1988 Toyota 4Runner

The 1988 Toyota 4Runner does not appear in the NHTSA database, so there are no direct recall, investigation, or TSB counts for that model year; the earliest available record (1990) shows 85 complaints, 2 recalls, 4 investigations, and 29 TSBs for the same generation. The trend across the generation shows a steady rise in complaints from 85 in 1990 to a peak of 707 in 2003, with a corresponding increase in TSBs, indicating that later model years within this generation accumulated more reported issues over time. For 1988 specifically, the top complaint categories are tires (3), engine & engine cooling (2), power train (2), and exterior lighting (1), with zero crash complaints and zero fire complaints recorded. Because the model year precedes the period of escalating complaints, it likely experienced fewer reported problems than later years, but the absence of recall data for 1988 means any hidden defects would not be reflected in the federal record. Therefore, while the 1988 4Runner appears to be among the lower‑complaint years of its generation, the lack of recall and limited TSB information makes a thorough pre‑purchase inspection and maintenance‑history review essential before deciding to buy.