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1984-2026 · 43 model years

Toyota 4RUNNER Problems by year

Owners have filed 5,991 complaints about the Toyota 4RUNNER across 43 model years, and it has 48 recalls. The 2003 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (708), while 1984, 1985, 1989 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the body, doors & structure, followed by the suspension.

Share your 4RUNNER experienceCompare years48 recalls
Most complaints for its age2003708 complaints · 3 recallsSee the 2003
Complaints
5,991
Recalls
48
Crashes
414
Fires
61
Injuries
362
Deaths
21

4RUNNER complaints by model year

Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20260200-A
202563152BrakesF
202410120Body, doors & structureA
202333161Driver assistanceC
202239351Driver assistanceC
202136131SteeringB
202033140Driver assistanceB
201966451Fuel systemC
201860571SteeringB
201736531BrakesA
201681861Electrical systemC
2015869100AirbagsC
201477751Electrical systemC
201336610AirbagsA
201296851AirbagsC
20111631041AirbagsD
20101471262AirbagsD
200922641Transmission & drivetrainA
2008965102Transmission & drivetrainC
2007154573Body, doors & structureD
20063815283Body, doors & structureF
20054255193Body, doors & structureF
20046782283Body, doors & structureF
20037083190Body, doors & structureF
20022513223Body, doors & structureF
20011903111Body, doors & structureD
20004932311Body, doors & structureF
19993322306Body, doors & structureF
19982644196Body, doors & structureF
19972644352SuspensionF
19961655171Body, doors & structureD
19951754140Engine & coolingD
1994714122Engine & coolingC
199353342Engine & coolingB
199253362Engine & coolingC
199143230Engine & coolingA
1990792106Engine & coolingC
19896100Engine & coolingA
19889100Engine & coolingA
19875030BrakesA
19868020BrakesA
19852010Body, doors & structureA
19842020SuspensionA

Most common 4RUNNER problems

Toyota 4RUNNER recalls 48

Latest 4RUNNER complaints

2025 Toyota 4RUNNERDriver assistanceCrash

Please see attached letter discussing shifter system design flaw

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11776733
2019 Toyota 4RUNNERFuel system

My 2019 Toyota 4Runner would not start after I filled up with gas on 11/5/2026. The engine cranked but would not start and the vehicle had to be towed to a Toyota dealership. The symptoms match the low-pressure fuel pump failure in Toyota's Denso fuel pump recall. The call says this pump can fail while driving and cause the engine to stall which can cause a crash. Before towing, I contacted Toyota customer support and visited a dealership in person. Toyota customer support told me and emphasized that the repair...

Read the full complaint

would be covered and gave me a program number. The dealership also outlined (21TA02) in the estimate. After the vehicle had already been towed, the dealer declined coverage because of mileage and is charging me for diagnosis. I have opened a case with Toyota corporate and it has been escalated. I am asking NHTSA to review and support the replacement of the fuel pump for my vehicle. If diagnosis does not result in the fuel pump, I can cover the cost. If it is the fuel pump, I'd like to have the diagnostic fee waived and repairs completed.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11776373
2025 Toyota 4RUNNERVisibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH with no other vehicles nearby, the sunroof glass shattered, with glass fragments falling inside the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and stated that the part was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 18,759.

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 11775701
2018 Toyota 4RUNNERBrakes

On [[redacted]], my husband was driving our 2018 Toyota 4Runner Limited home from Coventry, CT, with me in the passenger seat. At the second-to-last STOP sign on our route, a yellow slip indicator light suddenly appeared on the dashboard. We did not know why. We wondered if we had accidentally touched a control near the steering wheel. The brakes still worked normally, and my husband stopped completely. I photographed the warning light. Since we were only a few minutes from home, we continued cautiously, planning...

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to check the warning once home. Shortly afterward, we were driving downhill on [[redacted]] toward the next STOP sign at [[redacted]]. My husband applied the brakes, but the vehicle did not slow as expected. It continued downhill, gained speed, and entered [[redacted]] without stopping. [[redacted]] is normally busy. Fortunately, no vehicles were directly in our path, and no collision or injuries occurred. My husband turned on the hazard lights and drove slowly while looking for a safe place to stop. The normal brakes still could not bring the vehicle to a complete stop. He eventually stopped at a repair shop using emergency measures. We left the vehicle there because it was unsafe to drive. Afterward, my husband noticed that a rear brake pad appeared loose or detached and the rotor appeared deeply grooved. We do not know whether this caused the braking failure or whether the earlier warning light was related. The vehicle remains parked and available for inspection. No mechanic has inspected it, the problem has not been reproduced, and the cause is UNKNOWN. We reported the incident to Toyota USA on October 26 and contacted a Toyota dealer. We request that NHTSA document and evaluate this serious safety incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Service brakesNHTSA 11773685

Questions about the Toyota 4RUNNER

Which Toyota 4RUNNER years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 2003 (708), 2004 (678), 2000 (493). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 2003 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

Which Toyota 4RUNNER years have the fewest complaints?

Among model years that have been on the road for at least three years, 1985, 1989, 1984 have the best Safety Index - the fewest complaints, crashes and recalls for their age compared with other 4RUNNER years. Always check the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN before you buy.

What are the most common Toyota 4RUNNER problems?

Across every model year, owners report problems with the body, doors & structure (1,849), suspension (914), engine & cooling (650) most often.

How many recalls does the Toyota 4RUNNER have?

NHTSA lists 48 recalls across all Toyota 4RUNNER model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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