE TO DRIVE ON. THEY ONLY HAVE LIKE 10K MILES ON THEM, SO I DONT THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR FIRESTONES MISTAKES. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH FIRESTONE AND WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE ABOUT WHAT I CAN DO TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. J SASS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 )

NHTSA ID 732127 · filed Sep 21, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT PROBLEM. THERE WAS A SMELL AND CHATTERING WITHIN THE CLUTCH. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. LATER, CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BROKE APART, INCLUDING THE BELL HOUSING AND THE CONE.*AK PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID 10057847 · filed Feb 10, 2004

VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO OVERDRIVE WITHOUT ENTERING ANY OF THE OTHER GEARS. VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIFTED MANUALLY THROUGH THE GEARS. PROBLEM WAS THAT THERE WAS A COLD SOLDER JOINT ON ALL THREE SOLENOIDS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THESE SOLENOIDS ARE USED TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE GEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND WOULD OCCUR AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIME LIKE PASSING A VEHICLE, ENTERING A MAJOR INTERSTATE, OR STARTING FROM A STOP. COST OF THE PARTS ALONE AMOUNTED TO OVER $500.00 FOR PARTS THAT SHOULD COST NO MORE THAN $100.00.*AK

NHTSA ID 748850 · filed Jul 20, 2001

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BACK IN AUGUST 2016 I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED 4 NEW TIRES, I CLEANED AND PAINTED WHEELS BEFORE INSTALLING 4 NEW SLIME TIRE VALVES #TR 415 SLIME PART# 20261 I PURCHASED THESE VALVES AT WALMART IN SOMERSET, KY THE DATE CODE ON PACKAGE WAS 08.26.14 I PURCHASED (8) PACKS 16 TOTAL VALVES ( I STILL HAVE 3 PACKS THAT I HAVE NOT OPENED). I HAVE A TIRE CHANGER ON MY FARM AND DO MY OWN TIRE SERVICE. ON 09-26-2017 I HAD A TIRE FAILURE ON MY TOYOTA WHILE DRIVING NOTICE SLIGHT PULL. AFTER STOPPING AND INSTALLING SPARE I DETERMINED THAT ALL 4 VALVES I PUT ON LAST YEAR WERE DRY ROTTED (CRACKED). I KEEP THIS VEHICLE IN BARN WHEN NOT BEING DRIVEN (NO SUN DAMAGE SHOULD OCCURED. I CHECKED A TRAILER THAT I HAD APPLIED NEW VALVES ON FROM THE SAME LOT OF VALVES, THEY TO WERE DRY ROTTED AND ONE WAS FLAT. THESE PRODUCTS ARE DANGEROUS TO USE, THE VALVES WILL PULL APART WITH LIGHT PULLING FROM FINGERS. THESE PRODUCTS NEED TO BE RECALLED. I DID NOT CONTACT WALMART ABOUT THIS FAILURE DUE TO PRODUCT PURCHASED FROM THEM NOT MADE BY THEM! I DID CONTACT SLIME.COM WITH NO REPLY BACK AS OF 09-27-2017.

NHTSA ID 11030211 · filed Sep 27, 2017

OEM STANDARD TIRES ARE 225/75R15 ON TOYOTA STEEL WHEELS. OEM FACTORY OPTION TIRES ARE W/31X10.5 ON TOYOTA BRAND ALUMINUM WHEELS. THE FACTORY OFFICIAL STICKER SHOWS THE OPTION TIRES AS FACTORY-INSTALLED. THE DRIVER DOOR PILLAR STICKER SHOWS THE FACTORY-INSTALLED TIRE AS 225/75R15. THE PILLAR STICKER IS WRONG DUE TO DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IN RELIANCE ON THE PILLAR STICKER, A TIRE TECHNICIAN INSTALLED REPLACEMENT TIRES BASED ON THE STANDARD SIZE. THE STANDARD TIRE IS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN THE FACTORY OPTION TIRE. SAFETY ISSUES: 1) SPEEDOMETER ERROR ~10%, CAUSING MISMATCH TO POSTED LIMIT AND FORESEEABLE TAILGATING AND OTHER ADVERSE BEHAVIORS BY SURROUNDING DRIVERS; 2) DEGRADED STABILITY ON HIGH-CENTER OF GRAVITY SUV DUE TO MISMATCH BETWEEN FACTORY OPTION SPARE TIRE AND REPLACEMENT TIRES BASED ON ERRONEOUS PILLAR STICKER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10597620 · filed Jun 11, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ID 523626 · filed Dec 4, 1997

FUEL LEAKS DUE TO PULSATION DAMPENER COMPONENT.

NHTSA ID 521145 · filed Aug 20, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WARPED FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHEN BRAKING, REPLACED 3 AND SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT 3-8-95. TT

NHTSA ID 961143 · filed Mar 2, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING IN THE STREET AT 40 MPH, IT ACCELERATES FOR NO REASON. I COULD NOT STOP, THE BRAKE PUT HARD, DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY CHANGE AND ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TO MORE THAN 5000. I HAD TO TURN IT OFF STILL RUNNING. TO TURN IT BACK ON, IT WILL NOT DO SO AGAIN.

NHTSA ID 10808466 · filed Dec 4, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVELINE DIFFERENTIAL AXLE BUSHINGS MAKE A GRINDING SOUND AFTER USING 4 WHEEL DRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. *SD

NHTSA ID 502200 · filed Mar 4, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE EXHAUST INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURING FROM THE UNDERBODY SHIELDS, WHICH WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAMAGE WAS HIDDEN BY THE VALANCE AND WAS LOCATED WHERE THE TOW HOOK WAS. ALSO, THE FACTORY PRESS PLATE IN THE FRAME WAS ROTTED, WHICH ALLOWED MOISTURE IN THE FRAME. UPDATED 04/27/11

NHTSA ID 10386169 · filed Mar 2, 2011

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

Data on this page last refreshed .