1st gen Toyota 4Runner 1984–1989

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Frame rust All years Walk away if found

  What to check: Tap the inside, outside and bottom of each frame rail with a small hammer. Look hardest above the rear axle by the fuel tank and where the frame bends up.

  Seven members across three threads tell buyers to check the frame closely. A moderator says these frames rust from the inside, so damage shows late, and two members point to the rail near the fuel tank. One says frames are usually sound but must be seen in person.

  Sources ^1,2,3

• Body rust All years

  What to check: Look at the front fenders, inner fender wells, floors, rockers, quarter panels, A-pillars, tailgate and the top's window trim.

  Hagerty says front fenders can be bought new but floors and quarter panels cannot, and Trail4Runner's writer says used panels have to be found. Members call rust on the top's metal trim cosmetic.

  Sources ^1,4,5,2,3

• Head gasket failure V6

  What to check: Look for milky oil under the filler cap and on the dipstick, and for white, sweet-smelling exhaust. Ask whether the gasket was replaced.

  Hagerty ties head gasket trouble to the V6 rather than the four.

  Sources ^6,2,3,7

• Worn timing chain guides Four-cylinder

  What to check: Start it cold and listen for a rattle at the front of the engine. Ask whether metal-backed guides have been fitted.

  Three members in two threads warn that the factory plastic guides wear or break, and the loose chain then rattles and rubs. One of the threads is about a 1990 truck with the same engine.

  Sources ^2,8

• Worn seats and interior All years

  What to check: Look over the seats and upholstery.

  Hagerty says no reproduction seats or upholstery are made, and a specialist it quotes calls good seats hard to find.

  Sources ^4,9

Complaints by year

• 1984 2 complaints
• 1985 2 complaints
• 1986 8 complaints
• 1987 5 complaints
• 1988 9 complaints
• 1989 6 complaints

Counted from NHTSA's complaints on 23 October 2026. A newer year has had less time to draw them.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: Solid front axle 1984–1985

  Hagerty says purists seek out the early trucks and off-roaders like the solid axle, at the cost of a rougher ride. Trail4Runner's writer calls the 1985 one of the most wanted.^4,9,5,6

• Sought after: Independent front suspension 1986–1989

  Two IH8MUD members recommend the later trucks for a softer ride on the road. Hagerty also calls their ride smoother.^3,9

• Sought after: Turbo four-cylinder Turbo One source so far

  Hagerty calls it rare and says many enthusiasts rate it the best 1st gen. It is the only factory-turbo 4Runner sold in North America.⁶

• Sought after: 2.4L four-cylinder Four-cylinder

  Hagerty calls the 22R engines close to indestructible and more reliable than the V6. Trail4Runner's writer calls the 22RE slow but very hard to kill if maintained.^6,10,5

• Avoid: 3.0L V6 V6 Less sought after

  A specialist quoted by Hagerty says most enthusiasts avoid it, and Hagerty ties head gasket trouble to it.^9,6

• Avoid: Automatic All years Less sought after

  Three members in two threads have doubts about the automatic. Two call a 22RE with the automatic slow, though one says theirs gave no trouble, and the third says many buyers steer clear of it.^2,3

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.