1996 Toyota 4Runner Engine Problems

SHOCK ABSORBER COMPLETELY WENT THREW THE FRAME CAUSING THE 4 RUNNER TO GO SIZE TO SIZE WHILE DRIVING. FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THE SAME EXACT FRAMES ON THE TACOMATACOMA GOT A RECALL, THEY REPLACED THEM. WHY WASNT THIS RECALLED ON THE 4RUNNER? AND THE SEATBELTS JUST POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHILE YOUR JUST DRIVING. SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN SOON OR SOMEBODY IS GONNA GET VERY HURT ,OR KILLED. 1 MORE THING. I HAD A WHEEL POP OFF ALSO FROM THE BALL JOINT BREAKING LUCKILY THAT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE MAIN ROAD I COULD'VE KILLED SOMEBODY.

NHTSA ID

11067167

Incident

May 16, 2017

Mileage

205,000 mi

CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR ENGAGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344517

Incident

Jul 20, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. COOLANT IS LEAKING AND OIL SLUDGE IS BUILDING UP WITHIN THE MANIFOLD. IT IS USING 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND SMOKING WILL BADLY WHEN FIRST CRANKED. CAR CHECKED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110474

Incident

Nov 5, 2004

Mileage

132,405 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE 5VZ-FE BI-METAL ENGINE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. ACCORDING TO THE THE AUTHORIZED DEALER (TOYOTA 101 OF REDWOOD CITY), THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO THE ALUMINUM HEADS TO CRACK AROUND THE VALES. I AM AWARE THAT TOYOTA HAD A NATIONAL RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS FOR THE 5VZ-FE V6 ENGINES FOR MOST MODEL TRUCKS (4RUNNER & TACOMA) MANUFACTURED IN THE 1990'S.THE RECALL WAS UNDER THE GUISE OF A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN SSC-X01. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS ARE THE CORE REASON FOR THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MY 4RUNNER'S ENGINE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES CORP. IN SAN RAMON, CA & TORRANCE, CA ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS COMPLAINING OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. I ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE & GOOD WILL WARRANTY, BUT RECEIVED UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA HAS NO INTEREST IN TAKING RESPONSIBILTY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. LEAVING CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS. I AM SEEKING THE FAIR AND REASONABLE REPAIR OF MY ENGINE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NHTSA ID

10070892

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

113,413 mi

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON 5VZ-FE ENGINE. THIS WAS EXACTLY 3 YEARS & 53K MILES AFTER THE TOYOTA SSC (SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN) X01. IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY HEAD GASKETS ON MY 4RUNNER. ALSO REPLACED AT THE TIME WERE THE; TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, & THERMOSTAT. THE TRUCK HAS HAD ALL OF IT'S DEALER/MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED SERVICES AND OIL CHANGES. UPON TEAR DOWN THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT BOTH ALUMINUM HEADS WERE CRACKED BETWEEN THE VALVES AT 2-3 PLACES.

NHTSA ID

10070645

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

113,413 mi

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING EXHAUSTS LEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY DEALER TECHNICIAN NOTICE CORROSION ON THE CROSSOVER PIPE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8023265

MY ENGINE CATASTROPICALLY FAILED AT 71K MILES. MY VEHICLE HAD MAJOR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS. THE FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD IN MY ENGINE ENDANGERED MY LIFE AND THOSE OF MY WIFE AND SON BY CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SEIZE UP IN TRAFFIC. THE TOTAL TIME ELAPSED FROM WHEN MY ENGINE WAS PROPERLY FUNCTIONING TO WHEN WE WERE COMPLETELY MOTIONLESS WAS 45 SECONDS. WE NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING HIT BY LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TOYOTA WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE TO ME IN THIS MATTER. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE 60K WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING MY CONCERNS. MY BILL TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED $5100.00. I STILL POSSES THE FAILED BLOCK AND COMPONENSTS. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THREW AWAY SOME OF THE COMPONENTS THAT I ASKED THEM TO SAVE (OIL PUMP, ETC.). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE NHTSA HAS INFORMATION IN SIMIALAR TOYOTA DISCREPANCIES, AND IS THE AGENCY INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE FAILED TOYOTA COMPONENTS (BLOCK, RODS, PISTONS, ETC.) THAT I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO WHAT WAS A LIFE ENDANGERING EVENT FOR MY FAMILY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT MY PROVIDED PHONE NUMBER. I WILL GLADLY PROVIDE COPIES OF COORESPONDENCE CHRONICALLY MY SAGA. *AK

NHTSA ID

737634

Incident

Mar 31, 2000

CONSUMER WAS LOSING ALOT OF COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING BY THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. ALSO, VEHICLE MISSING AND HESITATING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AS PART OF RECALL, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN AFTER A YEAR. *YH

NHTSA ID

869716

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE ONTO CYLINDER, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. MJS

NHTSA ID

544995

Incident

Feb 26, 1999

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND BURN ENGINE. DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

834446

MY SISTER ALSO OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL BUILD AND THE EXACT SAME 3.4 L ENGINE AND SHE ALSO HAD THE SAME HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON HER ENGINE. MY ENGINE WAS IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED, NEW OIL EVERY 3000 MILES ETC AND STILL HAD THE SAME FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I DON'T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS LISTED AND SINCE ITS THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT BOTH ME AND MY SISTER HAVE HAD ON TWO NEARLY IDENTICAL '96 4 RUNNER'S, IT SEEMS A TAD COINCIDENTAL THAT WE'RE THE ONLY ONES HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THANKS, ERIK HORD

NHTSA ID

702356

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP.

NHTSA ID

780694

THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHTS. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO I WAS CROSSING THREE LANES OF TRAFFICE AND IT STALLED. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND WARRANTS REPURCHASING.

NHTSA ID

537185

Incident

Sep 1, 1996

GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID

605477

Incident

Dec 1, 1996

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID

605345

Incident

Oct 18, 1996

ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID

604207

FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

603831

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

603794

BLOWN HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID

519456

DUNLOP TIRES FAILED/BLEW OUT.

NHTSA ID

517064

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT ENGINE AND THERE WAS A FUEL SMELL. MANUFACTURER SAID DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS THE CAUSE. CONSUMER STATED IF MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, WHY NOT NOTIFY THE CONSUMERS. *AK

NHTSA ID

811806

Incident

Apr 12, 1997

HEAD GASKET FAILED

NHTSA ID

603133

Incident

Dec 1, 1996

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID

516560

Incident

Feb 1, 1997

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID

602631

Incident

Nov 16, 1996

NOTICE A LEA IN GARAGE AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, PINK LIQUID (COOLANT FLUID), TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED OF A CRACK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

808208

Incident

Jan 25, 1997