1995 Toyota 4RUNNER Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 5%of 172 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 158,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the engine of the 1995 Toyota 4RUNNER, 5% of the 172 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 158,000 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.
“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?”
NHTSA complaint #10682325, filed 2015-02, 250,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10614662, filed 2014-07, 96,541 miles“May 2015 on way to drs and then oil change at pep boys. Head gasket on car blew for 2nd time (6000 and 2 years, since first time). Driving on freeway proceeded to overpass and in the middle of this extremely high, curved overpass, bridging the 23 to the 101, driving at highway speed, the car farted , cloud out back side and speed just dropped. Coasted down other side and car limped along slowly from there. Most terrifying experience. Prayed no one would hit me and send me flying off the connector to freeway below. I had no problem with car prior, running beautiful. …”
NHTSA complaint #10852986, filed 2016-04, 166,265 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10458611, filed 2012-05, 90,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10670513, filed 2015-01, 158,000 milesEngine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2024 | 1 | 10% |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 6 | 9% |
| 2018 | 5 | 8% |
| 2017 | 2 | 6% |
| 2016 | 6 | 8% |
| 2015 | 8 | 9% |
| 2014 | 6 | 8% |
| 2013 | 3 | 8% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2 | 9% |
| 2008 | 7 | 7% |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% |
| 2006 | 7 | 2% |
| 2005 | 21 | 5% |
| 2004 | 18 | 3% |
| 2003 | 10 | 1% |
| 2002 | 5 | 2% |
| 2001 | 5 | 3% |
| 2000 | 4 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 1% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 8 | 5% |
| 1994 | 1 | 2% |
| 1992 | 1 | 2% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1995 Toyota 4RUNNER
107 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
14 complaintsTires
11 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1995 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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