Toyota 4runner Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Toyota 4runner options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota 4runner has 356 owner complaints and 23 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- 4runner
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 356
- Safety recall campaigns
- 23
- Crash-related complaints
- 36
- Fire-related complaints
- 6
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (64 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (5 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Toyota 4runner: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe TOYOTA 4RUNNER has 356 NHTSA complaints and 23 recalls on record. 36 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 356 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 23 federal recall campaigns
- 36 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
23 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
STEERING
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 356 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
356 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Vehicle less than 1 month old and less than 500 miles had a total transmission failure causing a unsafe driving situation while driving , no warning of impending failure resulting loud banging noise and vibration , sudden loss of speed while driving and dashboard lighting up with different warnings. Very stressful situation trying to exit traffic safely.
The Toyota 4Runner (5th and 6th Generations) lacks a dedicated 'Approach Lighting' function, creating a critical personal safety and trip-and-fall hazard during nighttime entry. Users are forced to navigate the vehicle's perimeter in total darkness, increasing the risk of injury from unseen obstacles or security threats. I am requesting an investigation into this lighting logic omission and a remedy via a software update to the Lighting Control Module to ensure owner safety for all generations of the 4Runner platform.
At approximately 520 miles, while performing a low speed left hand turn, the vehicle experienced a sudden mechanical "thunk" in the drivetrain followed by an immediate loss of motive power (Limp Mode) in my new 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. The engine revved significantly, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, creating a hazardous situation in the intersection of oncoming traffic. A diagnostic health check at an authorized dealer confirmed stored DTC fault codes P281671 and P08BA71, indicating that Pressure Control Solenoids Actuators "H" and "L" were in a "stuck" state. The vehicle's Freeze Frame Data recorded a catastrophic internal transmission slip, showing an engine speed of 1767 RPM while the vehicle was moving at only 4 MPH in 2nd gear. There are no previous warning signs or symptoms of this problem before the transmission failure. It was sudden and unexpected. The manufacturer’s technical service protocols (such as T-SB-0094-24/T-SB-0076-24) for these specific solenoid codes on this specific 8-speed hybrid transmission (L580F) – which is equipped on my vehicle – identify this as an internal mechanical actuator failure requiring full transmission, torque converter, and hybrid module replacement. However, the manufacturer has denied the repair because the vehicle’s specific VIN is not yet listed on a service bulletin and that they could not reproduce it in a short test drive. The manufacturer’s official recommendation is to continue operating the vehicle with a documented and non-repaired powertrain defect until a second failure occurs in traffic. I am reporting this as a significant safety risk, as a recurring loss of motive power during critical driving maneuvers puts myself and other motorists in danger. The vehicle and its stored diagnostic data are available for inspection.
With the slanted windshield and location of the rearview mirror creates a blind spot when looking to the upper right. Both my husband and I have trouble seeing.
The car has the iforce max powertrain. At low speeds or in stop and go traffic, when the car has come to a stop, the car will lurch forward, which could potentially cause an accident. I took car to dealership and they said this is normal operation of the hybrid system and there is no fix. This is a huge safety issue if the car pushes itself forward and potentially causing an accident. The transmission system is very unrefined.
See attached document for complaint.
Read 14 more owner reports
Last October we purchased a new 4 Runner (vin [XXX] ) and to date we have a little over 200 miles on it. The primary issue surrounding the lack of usage is that the running boards “platform" does not extend far enough out from the body. My wife has an extremely hard time both entering and exiting the vehicle, as the surface area is too narrow at 2 3/4". Even placing your foot parallel with the board is a challenge. On exiting there is a safety hazard as one's heel slips off of the rounded edge. The boards are six inches wide with three inches under the rocker panels. Not certain why this was designed this way as there is zero adjustment on the brackets. This is a potential slip and fall issue. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On [XXX] I was driving on [XXX] and was approaching my exit ramp and applied my brakes to slow down for the exit. My car began shaking and the brakes were vibrating very badly and not slowing down. I was either going to slam into the truck in front of me, or swerve and hit the highway retaining wall, which I ended up avoiding the truck and hitting the wall at 24 mph and my airbag didn't deploy. The vehicle was towed to a collision center and I submitted a case against Toyota that is still under review. No warning lamps, lights or sensors went off and the road was dry and no hazards on the road involved. Simply put, I applied my brakes and they failed which put me in severe risk of a big car crash and if I hadn't swerved and hit the wall it would of caused a larger accident. Toyota Case # [XXX] Toyota Customer Service Phone Number: 1-800-331-4331 Date of Incident: [XXX] Date of Toyota Inspection: 4/10/2025 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The 6gen 2025 4Runner brakes squeal VERY badly, to the point where it has changed my driving habits. I am concerned there is something wrong. There needs to be a TSB or a recall, it's really bad. Apparently a lot of people are also reporting that the brakes squeak really badly especially in reverse. I have found that if I slam on the brakes, the noise does not occur as much. In other words, if I drive and brake normally, the brakes scream. If I slam on the brakes, not as much noise. So now I drive differently in order to avoid the obnoxiously loud noise. Thanks Toyota!!!!
Camera system, rear, from, 360 degree all are distorted and makes hard to see yellow and white painted lines, pedestrians, and other obstacles while parking. System is defective and do not work as it should.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH, the rear passenger-side seat belt strap detached. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the failure occurred due to an outside interference from the misuse of a child safety seat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,038.
On [XXX] I was driving my '24 4Runner Limited with factory installed Yokohama Geolander G96 245 60 20 tires and had the driver side rear tire inner sidewall blow out. There was nothing in the road that could've hit the rear tire after missing the front tire. I called Yokohama IAW their warranty procedure. They said I'd have to take it to the dealership for inspection to see if it was defective. Called my dealership and got an appt, drove 50 miles to the dealer only to have the service rep spend MAYBE 20 seconds looking at the tire to say "it was hit by something" even though there is zero evidence of a puncture - Picture included. He didn't even dismount it to inspect the inner sidewall. He pointed at some marks on the wheel (NOT THE TIRE) saying something hit it there - ALL 5 wheels on the vehicle have the exact same CASTING MARKS - Pictures included. In fact, he spent more time questioning me about not having the dealer's "wheel/tire package" and then getting a quote to sell me a $428 tire instead of properly inspecting my tire. He even allowed my Limited rim to fall over on it's face! There are numerous pages of evidence showing that Yokohoma has an extended history of problems with this specific line of tires, as well as some of their other lines. "Since 2010, there have been 3 major tire recalls by Yokohama. Two of these are related to “inadequate markings”. The other recall involved a problem with the geometry of the tire itself. These tires had “irregular geometry” that made it more likely that the sidewall would give and blow out while the car was in motion. By “irregular geometry” Yokohama was referring to the fact that the interior of the tire’s sidewalls was not of uniform thickness. I read one article to the service rep and he immediately blew it off as "totally different circumstance", again repeating that mine was hit by something. This service rep was more interested in selling a tire than trying to find out what happened with mine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When modifying the "Beep" volume which is tied to the audio beep when locking or unlocking the car, the car will then turn off the wireless ability read the key fob when using it to lock or unlock the car. The proximity feature will still function and you are still able to start the car. But you will lose functionality with all key fob buttons; lock, unlock, and panic will not be functional. This is listed in detail in the this 4Runner forums group. [XXX] This has been a known issue since 2022 and is still an issue. Toyota does not acknowledge this is a recall or an official issue. Every time an owner makes this change they are required to bring the vehicle to the dealership for them to re-enable the wireless key fob. This is an issue and must be resolved. I have access to modify my vehicles info on my own as my brother is a Toyota Tech and has the ability to do so. Please look at the forum link, there is greater detail of this issue occurring and 100s of accounts of owners reporting the issue. Please look at the forum link INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Drivers side seat belt jammed and will not pull out and work properly. Can not use seat belt.
I felt an unnatural vibration and roll to one side of the vehicle when slowing around a curve on the highway which affected my ability to control the vehicle as expected, so I took it to a mechanic specializing in Toyota. The XREAS suspension system has already failed at 36,000 miles and Toyota is refusing to assist since this is out of warranty. However, this is a known issue that you can see many many people are affected by with a quick internet search, and multiple Toyota certified mechanics can confirm this is an issue they see an inordinate amount of failures on. This is a very well publicly documented issue with the XREAS suspension. The XREAS has suffered from early failure for years and Toyota has not and is not addressing it, these vehicles should all be recalled and repaired as they are a danger to the public having cars with non-functional and unsafe suspensions, a critical system for safety in any automobile. Not only are the owners of these vehicles affected, the general public is being put at risk by drivers unknowingly commuting without fully functional suspensions or even being unaware their vehicle may not even pass a basic safety inspection. These are not parts any consumer should or could reasonably expect to fail so early, this is recall worthy based on the danger to public but Toyota clearly will have to be forced to do so. At the very least Toyota should be telling people to lookout for this, it is a safety issue they are trying to avoid. I will replace my own soonest possible because I want to be responsible, unfortunately Toyota is not sharing that want and is instead leaving American citizens at risk of injury and death by knowingly producing and shipping faulty suspensions on one of their best selling vehicles.
Steering shake at 55mph, seems to go away after tires have warmed up. Tried road force balance with no help.
I am not sure this qualifies but I will submit the problem. All of a sudden, the center console display disappeared. Besides showing the radio tuner, it provides access to the GPS, cell phone connection and other devices. It also provides access to the backup camera which does light up when put in reverse. The cell phone connection provides hands free use of the phone which comes in handy during an emergency.
This had happened a year ago. I was driving and my anti collision brake just started to make a beeping noise and was telling me to call a toyota dealer. And before that the anti collision brake would go off when there was nothing in front of me. A few months later my cruise control and lane assist also stopped working. I took it in for a diagnostic and they couldn't tell me the real problem and that it would be 1500 to actually know what the issue is. I have never been in an accident in this car and its annoying that I bought it because of the safety features that I now cant use.
The back up camera does not work sometimes. The screen is black.
I am writing to formally report a concerning issue with my 2022 Toyota 4Runner, which currently has approximately 22,000 miles. The vehicle is regularly serviced at a certified oil change facility, and during routine use, I noticed a puddle of oil forming in my driveway. Upon contacting the service center, I was advised to bring the vehicle in for inspection. The technician identified a crack in the OEM plastic oil filter housing, which was causing engine oil to leak. I was informed that this is a known issue the technician has encountered on multiple Toyota vehicles equipped with the same plastic housing. To resolve the issue, I purchased a replacement OEM aluminum oil filter housing, which the technician installed. Since the replacement, the oil leak has ceased, and there have been no further incidents. I am concerned that the original plastic oil filter housing may be defective or prone to premature failure, potentially leading to engine damage or safety hazards. I respectfully request that this issue be investigated and considered for a recall or service bulletin, as it may affect other Toyota owners.
Showing 20 of 356 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Toyota 4runner
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Toyota 4runner, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Toyota 4runner has 356 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Toyota 4runner has 23 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 36 of the Toyota 4runner's 356 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Toyota 4runner vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Toyota 4runner vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Toyota 4runner has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Toyota 4runner reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota 4runner reliable?
Poor. The Toyota 4runner has 356 NHTSA owner complaints and 23 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Toyota 4runner years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (64 complaints), 2018 (58 complaints), 2025 (51 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Toyota 4runner problems?
Top reported issues: UNKNOWN OR OTHER (74 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (62 complaints); STEERING (48 complaints).
Does the Toyota 4runner have recalls?
Yes — 23 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Toyota 4runner. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.