VehicleVerdict

1990 Toyota 4Runner engine problems

The 1990 Toyota 4Runner has 43 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 45% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

43

Engine complaints

45%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

4Runner engine complaints by model year124 complaints1986: 6 complaints1988: 2 complaints1989: 2 complaints1990: 43 complaints1991: 23 complaints1992: 19 complaints1993: 20 complaints1994: 30 complaints1995: 124 complaints1996: 27 complaints1997: 14 complaints1998: 16 complaints1999: 19 complaints2000: 17 complaints2001: 18 complaints2002: 17 complaints2003: 101 complaints2004: 45 complaints2005: 30 complaints2006: 18 complaints2007: 10 complaints2008: 9 complaints2009: 4 complaints2010: 3 complaints2011: 6 complaints2012: 5 complaints2013: 3 complaints2014: 5 complaints2015: 8 complaints2016: 6 complaints2017: 2 complaints2018: 5 complaints2019: 6 complaints2022: 2 complaints2023: 2 complaints2025: 2 complaints
4Runner engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRUCK, AND SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO PRESSURE WHEN SHE HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND SHE SMELLED FUEL. ALSO SHE HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IN JULY, THE MILEAGE WAS 75000 ON THE TRUCK. THE SHORT BLOCK WAS REPLACED . THEN THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WA STOWED TO THE DEALER FOR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 3, 1998 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1990 Toyota 4Runner have?

NHTSA has 43 complaints about the 1990 Toyota 4Runner engine — 45% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.