Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Toyota 4Runner, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 28 | 35% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 10% |
| Structure | 7 | 9% |
| Tires | 7 | 9% |
| Steering | 6 | 8% |
| Wheels | 5 | 6% |
| Visibility | 4 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 4% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY VEHICLE WAS IN A ACCIDENT ON THE PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL THE DAMAGE CAUSED A ELECTRICAL OUTAGE TO ALL THE BLINKERS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS THEY LOCKED UP AND STOPPED WORKIN
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THIS TOYOTA 4-RUNNER THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. THEY LEAKED. A RECALL WAS (SUPPOSEDLY) DONE. 100,000 MILES LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAD TO BE FIXED AGAIN. I CONTAC
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF OIL. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND UPON EXITI
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER . THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO FALL OFF. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THIS IS A FAILURE THAT HAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT . I OWN A 1994 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAS BROKEN MORE THAN 3 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE KEY THAT FITS INTO THE SLOT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ENGINE BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. TOYOTA REPAIRED UNDER RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND NOW IT WILL COST ME $1,900.00 TO REPAIR THEIR POOR QUALI
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1994 TOYATA 4RUNNER. 98K ON ENGINE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I BOUGHT 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER USED. THE OUTFIT NEEDED NEW TIRES WHEN I TRIED TO REMOVER THE WHEELS I COULD NOT GET THEM OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER ALOT OF WORK THEY FINALLY CAME OFF. WHEN I REINSTALLED THEM I USED ANTI-SEIZE A
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1994 Toyota 4Runner. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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.
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 RELA
Risk: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN 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 D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 84 | excellent |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 28 of them (35%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.