Buyer's checklist: 2nd gen Toyota 4Runner (1990–1995)

What to look for on this generation, worst first. Tick each line as you check it.

Free while the site is being tested. Every line comes from the dossier and keeps its source, and the dossier itself stays free.

Look for 7

Known problems, and how to check for each.

Head gasket failureV6Ask 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.^1,2,3,4
Rust in the tailgate and bodyAll yearsLook over the tailgate, the area around the rear glass and the body panels.^2,4,1,5
Rear window that drops or sticksAll yearsRun the tailgate glass all the way down and up a few times.⁶
Slow engagement into reverseAutomaticsShift from park and from neutral into reverse, and feel for a delay.⁷
Transfer case slip or chatter4WD, 1990–1992Feel for slip or chatter when accelerating.⁷
Clutch judder4WD manuals, 1990–1994Pull away from a stop and feel for judder.⁷
Heavy oil use from sludge1993–1995Ask how much oil it uses between changes.⁷

Recalls filed for these model years. Not every car is covered; check the vehicle identification number with NHTSA.

Recall 05V3890001989–1995Repeated hard steering, such as full lock while stopped, can crack the steering relay rod until it breaks. Ask for proof the recall work was done.^{8,9,10,11,12,13,14}

What owners and the press say to steer clear of.

3.0L V6V6Seven 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.^2,15,16,4
Unusually low milesAll yearsTwo 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
As a daily driver or family carAll yearsAutotrader does not recommend the first two generations for daily or family use, saying they lack even basic safety systems.⁵