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Engine & cooling

1996 Toyota 4RUNNER Engine problems

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 1996 Toyota 4RUNNER's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 15% of all its complaints, most recently on February 6, 2018. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

SuspensionSeats & seat beltsEngine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Suspension · Seat belts · EngineNHTSA 11067167
Engine & coolingAcceleration & cruise control

Car lurches forward when air conditioning compressor engages. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10344517
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10110474
Engine & cooling

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...

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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.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10070892
Engine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10070645
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 8023265
Engine & cooling

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...

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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

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 737634
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 869716
Engine & cooling

Head gasket failed causing leakage onto cylinder, resulting in major damage to engine prior to recall notice. Mjs

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 544995
Engine & cooling

Engine head gasket has blown, causing the vehicle to overheat and burn engine. Dealer is aware of defect. *Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 834446
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 702356
Engine & cooling

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 780694
Engine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 537185
Engine & cooling

GASKET FAILED.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 605477
Engine & cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 605345
Engine & cooling

ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 604207
Engine & cooling

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 603794
Engine & cooling

BLOWN HEAD GASKET FAILED.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 519456
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 811806
Engine & cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 603133
Engine & cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 516560
Engine & cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 602631
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 808208
Engine & cooling

Head gasket replaced prematurely due to poor engine head design.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 513590

Toyota 4RUNNER engine complaints by year

4RUNNER engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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