1992 Toyota 4RUNNER: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 53 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (32% of complaints); the 1994 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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”Owner report · Engine · May 2015
“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. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 2008
“Left rear tire blew out on left hand gradual turn on gravel road 8/12/07. Right rear tire blew out on a straight level gravel road in early july. Both occasions at or below posted speed limit for conditions. Hankook dynamic rf04 lt235/75/r15 6 pr *tr”Owner report · Tires · Aug 2007
Show 7 more owner reports
“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? *nm”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2007
“Dt*: the contact stated while turning a corner, the steering became inoperable causing the driver to crash into a garbage can. A NHTSA recall letter#05v389000 concerning the relay rod was performed on the vehicle four months before the crash. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who gave no diagnosis for the problem.”Owner report · Steering · May 2006
“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. *jb”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2005
“Spontaneous combustion. Fire inspector/investigator reports finding electrical charge that happened in bundle of wires leading to heater controls "leaving nothing more than the end of the fused wires that were connected to it." toyota 4runner was quickly and completely on fire due to an "electrical failure and/or short.*jb”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2005
“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. *jb”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 2004
“While driving at 35 mph applied brakes and pedal went down to the floor. It took longer for vehicle to stop. Consumer stopped the vehicle on the parking lot, went under the vehicle, and discovered a corroded brake line that was leaking fluid. Dealer notified. *ak”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jun 2004
“The driver side of the 1992 toyota 4-runner's driver side electric window when being pushed down all the way to activate the automatic down and letting go while the window is still going down the flick button towards the up position instead of stopping it goes up to the automatic mode (going up) and continues on till it completely closes the window. *la”Owner report · Visibility · Sep 2003
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
How other years compare
Check your exact 4RUNNER by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER reliable?
NHTSA has 53 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (32% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 141,000 miles or less.
Does the 1992 Toyota 4RUNNER have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.