2012 Toyota 4Runner: Engine blew up
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 4Runner report: engine blew up. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 97,300 miles.
NHTSA has 5 owner complaints for the 2012 4Runner in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11473715 (filed 07/13/2022): “Vehicle radiator light came on, shortly thereafter (5-10 min) vehicle overheated. waited for vehicle to cool down, then drove home. the following day drove the vehicle to dealership. after an inspection the dealer stated the heads are cracked and needed t…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #10953790 (filed 02/10/2017): “I was driving in the freeway beltway 08 when tehran trasmision of my car run out last saturday 02/04/2018…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace with used engine (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $11,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine)
Average shop cost
$1,435
Range $800–$2,225 (labor)
8.0–16.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$2,150
Range $1,200–$3,335 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine seized · 2014 Hyundai Sonata: Seized engine · 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine seized · 2018 Ford Edge: Leaking coolant killed engine · 2019 Ford Fusion: Coolant intrusion cracked short block · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine
Page last updated .