AI DamageToyota 4 Wheel Drive: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Toyota 4 Wheel Drive across 1 model years: 8 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 63% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 13% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 13% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 13% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (63% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (13% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The front passenger and driver side doors are failing to lock and unlock. Both door are also failing to open from the outside with the key fob or the door sensor. The front passenger side door began failing to unlock and open in june 2018.
Had my oil changed tires rotated ,filled up gas ,then when I left gas station ,I noticed white smoke coming from my exhaust, barley made it approximately 3 miles . Indications of blown head gasket, has there ever been a recall on this type of problem? Please respond asap if there has ,thanks miss pam west.
White smoke from exhaust at startup, rough idle, loss of power, overheating. Replaced radiator, thermostat. Coolant running out of exhaust. Determined to be blown head gasket. Need new engine.
Luckily I was going very slow...because once it snapped I lost steering and was not going where I wanted...headed straight toward a parked car. The steering wheel was free wheeling! I e-mailed toyota and sent pictures...they seemed the least bit concerned.
Blown head gasket, dealer states need to replace short block due to corrosion, which I was told was caused by the head gasket. Dt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.