1993 Toyota 4Runner SR5 from North America - Comments

Head gasket blew 2 days ago on my wife's 93 4runner; apparently this is a fairly large and widespread problem with 4runners.

I have called my local dealer and of course it has already been replaced under the recall in 98. So what do you suggest I do I asked, half knowing what they were going to say. "Well there's really nothing we can do, why don't you bring it in and have it looked at".

As far as I'm concerned I'm done with "it'll run forever" and "Toyotas last way longer than there American counterparts". Toyota, thanks for nothing.

What do you want and expect from a car that is 15 years old has 150,000 miles on the clock? A cylinder head gasket is not a major issue! You might have a right to complain if the car was 2 years old with 20,000 on it but really!

Take it to your local non-franchised repairer and get it done for a third of the price.

I think your comments and scores need to be reality checked!

A head gasket is a huge deal, especially on an overhead cam engine. Who are you trying to kid? This is just another predictable Toyota apologetic, that we see whenever somebody reports on one of Toyota's numerous problems.

It is a very well known fact that Toyota's are highly prone to head gasket failures and many other very serious issues (e.g., engine sludge, frames snapping, etc). But, these types of issues are not common on other brands. I have never had a head gasket failure or any other serious issues with any of my vehicles (all domestic), which in many cases had mileages far in excess of 150,000.

My brother's 1989 Ford Ranger currently has 420,000+ miles on the original engine and transmission, and it has never had a head gasket failure or any serious problems.

You want to make excuses for Toyota? Why don't you explain all of these complaints at Consumer Affairs against Toyota about low mileage engine failures and other extremely serious problems:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html

Toyota "quality" is a myth, more so today than ever. It is arguable that they may have made some decent cars in the 1980's when were able to get by on using old tried and true old school technology that they copied from everyone else. But, once new stringent OBDII regulations came about in 1996, Toyota was forced to develop sophisticated new technology on their own and the result was a pure disaster. Today's Toyota's are some of the worst vehicles on the road, and people are starting to realize it. I would sooner buy a Kia or Hyundai than a Toyota.

If Toyotas after the 1980s are worse than domestic cars, an implication which is simply preposterous, (especially based primarily on the anecdotal evidence of the "lone" Ranger) how come they are second behind Honda in average longevity-according to Car Doc in Triple A mag? Does your database extend beyond the limited reach of the American Automobile Association? What part of "we're pretty darn patriotic yet we gotta level with you and our sources are impeccable" would you wish to argue?

I just got a '93 Toyota 4Runner as my first vehicle. All it needs is brakes and a brake line, because the original owner didn't take care of it properly. Also they didn't take care of it totally. But that's OK, I'll just some money into and etc.. and make it my own and take care of my new vehicle. :) Not a big deal.