1995 Toyota 4Runner SR5 from North America - Comments

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.

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".

I don't think that your car sounds bad enough for you to get so upset about it. so you blew a head gasket, get it fixed. you got about 100k out of that one, not that bad. read some reviews on jeeps and people replacing brake rotors every 10,000 miles and the manufacturer says that is normal.

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.

Same story here.

95-2WD. New motor (Japanese recycle) replaced at 105K due to who knows what. Toy dealer wanted $7500 to replace/rebuld. I have no idea where the engine oil went. Not on the driveway. I replaced my oil religously every 3000-4000 miles. 155K and now I need head gaskets (at least). I'm getting an Accord and maybe part out the 4Runner or sell it "as is" to someone or on Ebay, or start yanking the 2nd 3.slow out of it and see if I can cram a 5.0 H.O. mustang motor in it. Who knows!??! Matrix developers should be lined up and shot. Want a real bad Toyota experience?... Go test drive one of those. They have redesigned the new 4Runner to look like a freakking Ford/Mazda Ezploder Escape?? Humm, and I used to ragg about owning my new 91 Explorer, but at least I got 98,000 out of it without having to repalce the motor. Wonder if trading it for the 95 4Runner was such a great idea after all? No more yotas for me. Their local dealer service shop has gone to shiP. I took the Runner to them 2 weeks before the head gasket blew because the ride was shakking. They told me I have a vaccuum leak and should replace he intake hose. Did that, now I need a new ride.

I-Vtec me! Peace.

I have a response to the first comment, I would much rather replace the brakes on my Jeep every so often than have to fix a blown head gasket all the time. The brakes are something you can knock out on one day if you know what you're doing. A head gasket takes a couple of days, therefore leaving you w/o a ride while it is in the shop. Besides, Jeeps are stronger than 4Runners. Jeep all the way!

So you would rather replace your Jeeps brakes every 10,000 miles than replace your head gaskets every 100,000 miles? So your argument was time, let's see: Replacing head gaskets=about 2 days right? Replacing brakes every 10,000 miles= a total of 10 days in 100,000 miles. No thanks, you can keep your rust bucket.

Very nice come back Toyota guy! I've owned a Jeep CJ7 and currently own a '92 4Runner. Jeeps are great off-roaders, but for overall reliability and value, Jeep doesn't come close to Toyota.

I bought a used '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with 56K miles on it... have put 40K on it and just now after the 40K have I had to replace brakes/rotors...friends with Jeeps say the same... I think a few bad apples spoiled that tree.

I had a friend who replaced 3 transfer cases on his Grand Cherokee of that genre - no thanks. My 95 4runner's head gasket blew with only 80k on it - dealer said it was lack of maintenance, yeh right. turns out the recall only affects vehicles with the 3.0 v6 built before 10/94 - mine was built 4/95. I continue to submit complaints, but no success yet. I just want reimbursed for the part & labor since I had it done at a dealer. I've since put 175k on it with only replacing the radiator. Great vehicle, but toyota needs to step up & be accountable for a failed part.

Your engine will not overheat unless you're leaking coolant/water. So in my case a $120 radiator was the result of a blown head on my 1992 Toyota SR5 with 180k, but a week including the pressure test on the heads and it's running again.