1994 Toyota 4RUNNER Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 5%of 64 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 155,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1994 Toyota 4RUNNER, 5% of the 64 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 155,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“A couple of years after purchasing this Toyota 4-runner there was a recall due to faulty head gaskets. They leaked. A recall was (supposedly) done. 100,000 miles later the same problem had to be fixed again. I contacted Toyota and was informed that they were only responsible for one fix. That would be nice if they had actually fixed it. A (fix) implies that it has been really fixed. Head gaskets are not supposed to leak . . . Ever! So I am wondering of they really accomplished a fix the first time. Obviously not since it cost me $2000 to get it fixed again for the exact same problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10507426, filed 2013-04, 155,000 miles“Transmission will intermittently drop out of 1st and 3rd gear. When at a dead stop, transmission will drop out of 1st gear while accelerating, causing lost of power. Also while entering the freeway, transmission will drop out of third gear, causing lost of power. This problem has happened at about 40, 000 miles and again at about 99,000 miles. Dt”
NHTSA complaint #768680, filed 2002-10Related service bulletins
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
- 10061578Jun 13, 2011Summary to be provided on a future date.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 38% |
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 6% |
| 2018 | 3 | 5% |
| 2017 | 1 | 3% |
| 2016 | 6 | 7% |
| 2015 | 4 | 5% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 10 | 45% |
| 2008 | 27 | 28% |
| 2007 | 11 | 7% |
| 2006 | 30 | 8% |
| 2005 | 25 | 6% |
| 2004 | 36 | 5% |
| 2003 | 39 | 6% |
| 2002 | 33 | 15% |
| 2001 | 32 | 17% |
| 2000 | 42 | 9% |
| 1999 | 23 | 7% |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% |
| 1997 | 25 | 10% |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% |
| 1995 | 14 | 8% |
| 1994 | 3 | 5% |
| 1993 | 3 | 6% |
| 1992 | 4 | 8% |
| 1991 | 5 | 12% |
| 1990 | 14 | 18% |
| 1988 | 2 | 22% |
| 1987 | 2 | 40% |
Other parts of the 1994 Toyota 4RUNNER
26 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsWheels
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsTires
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1994 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology