1995 Toyota 4Runner Limited from North America - Comments

Add me to the list. Unfortunately I just found out that I have two blown head gaskets on my 95 V6 4runner. Is there some kind of law suit going on or something? If so I want in on it. I am still making payments on this car and I will be for the next year and a half because there is nothing that I can do. I am going to try and call the numbers that I found on here and see if they can help me at Toyota, but if anyone knows anything else that I can do please contact me by email as soon as possible. The email address is hacking4kix@yahoo.com.

Thanks

Someone asked why why no trucks have been mentioned having the same issue?

Well, today's your lucky (unlucky actually, considering the outcome) day!

Be prepared, this is a lengthy post.

I purchased my '94 Toyota SR5 4x4 X-cab truck with all the bells and whistles back in Oct. '94

It was my first ever new car purchase, so I was excited to say the least.

Sometime in '97 I went in to my local Toyota dealership to buy a small part, and the parts clerk that I'd become friends with there clued me in on the "voluntary recall" concerning the head gasket issue.

From what I was told however, it wasn't/isn't truly a poor head gasket design. I was told that one of the water passages in the block is extremely close to the #6 cylinder, which causes the coolant to super heat and damage the head gasket, and in some cases warp the head and/or block.

So although I wasn't having any problems with the head gasket when I took the truck in at 60k for a timing belt replacement, I told them the truck was periodically billowing white smoke from the exhaust and was losing power.

The dealership (Toyota of Glendora in So Calif) checked it out and said the head gasket was indeed leaking slightly, and that they would replace both of them under the warranty recall while they replaced my timing belt = saved me some $$$ on the timing belt repair.

Fast forward to 165k miles, and this time the head gasket actually did blow.

So this time I took it to one of those big engine "re-manufacturing" companies to have them totally go through it and freshen everything up.

The passenger side head was replaced since it was warped, and since they were honing the cylinders, I decided to cough up the extra money and just have them bore it 30thou over.

The total cost was $2,400, and it ran better than I recalled it running when I first bought it!

Fast forward again, this time to 210k miles, and the head gasket has blown AGAIN!

Simply having the head gaskets replaced would run me $1,500 (not recommended since the rest of the engine has seen wear), or having the engine gone through again would cost me anywhere from $1,800 (cheap Chinese parts) to $3,000 (OEM parts w/the "redesigned" head gaskets).

I could replace the head gaskets myself IF I had the time (currently I work two jobs), but I'd likely be right back in the same boat "XXX" miles down the road again.

So since two years ago, my truck is basically "art" just sitting under a tarp in my driveway. : (

If you really love your Toyota truck or 4-runner and don't want to part with it, there is a solution out there to remedy this folks!

Swap in a Chevy/GMC 4.3L Vortec V-6 engine.

There's a company in Santa Fe Springs, California (www.DowneyOff-road.com) that sells all the necessary conversion items needed - wiring harnesses from "Painless Wiring", engine adapters and mounts, bell housing adapters, etc.

While the initial investment (about $1,500 ~ $2000 plus the cost of the donor engine) is a bit higher than the cost of fixing the POS 3.0 Toyota engine, guaranteed the 4.3 WILL last longer, and have more power = win-win!

I had initially considered just having a friend tow my truck down to the local Toyota dealership and park it out front at the curb with a sign reading "Toyota won't stand behind their vehicles" or the like on the weekends, but I've wasted enough time and energy on this already.

So now I plan on doing the 4.3 Chevy/GMC engine swap later this year when I have the remainder of the funds needed (Christmas gifts killed my bank account).

In reading all these comments it sounds like a recall was issued for certain VIN's. However, in researching recalls, I do not find anything tied to the 1995 Toyota 4Runner, except for a minor external lighting recall. I checked the NHTSA recall data base at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm

Anybody have the recall information??? I have just purchased a 1995 Limited with 144K miles on the infamous V6 motor referenced in this scary chain, and would like to see if my VIN is part of this recall.

Please email me at larmendariz@netzero.net if you have the recall details.

I personally hope and pray that the head gasket issue is just an Internet frenzy and not a reality. If it's real, doing the preventive maintenance of installing a corrective head gasket prior to blowing the OEM one make sense to me. I was planning on having the timing belt and water pump changed since I don't know the history on the motor. It would be a perfect time to get the head gaskets changed, but I don't want to go through the additional expense without the recall confirmation.

Thanks!!!

Well add me to the list. 95 Runner, V6, was overheating and all that, had the radiator fixed and thermostat replaced... and now its doing it all again, smoke and all, only worse. Hoping to find a good local shop, but who knows. Please let me know if there is anything else that can be done.

Charles Smith

ccsmith5@uiuc.edu.

And yet another one bites the dust. 1995 Toyota 4 Runner 3.0 V6 head gasket which has given me white creamy colored substance where the engine oil dip stick used to have a black oil color substance.

I called the Toyota ph # that someone back in 2005 wrote in a post about this very same problem which was (800-331-4331) and they said the recall was for 96 V6's 4 Runners (certain VIN #'s) She said mine was involved with a Steering Relay Rod recall that if taken to the dealership they will fix for free. It was campaign # 50-N involving 95 4 Runners according to Toyota.

I told her I couldn't get the truck down there because of the head gasket getting fixed first so I can drive it! lol.

Call that number and see if your 96 4 Runners on the list. For us 95 owners too bad!!

But do tell the person on the ph that your want to formally complain with Toyota and she will only get your name, # and address.

Please please please go to this website and file a report I'm going to do it now as well. But go to this site:

Http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/complaintsearch.cfm.

**BE SURE you go to COMPLAINTS (Search Complaints) and not Safety Recalls and then go through the questions it will ask you like below.

The select VEHICLE button to choose will be in the box on the right.

Select the TYPE of Search: Vehicle (submit)

Selected Year: 1995 (submit)

Select Make: TOYOTA (submit)

Select Model: 4 Runner (submit)

Then it will say: Component (optional) : (retrieve complaints)

Just mash the (retrieve complaints) button and there you go... be patient there are a lot of complaints to load so it takes a bit.

OK so there’s all the info so PLEASE file another complaint for the sake of you and everyone else here. And for me for all this typing I did LOL.

I've got the time to do a class action suit so I'm going to check into it and it looks like I can get some support here. I just don't have the money to get my Yota fixed because can't work.

Thanks Kim

ksteele29@yahoo.com

My 95 4Runner also blew a gasket. Got it fixed ($2500), and within 3 months, it did it again. Still making payments on it. I will file the complaints, but if anyone finds out anything, PLEASE contact me barbie@ozarkgifts.com.

Add my 1995 Toyota 4runner with 136,000 miles. Had overheated several times, the last one was not too long ago. Had been leaking for many years now, the mechanic kept relating the problem to the radiator. Radiator was changed, fuel pump replaced, but still overheated. The head gasket blew up when my son was driving to the market a few weeks ago. I was very frustrated with the problem. The mechanic was charging me $2,500 to fix it.

Please contact me: alicepanganiban@hotmail.com.

I bought a 1995 SR5 4Runner (134K miles) two weeks ago. Immediately drove it to Durango and back (800 miles) over three days. Ran like a watch - no overheating, no white smoke, has always started right up.

Yesterday the rear window would not go down properly so I took it to the Boulder Toyota dealer. He just called me ($400 to replace the motor in the tailgate).

Also, my antifreeze was low by a quart so they looked into this and told me that my head gasket leaks. $1,000 to take it apart and another $1,000 to replace the gasket.

I asked the mechanic if it is worth replacing and he said it probably was as everything else on the truck is good.

Very disappointed (edlindgren@yahoo.com).

Just like everyone else, my 95 4Runner is dead. My problem seems a little different than the rest of these stories. My truck ran great except that there was a ticking noise coming from the motor. My wife had wrecked the car that she was driving and was forced to drive the Toyota for a couple of weeks. In the second week I got a call from the side of the road. The truck did not overheat but it will not turn over. Has anyone else had this problem or is this the same thing? The truck has 199,000 miles on it.

I too am a victim of Toyota. I have a 94 4runner. It gets hot after 5 miles. I have removed the thermostat even though the manual says not to. It will save your motor from overheating until Toyota can fix this problem. Count me in as well in this lawsuit.

Add me to the list, 1995 4-runner. Blew a head gasket today.

If anyone has the recall info please email me.

I have not seen anyone that has gotten the recall. Was there really one?

Fsunoles1962@optonline.net Thanks.

Add me to the list have 95 4 runner bought used 11900 in 2000 not six weeks later head gasket did not know of recall just fixed also burnt valve repaired and ran great then at 190000 blew another head gasket but this time more damage rebuilt engine complete.. had I read earlier reports would have surfaced bloc deck yet reading on would have been a wast of money any way now at 260000 blew another head gasket surfaced heads and good brand gaskets I know it won't last but a year or two and I will do a conversion 350 or 4.3 or even toyo v8 got to do some research lawsuit count me in email me at rexamillion59@hotmail.com I love my 4 runner but hate that 3.0 I hope some one gets something going.

I bought a 95-4runner in 97. I took it into the Toyota dealership for an oil change and they replaced my head gasket free of charge. They said it was a recall. I now have 204,000 on original engine. My cousin had a 94-4runner and his head gasket blew. The dealership said they would not fix it. My uncle then sent documentation on his loyalty to Toyota over the years and my recall experience and asked Toyota to fix it for free. They did.

Well, add me to the list of suckers. I traded my $11,500 Harley Super-Glide for a 95 4runner with only 123k miles on it (Hey it's a Toyota, slap on back, slap on back) The guy even had two Christian fish on his sign. He told me that it had been WELL cared for, he knew the owner well.

I took it to the dealership for some minor work, I thought (valve cover oil leak). Had to put new timing belt, water-pump, new belts, valve cover gaskets. FIFTEENHUNDRED BUCKS!!! Two weeks ago,138k miles, it started blowing white smoke and using coolant. Went to independent shop and was told it was covered by recall for the blown head gasket. The date is right to be covered!Called Toyota... NOT COVERED! They told me to call the dealership where I had all that work done and see if they would help me. Why the Sam Hill should I need help??? The date is within the recall!!! I'm waiting for the service manager to call me back now. I'm considering parking it in front of the dealership with a BIG sign on it that says this truck is trash and Toyota won't fix a recalled problem. I've got a lot of time on my hands.

LAWSUIT??? COUNT ME IN!!! tmty05@onr.com Please contact me if you can help. I'm an old crippled up guy (that's why I traded my Harley, couldn't ride anymore) stuck on disability having to live on less than a grand a month. That Harley was the only thing I had that was worth anything. Sure wish I had done some research BEFORE getting that 4runner!!!

SUV BUYERS BEWARE!!!

I also own a 1995 4runner 3.0 SR5 model. A friend owed me money and gave it to me. Little did I know... it had a blown head gasket.

I called the recall line after reading all the posts on here, and apparently the head gasket was already replaced under recall in 1998. So I missed out on that. But I put K & G Block Sealer in it... an hour later, no more leaks, no more smoking. I also took the thermostat to relieve stress and pressure on the seals. I just finished all this about 2 hours ago. Everything seems to be running fine so far. I'm going to leave it for a couple days and run it around.

I'll keep updating posts over the next few days. Also, if any of you decide to use the K & G Block Seal please read this website first.

http://www.myhonestmechanic.com/articles/engine-block-sealer-additive.shtml

Mike

Northeast Florida.