How reliable is your gen 3 4runner?

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My 98 has been great , it is at 150k now and all I have done is swap spark plugs, and wires around 100k, change all fluids a few times and brakes. There hasn't been anything major, and looks to run for many more miles.

A buddy of mine is getting ready to roll 200k with out anything major.

I wouldn't hesitate if it looks to have been taken care of.

I was looking at an 86 with 260k recently.
 
i bought mine at 85k and just did regular maintence. and im almost kicking over 100k still making payments but I plan to be driving it after i die of old age too lol! the 4runner really still even now feels solid. i drive some of these 07 - 08 Suburbans, Expoler's, the new Aspens and none of them feel as solid as my runner its a great truck!
 
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im on my second 4runner and from what ive found, if you keep up with the regular maintenance, things stay pretty solid. If something is to go wrong, usually you hear it start to fail before anything breaks, and it will drive a thousand miles on a failing part. ive never been stranded, i drove my last 4runner til 220k miles and it still ran strong.
 
I have 148k on my '99 and outside of normal maintenance (T-belt@138k,fluid flushes,brakes,etc.) I've only had to replace rear axle seals which is almost a normal repair with most coming around 100k miles and I had a wiring issue with my fog lights but otherwise it's been a solid truck and I have zero leaks and burns less than a half quart of oil inbetween my 8000 miles oil changes.
 
These trucks are super reliable. I bought a 1997 new and it now has 130,000 miles and still going strong. My wife says buy a new truck. I don't want to because I'm affraid that the new ones won't be as dependable.
They just don't make them like they used to!
 
My story is pretty similar to the above posts.

Bought my 96 6 years ago with 100K (160km's for us Canadians), I'm at 150K now (256km's) and just the typical stuff. Routine maintenance, rear axle seals once and just one out of routine fix for my heater box (just last year). I bought it off original owner and he didn't have to do anything to it at all.

Overall, one out-of-maintenance fix in 13 years and 150K, not a bad average at all!

It's been way too good to me to get rid of, I'll drive it till the wheels fall off (which seems like a long time from now still).
 
Same as the above. Bought my 3rd gen with 102,000 miles on the od. Drove it for 4 years and sold it to a buddy with 180,000 miles on it. He is still driving it and he has already had it for 2 yrs!

Edit: Just talked to my buddy and my old 3rd gen now has 208,000 miles on the od an is still running strong.
 
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151 K's, nothing major. I've kept up with the fluid changes ect. Need to do the belts soon. Apart from that stuff, no issues.
 
if regular maintenence is done a toyota can last well over 200k.. i hav a buddy that ran his to 300K miles.. maintenance is the key. i wouldn't worry @ all bout one havin more than 100k
 
100,000 mi.....its just broken in...;):

I have low mi on mine (127,000 KMS) but have owned it for 10 yrs, apart from tires and brakes I had to get the starter rebuilt in February and that cost me $257.00.....after 10 yrs of driving...wow thats Japanese workmanship at its finest!
 
Bought my 98 with 150k in July 08 and now have 181k on it and wouldnt hesitate to buy it today with that mileage on it. Runs great and just do maintenance on it oil changes. The only problem i have is the contacts on the starter are wearing out and I need to do new belts and hoses but will wait until I can do the timing belt. Runs and wheels great.
 
on my 99 i had the problem with the starter contacts and it was such an easy fix. if your not a manual i would suggest fixing them ASAP because they are only like 2 bucks to replace... as long as you do it yourself. if your manual it really dont matter cuz you can just clutch start her, but that will get annoying really quick
 
damn skippy reliable

They are now the most reliable vehicles in my book. Every now and then it floods pretty bad around here in Houston. I was cruising very slowy around neighborhoods with some friends when all then sudden my car shuts off. I try to re-start but nothing happened except white smoke pouring out the pipe. (water inside engine!) Luckily we were right next to my friends house, so I just left the car out in the street, came back 10 mins later, started right up, idled perfectly smooth. The water was two inches below the stepbar and I have a 2wd. Come to find out my air filter was soaking wet and the silencer box was full of water. Nothing damaged, changed plugs, then all fluids, which had no water in any of the components. So, I'm going to say my runner ate water and started back up and away I went. What I learned about the runner is that it doesn't have a good sealed engine compartment as my 99.5 pathfinder did. So next time I'm in water, I'll be sure to slab around. And after this incident, I'm definitely raising the runner up. Crazy reliability huh?
 
I have a 97 i bought off a guy for 4k 200k miles, currently 230K, lifted, runs and wheels great, minimal mods, the tires are the most money i have spent on her and she's my daily driver!!

I would try find a 99, i like the taller stance, the intake is better and they have a few neat little changes to the interior and exterior that I would like to have, maybe next time.
 

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