Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1992 Toyota 4Runner: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 Toyota 4Runner, most recently filed September 2005. Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 Toyota 4Runner. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1992 Toyota 4Runner. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 05V389000 Filed Sep 6, 2005

STEERING RELAY ROD

Steering · linkages · rod · relay · connecting
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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.
Repair progress not yet reported977,839 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 05V389000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (53)

53 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.

6involved a crash
2involved a fire
7injuries reported
3deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1992 Toyota 4Runner, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 53.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1992 compares with other 4Runner years

Best and worst 4Runner years →
1988198919901991199219931994199519961997
This year (1992)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 18 mpg combined

18
mpg combined
17
city
20
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,700
CO₂ tailpipe
494 g/mi
EPA class
Special Purpose Vehicles

What it costs you to run

$3,628per year
$302per month
833gallons a year

Miles ÷ 18 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

1992 Toyota 4Runner configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive17 / 20 / 18$3,700494
3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive15 / 19 / 17$3,950523
2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive16 / 18 / 17$3,950523
3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive13 / 17 / 14$4,800635
3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive12 / 15 / 13$5,150684

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1992 4Runner for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All 4Runner years

Where to next

1992 Toyota 4Runner FAQ

How many recalls does the 1992 Toyota 4Runner have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 05V389000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1992 Toyota 4Runner problems?

Owners filed 53 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (18), Service brakes (12), Electrical system (6) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1992 Toyota 4Runner get?

EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 17 city, 20 highway and 18 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1992 4Runner compare with other years?

Among the 1988–1997 Toyota 4Runner model years at least five years old, the 1989 drew the fewest complaints (6) and the 1997 the most (261). The 1992 drew 53. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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