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1992 Toyota 4RUNNER engine problems

19 complaints (36% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 145,000.

owner complaints
19
of this car's complaints
36%
typical mileage
145,000
crashes
0
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Engine
    12
  • Exhaust system
    1
  • Engine: gasoline
    1
  • Cooling system: radiator assembly
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Toyota 4RUNNER engine problems in other years

1990199520002005201020152026

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 23, 2016 · Engine · 195,500 miles · CA

Made a noise starting idling weird hadn't even warmed up the car yet just drove up the street to store real quick when came back. Sounding like poop and checked everything milky oil a sign of a head gasket. Ps it happened on my birthday last year. It really

Filed Nov 18, 2008 · Engine · 213,000 miles · 00

Mysterious coolant loss, pressurized system found no external leaks. Watched problem for about a month, kept topping up coolant. Driving home last night sudden loss of power on free way temperature spike, almost caused a major accident getting off freeway. Head gasket failure. Towed. Campaign has been done, toyota dealer will not honor labor or even the part, and it is quite an expensive repair for something that will fail sooner than later. My nissan has over 300,000km on it and never had a problem. Flawed design in head or block.

Filed Jan 26, 2007 · Engine · CA

I have a 1992 4 runner. I purchased it in 1997. I took it in for the recall on the head when I bought it. I now has another problem, on of the cylinder is only producing 20% compression. My mechanic said that it has to do with a problem with the head. Is this covered under the recall also?

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Engine · 145,000 miles · CA

1992 toyota 4-runner, 3.0 liter, v-6, 4 wd truck in shop for blown head gasket & possible cracked block. I understand this vehicle has a design flaw which causes head gaskets to blow over and over in spite of so-called gasket "fix" by toyota which I had after 50,000 miles. Toyota should make it right to their customers by either fixing the flaw or reimbursing for costs to repair, tow & rent replacement vehicle.

Filed Dec 11, 2004 · Engine · 94,847 miles · TX

2nd engine head gasket failure @ 94,000 miles on 12/06/2004, repaired @ original dealer, @ owner's expense of $1400. 1st failure @ 33,000 miles on 09/12/1996, repaired, including new engine block, @ original dealer as per toyota tsb # sscv06 special campaign & tsb # spap9610 special campaign.

Filed Aug 11, 2004 · Engine · 139,000 miles · TX

I have a 1992 toyota 4runner with v6 3vze engine which toyota knows has a bad head design and head gasket failure. They have a recall for one time only replacement which was doen in 97 at 51k mi. By the previous owner. Last dec. I started having problems and the toyota dealership did not advise me that I had a blown head gasket. They wanted to change out fuel injectors since it was running rough. The roughness was from coolant leaking into the cylinders. After research I found all this info. Out. At the time I was ignorant as to this problem. Fred has toyota should have been up front with me and advised me f the situation instead of making me pay for something I didn't need. As they have done to me in the past. The exhaust gases escaping into the coolant system are over pressurize my system and it got to the point where it blew the bottom hose off the radiator. If I would have been in a parking lot or even my own family would have been standing 15 feet in freon of the vehicle they would have had 3rd degree burns. Thus, I had been driving it since dec and learning of what my problem is. It was a slow leak at first , but got progressively worse. It started overheating on me so I changed the thermostat, fan clutch. Radiator, and radiator cap. Paid all that money to find out that does not solve the problem. The problem is the exhaust gases over pressurize the coolant system due to the blown head gasket. Toyota has stood their ground and said they've lived up to their one time only recall. Im sure you are already aware of this "massive" amount of complaints about their head gasket problem. I just wished toyota valued customer service/loyalty.

Filed Jun 25, 2003 · Engine · 92,000 miles · FL

My wife and I own a 1992 4runner. The head gasket in the engine malfunctioned causing oil and water to basically get mixed. We took it to the local toyota dealer in our area (kendall toyota in miami florida). We tried to explain to them what is listed on your web site as known defect in our car's model and year. However they refused to acknowledge that. We ended up spending $2896.62 at the dealership shop to fix the engine problem. Considering that problem is a known defect as published on this web site. Is there a way your office can help us recover some or all of our money that was charged by the dealer inappropriately.

Filed Mar 24, 2003 · Engine · CO

While driving and without prior warning the head gasket blew. Antifreeze was burning and caused the fumes to come inside of the vehicle.

Filed Jul 23, 2001 · Engine · CA

Vehicle would not start. Once car was started white steam came out of tail pipe due to a blown engine gasket. Headgasket repairs were done in 1997.*ak

Filed Mar 28, 2001 · Engine · IL

Vehicle leaking, possibly due to failure of engine head.

Questions about the 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER engine

Does the 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER have engine problems?

Owners have filed 19 complaints about the engine of the 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER, 36% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 145,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER engine?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Toyota 4RUNNER have bad engine?

The Toyota 4RUNNER model years with the most engine complaints are 1995 (115 complaints), 2003 (99 complaints) and 2004 (43 complaints).

Other 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER problems

Brakes 12Acceleration 6Electrical 6Transmission 4Visibility 4Tires 3Steering 2Fuel system 1Lights 1

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