2nd gen Toyota 4Runner 1990–1995

Watch out for

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

• Head gasket failure V6

  What to check: Ask for records of head gasket work and which gaskets were used, and look for signs of past overheating. Members say a dealer can look up by VIN whether Toyota's head gasket work was done.

  Trail4Runner calls it a common 3.0 problem.

  Sources ^1,2,3,4

• Rust in the tailgate and body All years

  What to check: Look over the tailgate, the area around the rear glass and the body panels.

  Two members in two threads say the bodies rust badly, one naming the tailgate and the area around the rear window. Trail4Runner says there is little factory support left for body parts.

  Sources ^2,4,1,5

• Rear window that drops or sticks All years One source so far

  What to check: Run the tailgate glass all the way down and up a few times.

  Five members in one thread offer causes. Three point to a failing motor or worn gears between the motor and the regulator, one cured theirs by lubricating a dry track, and one suspects the relay.

  Sources ⁶

• Slow engagement into reverse Automatics One source so far

  What to check: Shift from park and from neutral into reverse, and feel for a delay.

  Consumer Guide blames weak springs inside the transmission.

  Sources ⁷

• Transfer case slip or chatter 4WD, 1990–1992 One source so far

  What to check: Feel for slip or chatter when accelerating.

  Consumer Guide puts it down to a leaking or damaged clutch in the transfer case.

  Sources ⁷

• Clutch judder 4WD manuals, 1990–1994 One source so far

  What to check: Pull away from a stop and feel for judder.

  Consumer Guide says Toyota fitted a larger clutch to 4x4 models because of it.

  Sources ⁷

• Heavy oil use from sludge 1993–1995 One source so far

  What to check: Ask how much oil it uses between changes.

  Consumer Guide blames sludge on the cylinder heads and says Toyota extended the warranty. It does not say which engine.

  Sources ⁷

Complaints by year

• 1990 79 complaints
• 1991 43 complaints
• 1992 53 complaints
• 1993 53 complaints
• 1994 71 complaints
• 1995 175 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: 22RE four-cylinder Four-cylinder

  Nine members across three threads prefer the 22RE to the V6 for reliability and easy repairs, most of them in one thread. One who has owned both calls the 22RE with the 5-speed the most reliable, while saying their 22REs needed head gaskets too.^8,2,4

• Avoid: 3.0L V6 V6 Less sought after

  Seven members across three threads point to the 3.0's head gasket trouble, and three say theirs blew one. Two advise against rebuilding one. Six others call the worry overstated, and one reports about 300,000 miles on theirs.^2,8,9,4

• Avoid: Unusually low miles All years Less sought after One source so far

  Two members in one thread distrust unusually low miles on a 2nd gen. Both say it can mean a rolled-back or swapped odometer or a truck that sat for years, and one calls under about 4,000 miles a year suspicious.³

• Avoid: As a daily driver or family car All years Less sought after One source so far

  Autotrader does not recommend the first two generations for daily or family use, saying they lack even basic safety systems.⁵

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

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