Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90, 91-105, 106-120, 121-135, 136-150, 151-165, 166-180, 181-183
Another one for the books, this time from Canada: 95 4runner, 170000 km (105000 miles), blown head gasket. Normally dealer maintained, but had head gasket repair done by local mechanic with great reputation. He said he's seen a few of these. $2800.
Wow! How fortunate I am to have stumbled onto this page! Yet another victim of the head gasket. Took it in for 83k service, and was told that the gasket is going and could be a matter of days or months. As with everyone else, I have been a loyal Toyota customer for the past 20 years, but will never go that route again. Toyota service didn't even have the courtesy to tell me this has been an issue, I heard it second hand from some co-workers with old 4-Runners.
Powsco@aol.com.
Please add me to your list of dissatisfied customers. I have a 96 Toyota 4Runner with the same problem, blown head gasket. From what I understand this is a recalled part that has already been replaced by the previous owner. I have a 119k miles, and unfortunately the dealer will not honor replacing it again. Obviously this is an ongoing problem that needs to be acknowledge and honored as the dealer's responsibility to replace. If there is an ongoing class action law suit, please contact me at lexcoop5@cox.net.
Yes, please contact me if Toyota steps up to this problem at all. I also have a 95 4 runner. It started to overheat about 2 years ago at 139,000 miles. We replaced the fan motor, fuses, fan clutch, and the thermostat. It continued to overheat, we took it to the dealer and they said the heat gasket was fine. Then white steam started to pour out, and it stopped running. We towed it to the shop and they said my head gasket was blown. So we paid 3,000 dollars to fix everything in the cooling system. We got everything replaced, water pump, thermostat again, hoses, timing chain, etc. Now it is overheating again. What is going on!! I am so upset, this car will not stop overheating. What should I do. rochelle1819@hotmail.com.
Add me to the list of 1995 4Runners with a blown head gasket, at 175k. Like the truck, but I think its time to move on to another manufacture since it's obvious Toyota does not want to own up to the problem since I have read of so many failures.
I loved my '95 4Runner, but blew the head gasket in April (156K miles.) and was told my engine model was not covered by the recall. The coolant & water had been leaking for years, but no one could (would?) tell me the problem. Bought a 2006 4Runner as a replacement. After reading this website, I feel like I've made a grave mistake by buying the new model.
Wow!
Me too. My wife bought this thing 4 years ago. I noticed that it was going through alot of coolant while we were dating. Just 6 months before our wedding it blew the head gasket. The mech took care of it for $1500. Now we are just getting over the wedding hype and hard work (3 weeks ago) and bam, again with the white smoke, horrible idle and loss of power. Toyota has a recall on this, but of course, not for this particular vin. I told them that that recall was a sham and that it extends much further than they previously thought. No matter, it won't do anything unless we take legal action as a group. But I will persecute Toyota to no end for not standing behind their history of great cars. This sucks.
I've owned Toyota's all my life and my 95 4Runner is having the same problem, and low and behold, my VIN isn't on the list of recalls. $2800 into a $5000 car is kind of stretching it isn't it?
Same problem.. 105k miles, very well maintained and my head gasket will eventually blow. It hasn't and so I stopped driving the car. I'm not entirely sure what my options are. The dealer told me to check the Recycler publication which has new engines in the back for about $2k + labor. I hope that's the case. If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.. vora@cox.net.
26 and can't really afford $3k+ but can't afford a new car either, so any advice would be helpful.
My 99 4runner started leaking water from the engine seals, took it to the mechanic not 2 weeks ago. They replaced the seals, water pump, timing belt, thermostat. Truck worked OK for 2 weeks and now it seems that it blew the head gasket. I am not sure, but the description of the problem by other people seems to point to that. I was driving down the freeway and all of the sudden started to overheat, I stopped and looked thinking that it might be leaking water again, but there was no sing of water leaking anywhere. The mechanic thinks that the rust took care of the water pump, the seals and know the head gasket and he explained I will probably have to replace the radiator as well. Anybody has had this problem with the 99 model?
Took my well-maintained - mint- 1995 v6 4runner for service the other day... only has 153000km on it. I have owned this vehicle brand-new. low and behold: head gasket leaking coolant. Quoted $1350 at toyota dealer here in canada. of course my vin is not on the list...
Will have it repaired then likely dump it within the year. will I choose toyota again? can't see it happening.
1994 4Runner - 169,000 miles Head Gasket problem.
As I read the comments here, my well maintained 94' 4runner started idling a little rough the other day. Felt like a plug was going bad in one of the cylinders. It would usually clear in 20 seconds. The other day, it happened for 10 minutes.
Went out to start the vehicle yesterday and it wouldn't start. Thought it was the battery. Replaced it to no avail. Towed it to the dealer where he said he thought it was the starter. It wasn't.
They called and said the motor is frozen. They want $1200 to inspect (not fix) the motor, but suspect it is the head gasket problem known to be a problem on 4runners. Uggh.
I was convinced my Toyota would go to 300K miles, but I guess Toyota had problems with the V6 motor that I happen to have.
Bummed in Tenneessee.
I was convinced (semi) that Toyota's would last longer, but mine died at 140,000 miles. we did regular mantience and everything, but at 140,000 one day it just didn't want to start at all. had the starter replaced. didn't work. had the ignition checked out and it was fine. replaced the battery and nothing worked so it died...
Hmm I don't know why you all are complaining.
Every car is going to have problems. My 1988 4runner is just starting to now... I can't find the oil leak, but that's not going to stop me from liking toyota.
You just have to understand that not everything is perfect and get over it.
Why don't you all learn how to fix these kind of problems and do it your self?
Psh.
I bought my 95 4 runner because of Toyota's track record for Dependability and customer service. Boy did I find out the hard way that this is not true when it comes to this make and model year. Blown head gasket at 135,000 miles. I spent $2000 to fix it and now will sell the vehicle because I know this problem will eventually happen again. This is crazy that Toyota will not own up to the problem. Never again will I own a Toyota.