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Engine & cooling

2002 Toyota 4RUNNER Engine problems

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 2002 Toyota 4RUNNER's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 7% of all its complaints, most recently on March 10, 2019. They describe 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

SteeringBody, doors & structureEngine & cooling

First, the motor blew for no reason at 152,000 miles. I rebuilt the car and had a new motor put in. I was not aware of the rusting frame issue, however, after driving the vehicle with a lovely new rebuilt motor for about one year, the frame rotted beyond repair causing the power steering to go out. I don't drive much, so there was no excessive exposure to salt. The car was parked in my driveway. It was an exceptionally cold day. I started the vehicle and found the power steering fluid had frozen and lost all...

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the fluid as a result of the steering rack being rusted and weakened. The repair shop told me that the frame and rocker panels are severely compromised too badly to bother fixing the steering rack. The car is not safe to drive.

Filed Incident Steering · Structure · EngineNHTSA 11185623
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

4 Wheel drive would not work. Vcs lites and check engine lites on. Car engine filled with black smoke and was towed to repair shop. Details: drove on freeway and lost traction and than on shoulder with above problem. Differential repaired. Two days later lites on again and oil leak. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10629903
Engine & cooling

I was trying to pass a car doing a little over 55 mph and heard a loud bang noise. I pulled over and stop the as as quickly as possible. The oil light came on and there was oil was pouring out from underneath the motor. The oil service was kept up to date and was just changed. The car was towed and the engine had thrown a rod. Motor needed to be replace. (After doing some research this seems to be a problem with 4 runner engines when they reach 75000 mles or more. I am not alone in this problem.) I was lucky that I didn't get into an accident and that I wasn't on the expressway in chicago. I have emailed toyota. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10610432
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainBody, doors & structure

I filed a nhtsa complaint (odi number 10569206 was assigned) on 13 march 2014 about this vehicle. On 14 march 2014, I took my 4runner to my local toyota dealership after contacting toyota customer service and logging a complaint ( case number [[redacted]] ) with them on the 14th of march 2014 at their office in california and the customer service rep telling me documentation of the issue at my dealership would help me. This vehicle was bought in ny and remained up north for 10 years and according to emerson...

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toyota auburn, me records at 85,199 miles on 07/11/2012. Service adviser, [[redacted]] condition1 at 85,199 miles . Used car prep. Vehicle being wholesaled per rich. Needs engine light on, a/c inop, rear axle housing very rusted and cracked, hood latch inop, radiator leaking, frame is soft. It had 85,404 miles when it came to florida on 07 september 2012 my 2002 toyota 4runner sr5 with only 112109 miles at coggin toyota at the avenues dealership on philips hwy in jacksonville, florida at 12:20pm on 14 march 2014 my complaint at the dealership on 14 march 20014 at 12:20.........Customer states rear subframe is rusted. Check and advise. Their findings at 12:55pm on 14 march 2014... Case number [[redacted]], found severe frame rust, holes in frame on right side, holes rusted through frame by gas tank on left side.Holes rusted through gas tank and leaking fuel. Upper rear track bar bracket rusted off of rear end housing, rear shocks rusted off. Front brake rotor backing plates rusted through. The vehicle is unsafe to drive due to fuel leak and extreme rust through of frame. I want this vehicle frame and axle fixed or bought back by toyota. A toyota dealership in auburn, me knew of this problem almost 2 years ago and sent it out the door. Totally unsatisfactory. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · StructureNHTSA 10572597
Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

My 2002 toyota 4runner has a faulty throttle position sensor (part # 89452-35030) that causes loss of power while driving (at all speeds). *Jb this loss of power is very dangerous as the car will be driving along at a stable speed and then suddenly just start slowing down even though my foot stays on the gas pedal. This loss of speed puts me at serious risk to be rear-ended by a car behind me or potentially get hit from the side as I am crossing an intersection. My mechanics and I have diagnosed the tps as...

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the issue. This is a very common problem (there are multiple forums on the web about this). Here are some of them below: http://www.Yotatech.Com/f2/throttle-body-sensor-89452-35030-a-239929/ http://www.Ttora.Com/forum/showthread.Php?T=16753 http://www.Ttora.Com/forum/showthread.Php?T=13283 http://www.Toyota-4runner.Org/3rd-gen-t4rs/118506-throttle-position-sensor.Html please get toyota to issue a recall for this part. It is something that needs to get dealt with before there are more serious incidents. Thanks.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10538485
Acceleration & cruise controlDriver assistanceEngine & cooling

Complete loss of power on acceleration if tires spin...More than one close call! Happening since vehicle was new. *Tr

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 10515863
Engine & cooling

Engine at idle, loud noise, won't start. After taken apart found 4 connecting rods at the bottom of oil pan. *Kb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10437549
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota 4runner. The contact was driving 35 mph when the vehicle abnormally began to lose power with the illumination of the check engine light. The contact stated that the aluminum radiator and the bolt that connected the coolant and transmission fluid transfer was faulty. The contact stated that the failure would cause the two liquids to combine abnormally. The contact spoke with several mechanics that confirmed the failure. The failure would cause the vehicle to operate with extremely limited power. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10356532
Engine & coolingFire

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 55 mph she heard a loud popping noise on the drivers side of the vehicle. She pulled over and she observed smoke and oil coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where she was informed that one of the pistons pierced and engine block near the oil filter. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 76,000. The vin was unavailable.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10354507
SteeringEngine & coolingCrash

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota 4 runner. While driving approximately 50 mph with the brakes engaged, the power steering failed. The vehicle spun around and crashed into a guard rail. No one was injured. The police were not notified. The rear and front bumper were damaged. The estimated repair cost was $3000. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who stated that the vehicle needed a catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred them back to the dealer for repairs. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10344531
Engine & coolingFire

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota 4runner. While driving 60 mph, the contact heard the piston connecting rod pop when he switched lanes. As a result, oil leaked out of the engine manifold and caused a fire. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that there was catastrophic failure to the engine. The dealer notified the manufacturer to repair the engine. The current and failure mileages were 127,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10250532
Engine & cooling

BURNING TOO MUCH OIL. *TR

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10237778
Engine & cooling

Driving car and heard loud bang noise car immediately starts slowing down and oil light comes on after car stops oil is pouring out from underneath the motor. We send car to the dealership they say the engine has thrown a rod. Motor needs to be replaced the car has 72,000 miles on it . A person in the service dept says they have had a lot of problems with this motor it is very weak. We call other mechanics to get estimates they say they to have seen a lot of problems with this motor. We haven't done anything with the car we are still hoping for some help from toyota. Also we gave the dealership all of our oil change records that were done on time. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10166537
Engine & cooling

Dt: 2002 toyota 4 runner - the oil is getting thick and gelling. The vehicle is using a lot of oil, and blowing black smoke came from the tail pipe. The dealer said this was a common problem for some toyota of this year, make and models, and toyota did have the highest amount of complaints on the consumer complaint website. It started to blow the black smoke driving. Took vehicle to dealer, and the dealership said it was a oil gelling problem. Dealership stated that the motor would have to be torn to...

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find out what caused this problem. This would be at the consumer's expense. Manufacturer said they would not be able to help the consumer with this problem. There was an extended warranty on this vehicle, and the manufacturer stated that this would not be covered due to the maintenance that had done on the vehicle. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10137247
Engine & cooling

I bought a toyota saquoia limited 4x4 used in 2003. When I tookit to a friends house her husband siad I should get that ticking noise checked out. I told him that all of the suv's at the dealership made the ticking noise. Well, he was right. When I took it in to be inspected I was told that I had a cracked manifold. The mechanic said that all of the toyota suv's and trucks have problems with their manifolds. If this is true, why have they not done a recall to correct the problem? I manifold is not a cheap part to replace.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10129319
Engine & cooling

I have 2002 toyota 4-runner with 55,000 miles. After seeing black, dark smoke from the exaust system, I thought it needed tune-up. I took to johnstons toyota dealer for tune-up (over $500.00), And came back the car was getting worst. Took the car back to the dealer to look at it why? I was told that I needed to flush my engine (another $100.00), And once again the car got even worst. Took back for the third time, I was told that server sludge and it needed to tear down engine to clean/repair (they asked me to...

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pay $6,100.00 Which I refused). I asked dealer to contact toyota for power train warrantee but they declined because they blamed for lack of lubrication. If one followed the owner's manual and engine indicated that lack of lubrication, one should conclude that it is defective engine (or some other related parts) that cause to burn oil more than it needed. However, toyota refuse to review or take a close look at the problem. I think this is ridiculous that toyata does not back up its warrantee and accept the responsibility for defective parts of its vehicle.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10108336
Engine & cooling

2002 Toyota 4-runner engine problem. Like other toyota engines, this one at 48,000 miles, has a severe sludge build up problem despite maintenance that has followed recommened preseciptions in the owner's manual. Toyota refuses to honor its power train warrantee in repairing or replacing the engine despite the malfunction. Musson patout has acted in a dishonarable and disreputable manner in repairing this automobile according to warrantees purchased with the vehicle.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10104252
Engine & cooling

Vehicle would smoke when starting. Dealer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 8016993

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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