6th Sep 2007, 09:32

I own a Toyota $runner. It has approx. 140K total miles on the truck. Now needing to put the fourth engine in the truck. I will most likely have this truck crushed and put it on public display. Then have it shipped to Toyota corp. So they can put it on display. The truck is in very good condition. Although it does not run again. It has been serviced regularly. I did not know putting new engines was part of normal service. AS I do the math this $runner will have cost about $20.00 per mile to drive.

25th Nov 2009, 14:38

What kind of mechanic are you using to install the head gasket? Must be a fly by night guy that doesn't know what he's doing. Why would he need to replace it more than once? You should be complaining about your mechanic not TOYOTA.

27th Nov 2009, 18:20

This has pretty much been our experience with Japanese vehicles as well. Four engines in 140,000 miles sounds typical for a Toyota. Four transmissions in that time seems typical for a Honda. We solved the problem. We bought GM and neither of them has cost us a dime in repairs. The oldest has 85,000 miles, the newest 80,000. The newest one hasn't even had the brake pads replaced. One battery and one set of tires is all it has ever had.

28th Nov 2009, 12:25

140,000 miles is the most I've ever gotten out of a domestic with the original engine and tranny. Have yet to have a Honda that didn't make 250,000 miles with zero repairs.

28th Nov 2009, 13:02

We no longer have any need to keep ANY vehicle 100,000 miles, but the Buick my family sold last year had gone 277,000 miles with not one single repair. Just belts, hoses, 2 brake jobs and tires and batteries.

None of our imports even made it out of warranty without pretty serious problems.

28th Nov 2009, 13:37

Why would you get rid of a vehicle before 100,000 miles? I try to keep my vehicles at least 150,000 miles. The domestic I owned that only made 140,000 was the only vehicle I've ever owned that didn't make my 150,000 mile mark. And if the car beats that mark, I just keep driving it. My first Honda was sold at 467,000 miles simply because I decided it was time for a change. The person I sold it to kept it another 5 years and 150,000 miles before it finally needed a new transmission, which was most likely their fault because I sold it to a teen as his first car, and we all know teens are REALLY hard on their cars.

29th Nov 2009, 13:03

"Why would you get rid of a vehicle before 100,000 miles?'

Well, that's quite simple. I currently work from my home office and have put a whopping 8,000 miles on my current three-year-old car. At that rate I'd be 110 years old before I had 100,000 miles on it. I get tired of cars before then.

30th Nov 2009, 14:43

Understandable. Just wondered why anyone would do that. But if that's the case then I can see why.

3rd Jan 2011, 09:40

People, when you actually learn how to spell and make sense in your comments then list one!

Anyways, I rarely ever see a domestic ever get 200000 miles with a total engine overhaul. I've had a Nissan that has well over that, close to 300000 miles with a single engine repair or power train other than a you joint one time. I also currently have a 4Runner with around 100000 miles with any problems so far.

I might add one thing, I don't baby those vehicles, I mean I really push them hard. For comparison I had a GM that didn't even get 75000 miles before the engine blew and a second Dodge same thing.

So before you speak look at the facts, read the books, read other people's experiences.

3rd Jan 2011, 17:01

"So before you speak look at the facts, read the books, read other people's experiences."

I did. That's why I drive only domestics. After three very unreliable imports (1 German, 2 Japanese) we drive nothing but Ford, GM or Dodge.

Ford currently outranks Toyota in quality (as does GM) and after buying our first brand new domestic car (a Chrysler product), we have NEVER had a single engine or transmission failure in ANY domestic. That includes a Ford with over 300,000 miles, a Dodge with a quarter million miles, and a Buick with over 270,000 miles.

Our current oldest vehicle is an 8-year-old GM with just under 100,000 miles. In the time we have owned the car, it has had one battery and one set of tires. Even the brake pads are original. When cleaned up, it could pass for brand new.

So, yes, by all means DO read up on new cars, talk to owners and read reviews by unbiased sources (not Japanese car ad brochures). We did. That's why both our last two car purchases were Fords.

5th Feb 2011, 00:04

I just bought a 1994 Toyota 4runner from my neighbor for $300. It is in great shape and has new tires, so I could not let it go to the scrap yard. It is a six cyl. 3.0L. He could not afford to fix it. 3 weeks ago I took it to my mechanic, and he installed new head gasket, timing belt and water pump, and resurfaced the heads for almost $1900.

Now today Feb 4 2011 I happen to read these comments about the recall and the head problems. Does anyone think I could possibly be reimbursed? Or may be it was fixed before and they didn't check the heads? It has 155000 miles on it.

Thank you all for your comments. I wish I had read them earlier, or may be it wouldn't have mattered. Still, it is very interesting.

Thanks again jjk710@yahoo.com

12th May 2011, 18:06

1994 Ford E350 van sold with 485,000 miles, original engine and trans. Buyer still driving it.

1990 Ford E150 van sold with 275,000 miles, original engine and trans. Buyer still driving it.

Purchased a 1994 Ford E250 van last year with 264,000 miles on it and have put gas in it (and oil changes) so far, along with almost 25,000 miles.

Purchased new 2001 Toyota Sequoia. Put new exhaust manifolds (should've lasted a life time and Toyota wouldn't fess up to a design flaw) at 74,000 miles, then a new trans at 101,000 miles, four rear gate latches and many brake pads because Toyota seriously under designed the brakes.

I'll stick with Ford.

15th Jul 2012, 11:05

I have a 94 4Runner, and the only thing that's been wrong was the starter and CV axles. It has been an awesome truck. I have hardly any problems, and I go trail riding 2 times a week.

16th Jul 2012, 22:00

Comment 18:06 pretty much mirrors our experience with domestics versus imports. We now will only buy Ford or GM vehicles.

17th Jul 2012, 10:07

It's close to a 20 year old car. Not sure where the tired, worn-out domestic versus import debate fits into this...

17th Jul 2012, 10:24

Here in Western Australia, your life literally depends on your vehicle when you take it into the Great Beyond. Nobody - and I do mean NOBODY - takes a Ford or Holden. They take a Toyota, a Nissan, or a Mitsubishi. My 1995 Landcruiser 80 series has 523000kms on the clock, and starts first time every time, without fail. The original clutch lasted over 200,000kms. It is still on the original engine and gearbox, and the most major mechanical work it has received to date was two new drive shafts at around 300,000kms. Even the air con works. It tows a boat trailer at weekends, and spends a fair amount of time in low range at the beach, so it doesn't get used for the school run like some 4x4s do.

Keep your Fords and Holdens. I'll pick you up from the side of the road next time I'm passing you. I just hope you're still alive after your vehicle leaves you stranded in the Nullarbor.