Consumer Complaint Detail

TOYOTA / 4RUNNER / 1990

Recalls
0 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
Yes Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 998084646 Incident Date: Mar, 26 1998
Consumer's City: WARMINSTER Consumer's State: PA
Vehicle Transmission Type: Manufacturers Name: Toyota Motor Corporation
Model Name: 4RUNNER Model Year: 1990
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Engine and engine cooling:engine
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: Yes Persons Injured: 0
Vehicle's VIN#: JT3VN39W1L0 Date added to File: May, 16 2021
Date Complaint Received: Dec, 02 2001 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: Yes Purchase Date: Apr, 30 1991
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: No
Number of Cylinders: 0 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: Vehicle was in for oil change 4 weeks prior to incident. engine began to make a loud banging noise. stopped at a jiffylube, and found oil very low. filled with oil and was told that it sounds like i threw a rod, but it should be okay to get me where i was going (about 5 miles up the road). approximately 2 miles later, white smoke began coming out the back of the vehicle, and the banging stopped. the smoke became very bad, and i was about to pull into a gas station when someone pulling out yelled to me that it was on fire (in the engine compartment). i got me and my 2 small boys out, and came home that same night to the head gasket recall notice in the mail. i immediately called toyota, who sent someone out to investigate, but they said that the investigation concluded that the cause was not known, and it was not their responsibility. i was reading more horror stories about this on your site. what can be done? my vehicle was paid for and my insurance did not cover fire. why did it take them so long to get the head gasket recall notice to me? it appears that this was an issue for several years. i basically dropped the issue for several years figuring i was fighting a losing battle, until i discovered this site. thanks.*ak