1995 Toyota 4Runner SR5 6 Cylinder from North America

Summary:

The price was right!

Faults:

Rear window - Goes down, but will not come back up. Need to manually pull it up while holding the key. I have taken the tailgate apart, applied light grease to all moving parts, then re-assembled. The window slowly goes up, but still needs help. Not much of an improvement. I don't think these rear window motors like cold weather.

Rust - The previous owner never oil-sprayed or under-coated the vehicle. This is a must up here in salty, snowy and cold Canada. I had some bodywork done to the tailgate and rear-quarter panels. Oil has now been applied under the doors and and around the quarter-panels and fender chrome. The underneath has been oil-sprayed.

Transmission - The transmission has been shifting erratically between 2nd and drive. I'm planning on bringing it into a transmission shop to get it serviced including a new filter and any adjustments that are required.

Fuel mileage - Not very good! I'm consistently getting 13.4 MPG (Imperial) in the city, however, do get excellent mileage (21 mpg) on the highway.

Engine - Leaking oil, but not sure from where. It could be a valve cover gasket. A mechanic briefly looked at the underneath and stated the leak is not coming from the crankshaft seal.

General Comments:

I'm a bit disappointed with my 1995 4Runner, however, I must consider the fact that the previous owner neglected to take care of it. I purchased this vehicle based on my great success of owning a 1989 4Runner. My 1989 has truly been an extraordinary vehicle. Absolutely reliable.

With some good maintenance, I should be able to get this unit back in A1 shape.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th November, 2003

17th Aug 2009, 07:49

Interesting comments. Could have written exact same ones for mine though not as lucky with rear window, still have to hold it all way up, but all other comments duplicate. J. Bell.

1995 Toyota 4Runner SR5 3.0 V6 from North America

Summary:

OK, so far, but some mild disappointments

Faults:

Needed new radiator almost as soon as I bought it, but partly that may be because previous owner apparently never changed the antifreeze.

I haven't had this truck too long, but I basically like it. The engine is too wimpy and awfully hard to work on yourself (especially the spark plugs). I was disappointed in the radiator problem and also with a lot of clunkiness with the shifting of the automatic.

General Comments:

I get 19 mpg, better than I expected. I traded in an 84 Land Cruiser on this, but now wish I hadn't. I miss the simplicity and ruggedness of the old Cruiser -- manual hubs, window cranks, standard transmission, manual choke, etc. But I got a good price for it and decided to get something newer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th November, 2003

1995 Toyota 4Runner SR5 3.0L from North America

Summary:

Reliable, tough, well built

Faults:

Bought Extended Warranty, in for noisy power steering, water pump, alternator, but dealer (Barnett Toyota, Coquitlam, BC) said just needed belt adjustment/lubrication. Quieter, but still noisy and six months later brought in for head gasket recall and suddenly needed new water pump, power steering pump and idler gears!!! Replaced clutch at 185,00 KM, still had 25% pad!

Rad looking little corroded.. no big deal.

General Comments:

Extremely reliable vehicle, but dealer not trust-worthy. I'll find another dealer for next Toyota.

Engine under-powered for this vehicle on highway, but good off-road.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th July, 2003

1995 Toyota 4Runner SR5 from North America

Summary:

Bitter/Sweet

Faults:

I loved this truck up until a few weeks ago when the head gasket blew.

Apparently there were recalls on 1995 4Runners' head gaskets, so I called the corporate office only to find that my VIN # in particular is not covered.

I have maintained the vehicle regularly, replaced the radiator last year and the timing belt at 60,000.

I have had minor problems that were easily remedied in the past, but now the truck is worth nothing and very expensive to fix.

Buyer beware.

General Comments:

I am extremely disappointed as I planned to trade this truck in for a new 4Runner next year. Now I will never buy a Toyota again.

I approached Toyota with the request of trade in, perhaps they could give me something for the truck and I would buy a new one. No deal. Incidentally, Chevy will give me $4500. I am less than pleased at the service I have received from Toyota, their response to me: "We're sorry".

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 25th July, 2003

7th Nov 2003, 10:31

The V6 isn't a bad motor, but that said, I wouldn't own one unless I had a load to haul. The legendary 22RE and earlier motors set the standard and it's a tough one to beat. Consider this, if the truck had a 5 speed manual transmission, a new clutch every 100,000 miles could run about half the price of the head gasket replacement. Most v6's come with automatics. Consider the all the costs associated with operating the vehicle and fuzzier considerations such as inconvienence and utlility.

Often machine shops do not set the valve adjustment correctly and a valve burns latter on. Have the mechanic installing the heads confirm that the machine shop correctly set the valves.

Toyota is trying to compete with all the new tech and ideas out there as Americans feel the need for speed and luxury. I'll stick with time tested old reliable. The 4 cylinder with the 5 speed provides the most cost effective vehicle.

It's too bad the new 2.4 liter is no longer offered in the 4wd.