In a couple of years, the Toyota 4Runner will celebrate its 40th anniversary. While the company’s other models get more attention, the 4Runner has been a longstanding success story for the company. To achieve what it has, the Toyota 4Runner has had to evolve. These evolutions, or generations as they are more commonly known, introduce all kinds of improvements.

Many times, these evolutions also bring about some not-so-good changes. While that might be hard to believe, it’s not only true but also fairly prevalent. There are new generations of vehicles in almost every segment that aren’t as good as their predecessor or may be lacking in some regards. If you are new to the world of Toyota 4Runners, this isn’t the information that’s easily available which is why we’ve decided to put together a list of Toyota 4Runner years to avoid.

Facts You Must Know About the Toyota 4Runner

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of 4Runner problems, it’s important to get up to speed with the vehicle in question. The mid-size SUV went on sale in 1984 in many markets around the world. While it was called the 4Runner in most global markets, it was called the Hilux Surf in its home country. The Toyota 4Runner remains on sale in some international markets but was discontinued quite some time ago (in 2009) in Japan.

The Toyota 4Runner started life as a modified version of the company’s Hilux pickup truck. Many considered the first version to be the pickup truck with just some bodywork and interior changes. In all honesty, that wasn’t far from the truth when it came to the first-generation Toyota 4Runner. However, that wasn’t the case as the vehicle evolved  

Interestingly, every 4Runner ever made, including the latest one, has been manufactured at the company’s plant in Japan. The vehicle got its name thanks to a competition held for new vehicle names by Toyota. Robert Nathan was the individual who coined the 4Runner name, and as you would expect it’s short for the word “forerunner.” The company liked this play on words because the 4 in the name also hinted at the SUV’s 4×4 configuration.

In 2005, the Toyota 4Runner or Hilux Surf went on to be replaced by the Fortuner in certain markets. It was quite similar and also based on the company’s Hilux. That said, Toyota continues to sell the 4Runner in many markets including major ones like the USA and Canada. Not long ago, iSeeCars.com carried out a study that showed the Toyota 4Runner was among the longest-lasting vehicles in the USA. It took 5th position thanks to 4.6% of owners crossing the 200,000-mile mark.

Toyota 4Runner – Generations

The Toyota 4Runner has a total of 5 generations, here’s how long each one has been around.

• 1984-1989 – First generation (N60)
• 1990-1995 – Second generation (N120/N130)
• 1996-2002 – Third generation (N180)
• 2003-2009 – Fourth generation (N210)
• 2010-present – Fifth generation (N280)

Toyota 4Runner Years to Avoid and Why?

Despite being one of the most formidable vehicles to ever come out of Toyota, not every 4Runner was created equal. In fact, some years of production should legitimately be avoided no matter what. Here’s the list of iffy 4Runner production periods. 

1988-1989 Toyota 4Runner

First on the list of Toyota 4Runner years to avoid is the first generation built in 1988 and 1989. Not all of them though, only the ones powered by the 3VZE V6 3.0 engines. This engine has a widely known problem with its head gaskets. As far as Toyota engines go, this one may have been the worst one of that era. Compared to something like the Toyota 3RZ-FE, the 3VZE falls short in most regards. 

What makes the head gasket quite an inconvenience is that there’s no resolution to it. The head gasket is known to fail even after being replaced with a brand new one.

Get quality head gaskets for your Toyota 4Runner!

In actuality, the problem has more to do with the engine than the gasket which is why there’s no easy fix. If you are looking for a first-gen Toyota 4Runner, we’d recommend sticking to the 2.4 engine as it has proven to be a reliable alternative. 

1990-1995 Toyota 4Runner

Like with the first-generation, there are Toyota 4Runner years to avoid when it comes to the second-gen as well. 4Runners made from 1990 to 1995 also made use of the 3.0 V6 VZE engine. Just like the first-gen 4Runner that used this engine, it featured head gaskets that failed repeatedly with no clear solution in sight. Other problems include rust and failing suspension components.

Get quality power steering components for your Toyota 4Runner!

Other reports suggest that these production years of the Toyota 4Runner were also known to have problems with the power steering. While the power steering itself wouldn’t fail easily, it was known to develop leaks that could lead to failure if left unattended.

2001-2002 Toyota 4Runner

Next on the list of Toyota 4Runner years to avoid are 2001 and 2002. During these years the SUV was in its third generation. While you would expect it to have fewer rust-related problems as compared to its predecessors, that wasn’t the case. 2001 and 2002 are Toyota 4Runner years to avoid because multiple reports reveal that it can have notorious rust issues. 

These years of the Toyota 4Runner also had a problem with the automatic transmission it used. There have been numerous complaints suggesting that higher mileage examples encounter transmission problems where it has trouble finding the correct gear position. This problem is caused by a malfunctioning throttle position sensor or failing shift solenoid. The transmission itself doesn’t require to be replaced to address this problem.

Find a quality replacement shift solenoid for your Toyota 4Runner!

2003-2005 Toyota 4Runner

When it comes to the fourth generation, 2003-2005 are the Toyota 4Runner years to avoid. Unfortunately, like its predecessors, it also suffers from rust-related problems. The dashboard on this version of the SUV was also known to develop cracks. These years of the 4Runner also had trouble with the evaporative emission system.

An intermittent failure of the charcoal canister purge control solenoid valve or canister failure would illuminate the check engine light. There have been instances where the charcoal canister has failed causing debris to collect around the system resulting in significant emission control issues.

These years of the Toyota 4Runner also needed their brake master cylinder replaced at the 125,000-150,000 mile mark. Owners have recommended adjusting the brake pedal to master cylinder push rod clearance to stop the brakes from dragging and overheating.

Fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner

The fifth generation Toyota 4Runner years to avoid aren’t known yet. This is the generation that’s still on sale and hasn’t had any major problems in the number of years it hasn’t been around. It has had some minor issues, but none significant enough to declare any particular year a black sheep.

The SUV from Toyota had a problem with the deployment of some airbags, but this was addressed by the dealer through a recall. Another minor problem that’s widely reported has to do with the door lock actuators. Dealers took care of this problem and the SUV has had no problems since.

We Can Help You Take Care of Your 4Runner

As you may have realized by now, there are a few Toyota 4Runner to avoid. If you’ve got one of these model years, or any year for that matter, and you’re looking for quality parts for your car — Newparts.com has you covered. We offer a wide range of Genuine, OEM and quality aftermarket parts for all kinds of makes and models. To find the exact part you’re looking for, all you need to do is select your vehicle using our vehicle selector tool. Once done, our system will return only parts that are a guaranteed fit for your particular year, make and model.