Faults:

Have owned my 1995 4 Runner for seven years...

Started having problems about three years ago when the #6 plug kept fouling... took it to the mechanic four times to have the plug replaced...

In 2007 took it in for the same reason... car was missing badly... they took it apart and said the #6 head was shot... head gasket was blown... they repaired it, $1,870...

Almost two years to the day, noticed car missing badly, bad shaking at idle... took it to my mechanic... #6 head blown again... gasket shot... now needs even more extensive work... well over $3,000 to fix everything that this blown head gasket has caused.

Two blown head gaskets within two years... that's a joke.. Toyota should be held responsible for this shoddy workmanship... anyone want to buy a super clean Toyota, with a blown engine.. (LOL) Seriously, they should not be allowed to get away with this...

Anyone have any ideas as who to call at Toyota,

I'd like to give them my two cents worth.. if nothing else..

Faults:

My head gasket blew at 174,000. One had been replaced by a previous owner.

General Comments:

The car is comfortable to drive and ride in. It is low on power though.

Faults:

Blown head gaskets.

Steering components.

Coolant leaks.

Cruise control.

Speedometer cable.

Rear window motor...

Head gaskets leaked at 174000, and Toyota will NOT cover the repairs or recall the motor for head gasket defects.

Faults:

I got the 4Runner with 147,500 miles & the head gasket blew at 149,900 miles. I have spoken to 3 independent mechanics, who stated the 3VZ 3.0 engine has a common problem the design of the head gasket. I had 3 different quotes for the head gasket rebuild for an average of $1700. One of the shops specializes in total engine rebuilds (swaps) with a 3 year 100,000 mile warranty for under $3,000.

If you're having a head job done, make sure that a Mirrored Micro-Finish is done with the best gasket you can get. Also I was told that this is a temporary fix, considering that eventually the head gasket will blow again some time down the road.

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

Well, I'm writing this review not because of my expertise. This is my first 4Runner I have ever bought, but I go off-roading with my friend who has a 99 4Runner and I love it. His car isn't lifted, but it gets stuck less than my other friend with a 2003 Jeep with a 4" lift. So I decided to buy a 4Runner of my own.

I didn't have much money, so a 95 was the closest I could get to my friend's 99. My 4Runner is very clean, and runs better then I ever thought a 15 year old car could. The problem is I can't let this 4Runner die because I don't have enough money for a new car.

I heard a lot about the head gaskets blowing, but this one just got a brand new one about 10,000 miles ago, and the old one didn't blow, they actually used the old one on a different 4Runner so hopefully I don't have to worry about the head gasket.

Again, I'm no expert, and outside of general engine parts, I don't know much. So I'm wondering if there is something else I should take care of before the snow melts here in Michigan and I take my 4Runner off road?

Faults:

Head gasket blew for second time at 143,000 miles. First replacement was at 89,000. Toyota refuses to repair twice.

General Comments:

Has been expensive to maintain.