Were pre-1995 head gaskets on the 3.4 part of the recall? I'm looking at a 1995.5 Tacoma, want to avoid a dodgy head gasket.

 

yes the head gaskets in 95.5 and 96 were faulty. The headgasket design was changed and 97 and on models had no issues unless there was a defect or abuse.

 

I gave the VIN to a Toyota dealership and they said the no recalls past or present applied to that VIN. Could it be that not all 5VZEs had faulty gaskets? Or could it be that X01 "special service campaign" did not show up on the list of recalls?

 

My 95.5 (purchased Aug. '95) 5vz-fe Tacoma was included in the special service campaign and the local dealer replaced it about 20k miles and I replaced it again at 185k miles.

 

When it was last replaced by the dealer, was it covered under the SSB or did you have to pony up? When did it last blow?

 

At 20k, I got a letter from Toyota to take it in. I paid nothing as it was under the X01 (and still under warranty on top of that).

It was 1.5 years ago when I replaced it myself. I started smelling antifreeze burning off and it took a year to find the small seep....above the starter and near the firewall on the driver side. I was using 4-6oz of coolant ever 6 months.