Over 1M 3rd Gen Tacomas - Perspective

Let me put in my $.02 here.

I had a third gen. It had an engine failure.

It had an engine failure due to a specific situation that occurs at a certain grade and angle in some off-road situations.

Is it a known issue with these engines? Appears to be…

However, outside of that situation…which many Tacoma owners will never encounter…the truck performed well. The engine got decent mileage and was engaging to drive (with the latest tsb software installed) With minimal mods, it can take you many places.

We also owned a 5th gen 4runner. The 3rd gen Tacoma drove like a sports car compared to that lagwagon. Value and reliability aside, I actually hated driving the t4r. Wheezy, thirsty, slow and anemic. Never understood the love for that engine.

BTW..BOTH needed timing belt cover gasket replacements.

I think that the vast majority of third gen Tacoma owners will get many miles out of their trucks…as long as they don’t climb steep hills at slow speed with off camber trail breaks.

 

good post, just one point they both have timing chains not timing belts.

 

Yep. Indeed they do!

 

This is also my experience with 5TH gen 4Runners, they pretty much choke up above 4K rpm.
It’s not a sports car but it’s also not a Cummins diesel, you’re going to be a revving a gas engine if you’re doing any kind of high strain driving (mountain passes etc.)

 

Actually…we have a cummins diesel. It gets better fuel mileage than the 4R.