1995 Toyota 4Runner Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Engine, no sign of overheating ... Overheated within 3 months of ownership on my way to work with my wife's Conclude the headgaskets were blown. Toyota doesn't acknowledge recall. . Plus send a recall for v6 4runners headgaskets
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 3.0 V-6
TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1995 BLOWN HEAD GASKETS
MY HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. THE DUMMY PANEL DID NOT SHOW OVERHEATING BUT STEAM OR SMOKE WAS VISIBLE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. COOLANT WAS LEAKING WHEN PARKED BUT THE RADIATOR IS FULL. TOYOTA SAYS MY VIN SAYS IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOV 1995 MY REGISTRATION PAPERWORK SAYS IT WAS FIRST REGISTERED OCTOBER 1995. AS WITH MANY OTHERS, TOYOTA SAYS IT IS NOT INCLUDED. HOW MANY REPORTS MUST BE MADE BEFORE IT IS A COVERED PROBLEM? OR IS THERE NO CHANGE TIL LAWYERS GET INVOLVED? *TR
ENGINE EXHAUST SMOKY. COOLANT LEVEL DROPS. STEAM AND WATER EMITTED FROM EXHAUST PIPE. CAUSE SEEMS TO BE DUE TO A FAILED HEAD GASKET(S) OR FAILURE OF ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS TO MATE TO CAST IRON ENGINE BLOCK. OTHER POSSIBILITY IS CRACKING IN WATER JACKET OF HEADS. THIS IS A 3.0 LITER V6 ENGINE AND HAS HAD PRESS RELEASES ABOUT GASKET FAILURES. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY CUSTOMER AND HAS NEVER HAD THE ENGINE OVERHEAT OR HAS IT BEEN RUN WHILE LOW ON ENGINE LUBRICATING OIL.
BLOWN ROD . BAD MOTOR .. THE 4 RUNNER HAD A 4 WHEEL DRIVE ENGINE IN IT THAT CAME STOCK IN A 2 WHEEL DRIVE 4 RUNNER? IT BLEW OUT A ROD ON ME AND THESE SR5 MOTORS ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST A LONG TIME? 98,432 IS LOW FOR ME. *TR
I DO NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE AS I NEEDED A RELIABLE VEHICLE TO MAKE IT TO ARIZONA FROM IOWA. I ALSO HAD A COBALT I HAD TO GET RID OF WITH BAD TRANSMISSION AND STEERING RACK (PRIOR TO RECALL OF STEERING RACKS). I DO NOT HAVE STORAGE CAPABILITY FOR JUNK VEHICLES. THIS TOYOTA HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 90000 MILES LIKE ALL THE OTHER 10 YEARS WORTH OF RECALLED 4RUNNER 3VZ-E ENGINES. BUT CONVENIENTLY FOR TOYOTA THEY FORGOT TO INCLUDE 95. THERE IS NO WAY A CAR COMPANY REDESIGNS AN ENGINE THEY WERE PHASING OUT IN 4 MONTHS. NEEDED GASKET REPLACED BUT NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. TOYOTA SAID TOO BAD, SO SAD, OUR REPUTATION RELIES ON QUALITY VEHICLES. BBB SAID IT IS UP TO THE CAR COMPANY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR VEHICLES, I.E. WE DO NOT CARE. I GOT $0.00 FOR TRADE IN ON IT. THE COBALT I ALSO TOOK A $1000 LOSS SINCE I ONLY HAD IT 4 MONTHS AND TRADED IT IN WITH 42000 MILES (BOUGHT AT 37000). *JS
I BOUGHT A REGULARLY MAINTAINED, USED 1995 4 RUNNER WITH 119,000 MILES. WITHIN A MONTH, IT BEGAN RUNNING POORLY AND THE REPAIRS BEGAN. HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER IT LEFT ME STRANDED WITH MY INFANT CHILD. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BUT NOW THE MECHANIC TELLS ME I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT OF OVERHEATING. I HAVE SEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE AND REFUSES TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WHY NOT? EVERY OTHER YEAR WAS RECALLED FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR AND SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS 'NICKEL AND DIMMED' ME TO DEATH, IT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY. I CAN'T FIX IT, CAN'T SELL IT, CAN'T TRADE IT IN. IT WAS A WASTE. MY HUSBAND'S CAR HAS BEEN A REAL TROOPER BUT IT NEEDS REPAIRS. THE 4 RUNNER HAS TAKEN SO MUCH, WE CAN'T EVEN FIX THE BASICS ON HUBBY'S CAR. JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN TOYOTA IS GOING TO ADMIT THE PROBLEM AND HELP US ALL THAT ARE STUCK WITH THEIR MESS! *TR
I'VE TALKED WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET RECALL ON THIS 4RUNNER , AND I'VE BEEN TOLD YES THEY WILL FIX THE HEAD GASKET BUT ONLY IF I PAY FOR ANY OTHER REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE AND THEY TELL ME THEY WILL ONLY DO IT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. IS THIS TRUE OR ARE THESE DEALERSHIPS TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY FROM ME . I JUST WANT THE HEAD GASKET FIXED ALL OTHER IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND I WILL REPAIR THE OTHER MYSELF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING ERRATICALLY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF BUT WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER FOUR TO FIVE ATTEMPTS. WHEN RESTARTED, THERE WAS THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
VEHICLE WITH 3.0L V6 HAS BLOWN TWO HEAD GASKETS IN 135,000 MILES. VIN IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN". GASKET FAILED (AGAIN) WITH NO WARNING, VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, DRIVER LOST CONTROL
I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE - YET TOYOTA IS TELLING ME MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN AKA: RECALL. ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE AN OFFICIAL LETTER STATING THAT ALL TOYOTA 3VZ-E ENGINES QUALIFY. . MY STORY: LAST WEEK, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY 1995 V6 3.0L EFI (3VZ-E ENGINE) BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. SUDDENLY A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE EMERGED FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND I LOST ALL POWER. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, LIFTED THE HOOD TO FIND THE RADIATOR CAP SEVERED FROM THE RADIATOR AND ANTIFREEZE/BOILING WATER SPRAYING EVERYWHERE - I LET IT COOL BUT HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING IT. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP ABOUT 7 MILES AWAY.. BLOWN HEAD GASKETS #6 CYLINDER IS NOT FIRING. THIS IS CLEARLY A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN THE MAKING! *TR
PROPERLY CARED FOR 1995 4RUNNER BLEW HEAD GASKETS. LOOKING AT APPROX. $2K REPAIR. TOYOTA RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ENDS AT MAN. DATE OF 10-94. THEY WON'T COVER THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS APPARENTLY HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF 95 OWNERS. *TR
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 4X4 WITH V-6 ENGINE. I SEE RECALL INFORMATION FOR 91,92, 93, 94, AND 96. WHAT ABOUT 95. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR. *TR
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1995 4 RUNNER. HAPPENED IN 2/2009. TOYOTA HAS HAD RECALLS ON HEAD GASKETS FOR 1995 4 RUNNERS BUT HAS CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. MANY MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM SEE: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_45660.HTML REQUIRES HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT - TOYOTA WON'T COVER IT. *TR
I OWN A 1995 4 RUNNER # WITH ONE OF YOUR 3.0 MOTORS IN IT AND IT ONLY HAS 107,000. MILES ON IT. THE HEAD GASKET BLOW OUT ON IT, IT STARTED EATING COOLANT. I HAVE CALLED YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CASE # 200812190092 WITH NO REGARDS TO MY PROBLEM, I WAS BLOWN OFF JUST LIKE THE HEAD ON THIS MOTOR, BLOWN OFF. I HAVE OWNED 4 TOYOTA?S INCLUDING NEW CAMRY'S, MY PARENTS BOTH DRIVE TOYOTA'S. THE 4RUNNER IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVE WHILE THE SNOW IS PILING UP AROUND IT, I BOUGHT IT TO DRIVE IN THE WINTER, I'M LEFT DRIVING MY CAR. I WANT THIS FIXED BY YOU ( TOYOTA) YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS MOTOR. CONTACT ME ASAP TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT YOU CAN WALK AWAY FROM, THERE ARE TO MANY OCCURRENCES. I WILL LET THIS TRUCK SET IN MY YARD WITH A SIGN ON IT THAT TELLS ALL WHO DRIVE BY IT THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS-BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 107000 MILES. I WANT AN ANSWER AS TO WHEN YOU WILL GET MY TRUCK REPAIRED AT YOUR COST, NOT MINE. CALL TODAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS MATTEROR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A GREAT DAY. KB *TR
CAR WAS APPROACHING HOT AND SO CHANGED OUT COOLANT JUST TO BE SURE. THEN CAR WAS STILL SHOWING HOT. THEN CAR STARTED SMOKING AND NOW LEAKS COOLANT OUT OF THE OIL PAN. LOSES A LOT OF COOLANT EVERY TIME I FILL IT UP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH AND CAR STARTED BLOWING WHITE SMOKE. WAS TOLD IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CAR HAS 124,500 MILES. CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO REPAIR AND IS DRIVEN SPARINGLY. *TR
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR
BLOWING WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST AND WAS LOSING POWER, LOSING COOLANT, THEN A FEW DAYS LATER, BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR
3 DAYS AGO I NOTICED WATER LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND HE CONFIRMED IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. 1995 WELL MAINTAINED TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 133,000 WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SO MUCH FOR RELIABILITY. IT IS GOING TO COST $1600-$2500 TO FIX. *TR
BLOWN HEAD GASKET 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER --TWICE---. *TR
1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HEAD GASKET BLOWN OUT. *TR
LOSS OF SPEED/POWER, ENDED UP WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKET, HAD IT REPAIRED, HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 3 MONTHS. WAS TOLD IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING!!!!! *TR
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Quick Summary
The 1995 Toyota 4Runner has 105 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.