The 1991 Toyota 4runner has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 977,839 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING05V3890002005-09-06977,839 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Consequence
IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
2
1crashes3injuries
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
2
1crashes
TIRES
2
1crashes1injuries
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2
WHEELS
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
1
Total complaints55
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Back in august 2016 I purchased and installed 4 new tires, I cleaned and painted wheels before installing 4 new slime tire valves #tr 415 slime part# 20261 I purchased these valves at walmart in somerset, ky the date code on package was 08.26.14 I purchased (8) packs 16 total valves ( I still have…”
“While driving in the street at 40 mph, it accelerates for no reason. I could not stop, the brake put hard, did not respond to any change and engine speed increased to more than 5000. I had to turn it off still running. To turn it back on, it will not do so again.”
“While driving in the street at 40 mph, it accelerates for no reason. I could not stop, the brake put hard, did not respond to any change and engine speed increased to more than 5000. I had to turn it off still running. To turn it back on, it will not do so again.”
“Oem standard tires are 225/75r15 on toyota steel wheels. Oem factory option tires are w/31x10.5 on toyota brand aluminum wheels. The factory official sticker shows the option tires as factory-installed. The driver door pillar sticker shows the factory-installed tire as 225/75r15. The pillar…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1991 toyota 4-runner. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to have the exhaust inspected and was told that the frame was severely rusted and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The mechanic also stated that the frame was fracturing from the underbody shields, which was…”
“Brought my 1991 4runner into concord (ca) toyota dealer for recall nhtsa campaign id number : 05v389000, for :component: steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting after receiving the vehicle, there is too much "play" (movement) in the steering wheel, and the front wheels "wobble" badly in certain…”
“Car over heated and cut off. Now leaking water into spark plugs.*ak”
“Blown head gasket, 1991 toyota v6 4runner, recalled in 1998 for the problem, corrected and gasket failed again in 2007. *nm”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP02002 Opened 2002-03-26 · closed 2002-08-26
REAR SEAT BELT ROUTING
InvestigationEA92011 Opened 1992-03-24 · closed 1993-01-21
LOSS OF BRK EFFECTIVENESS
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE91147 Opened 1991-11-06 · closed 1992-03-24
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
InvestigationSQ99003 Opened 1999-01-27 · closed 1999-04-22
CORRODED BRAKE LINES
TOYOTA IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA 98-253. CORRODED BRAKE LINES COULD FAIL RESULTING IN A PARTIAL BRAK SYSTEM LOSS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Toyota 4runner as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.