1990 Toyota 4Runner Engine

THIS SPECIFIC TOYOTA FORERUNNER MODEL HAD A RECALL FOR GASKET FAILURE. WE HAD IT REPLACED AT APPX 74,000 MILES DONE BY TOYOTA AS A COURTESY RECALL. THIS TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE CONSIDERING THE AGE OF THE TRUCK, ABOUT 148,000 MILES. IT RECENTLY ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE OVERHEATING AFTER ANOTHER GASKET FAILURE. WE FEEL THAT EITHER THE ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS NOT PROPERLY COMPLETED OR ANOTHER FAULTY GASKET WAS INSTALLED. IT'S AMAZING THAT BOTH TIMES THE GASKET FAILED AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE, 75,000. THIS CAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND GARAGED WITH A SINGLE OWNER.

FAN BLADE DISINTEGRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DENTED HOOD, CRACKED BATTERY, RUINED SHROUD AND ALTERNATOR BELT. *TR

I BROUGHT MY TOYOTA TO THE REPAIR SHOP,THE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME MY CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET AND TOLD ME TO CALL THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. I CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT AGAIN. I THINK THAT IS NOT FAIR FOR A CONSUMER TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. KEEPS BLOWING HEAD GASKET BUT ONLY REPAIR ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH. *JB

HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. VALVE PROBLEMS

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 4RUNNER USED IN 1998. THE MILEAGE AT PURCHASE WAS ONLY 30K, AS IT HAD BEEN USED PRIMARILY FOR DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE ORIGINAL OWNER INFORMED ME THAT A NOTICE HAD BEEN SENT BY TOYOTA REGARDING HEAD GASKET FAILURES (TSB #97121797017), AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD HONOR THE REPAIRS (IF NECESSARY) UP TO 100K MILES, REGARDLESS OF TIME SINCE ORIGINAL USE. THE TSB, HOWEVER, STATES THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LASTS UNTIL 8 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL USE OR 100K MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. SINCE OCTOBER 2000, I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW ENGINE IDLING (AND STALLING) AFTER DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. ON AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, I HAVE ASKED THAT THE VEHICLE'S IDLE SPEED BE ADJUSTED AND THE THROTTLE PLATE BE CLEANED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL JUST RECENTLY THAT THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I GO TO HERE IN GLENDALE, CA REPORTED THIS DIAGNOSIS AFTER I QUESTIONED THEM ON WHY THE VEHICLE NEEDED REPEATED IDLE SPEED ADJUSTMENTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS 99K. I HAVE APPROACHED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INQUIRE IF THEY WILL AUTHORIZE A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT FOR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE PROBLEM IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF AND PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR IN THIS CASE DESPITE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, AS THE ENGINE BEGAN EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WELL BELOW THE 100K MILEAGE REQUIREMENT THAT TOYOTA ORIGINALLY STATED THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO REPAIR IN THE TSB. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FURTHER I CAN DO REGARDING THIS MATTER, AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT CAN BE PROVIDED.

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A BANGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHITE SMOKE, AND FIRE IN THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED

I PURCHASED MY 4RUNNER USED IN 1998. THE MILEAGE AT PURCHASE WAS ONLY 30K, AS IT HAD BEEN USED PRIMARILY FOR DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE ORIGINAL OWNER INFORMED ME THAT A NOTICE HAD BEEN SENT BY TOYOTA REGARDING HEAD GASKET FAILURES (TSB #97121797017), AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD HONOR THE REPAIRS (IF NECESSARY) UP TO 100K MILES, REGARDLESS OF TIME SINCE ORIGINAL USE. THE TSB, HOWEVER, STATES THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LASTS UNTIL 8 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL USE OR 100K MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. SINCE OCTOBER 2000, I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW ENGINE IDLING (AND STALLING) AFTER DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. ON AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, I HAVE ASKED THAT THE VEHICLE'S IDLE SPEED BE ADJUSTED AND THE THROTTLE PLATE BE CLEANED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL JUST RECENTLY THAT THE SOURCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I GO TO HERE IN GLENDALE, CA REPORTED THIS DIAGNOSIS AFTER I QUESTIONED THEM ON WHY THE VEHICLE NEEDED REPEATED IDLE SPEED ADJUSTMENTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS 99K. I HAVE APPROACHED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INQUIRE IF THEY WILL AUTHORIZE A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT FOR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE PROBLEM IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF AND PREVIOUSLY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR IN THIS CASE DESPITE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, AS THE ENGINE BEGAN EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WELL BELOW THE 100K MILEAGE REQUIREMENT THAT TOYOTA ORIGINALLY STATED THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO REPAIR IN THE TSB. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FURTHER I CAN DO REGARDING THIS MATTER, AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT CAN BE PROVIDED.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED UNDER THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WARRANTY, BUT BLEW OUT 5000 MILES LATER.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NLM

WHILE STARTING ENGINE REVVED A LITTLE AND COOLING FAN EXPLODED, PIECE OF FAN FLEW AS FAR AS 30 FEET AWAY, ALMOST INJURING A BYSTANDER. FAN PIERCED A HOLE IN BATTERY, ALLOWING ACID TO SPILL ONTO THE FLOOR. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A POOR DESIGN IN COOLING FAN. AND A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A RECALL ISSUED BY MANUFAC. ON THE HEAD GASKET, BUT THAN IT BLEWUP AGAIN. CONSUMER ALSO FOUND PAPER IN OIL PAN. DEALER WILL REPAIR BUT ON CONSUMER'S COSTS.*AK

MY TOYOTA 4-RUNNER BLEW A HEAD GASKET 10 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. I CONTACTED BOTH RENO TOYOTA AND CARSON TOYOTA. NIETHER DEALER WERE HELPFULL IN RECALL INFORMATION. AFTER REPLACING THE MOTOR, MY MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS A COMMON ACCURANCE IN THE 4-RUNNER TO HAVE FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. I THEN CONTACTED CARSON TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT NOT PAY FOR ANYONE ELSE TO DO SO. BY THE TIME THEY CONTACTED ME THE WORK WAS COMPLETE AND A BILL OF OVER $6500 WAS INCURED. I DONT BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE OFFERED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT EXISTED. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY RECALL INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA, AND I WAS HOPING YOU COULD HELP. THANKYOU , RON COLLINS. *AK

ENGINE BLEW AT 13000 MILES AND VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND CUTTING OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN FOR OIL CHANGE 4 WEEKS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. STOPPED AT A JIFFYLUBE, AND FOUND OIL VERY LOW. FILLED WITH OIL AND WAS TOLD THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE I THREW A ROD, BUT IT SHOULD BE OKAY TO GET ME WHERE I WAS GOING (ABOUT 5 MILES UP THE ROAD). APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES LATER, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE BANGING STOPPED. THE SMOKE BECAME VERY BAD, AND I WAS ABOUT TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION WHEN SOMEONE PULLING OUT YELLED TO ME THAT IT WAS ON FIRE (IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT). I GOT ME AND MY 2 SMALL BOYS OUT, AND CAME HOME THAT SAME NIGHT TO THE HEAD GASKET RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA, WHO SENT SOMEONE OUT TO INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE WAS NOT KNOWN, AND IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS READING MORE HORROR STORIES ABOUT THIS ON YOUR SITE. WHAT CAN BE DONE? MY VEHICLE WAS PAID FOR AND MY INSURANCE DID NOT COVER FIRE. WHY DID IT TAKE THEM SO LONG TO GET THE HEAD GASKET RECALL NOTICE TO ME? IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I BASICALLY DROPPED THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS FIGURING I WAS FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE, UNTIL I DISCOVERED THIS SITE. THANKS.*AK

WATER IS BEING SUCKED INTO ENGINE, AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THERE IS A DEFECT IN HEAD ENGINE GASKET. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

STARTED AND LOW SPEED STRANGE NOISE AND ANTIFREZE SPEWING, HEAD GASKET BLOWN (REPLACED IN 1998) ONLY 42 K MILES INTO NEW GASKET. *AK

THREW A ROD, RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. COMPLETE OIL LOSS BLAMED - CAUSE UNKNOWN. HEAD GASKET REPLACED IN APRIL OF 1996. THIS OCCURRED IN MAY OF 1997.*AK

VALVES .LOW COMPRESSION IN ONE CYLINDER AFTER ONLY 25,000 MILES ON NEW VALVE JOB. *AK

CONSUMER STARTED UP THE CAR AND SAW A BIG PUFF OF SMOKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*AK *SLC

THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE (COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO THE CYLINDER) IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 3VZ-E ENGINE, TOYOTA INITIATED A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (V06) TO REPAIR MOST, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY DUE TO THE VIN # RANGE. *MJS

WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE AFTER IT HAS BEEN RUNNING ROUGHLY, WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF ENGINE. A TECHNICIAN HAD INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

TOYOTA SENT EXT. NOTICE 03/98. GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS, UP TO 100K MILES. ENGINE HEAD GASKETS DID NOT FAIL IN THAT TIME, BUT 24 MOS LATER AT ONLY 62K MILES, WELL UNDER 100K. STILL, TOYOTA WON'T EXTEND HONORING THE 1998 EXTENSION THOUGH RECORDS ON YOUR NHT

WHITE SMOKE AND LOSS OF POWER. WHEN PARTS WERE ORDERED, WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE IN COMPLETION DUE TO RECALL. *AK