Toyota 4Runner Problems by Year

We compared every Toyota 4Runner model year from 1995–2026 using 5,582 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 44 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2025, 2011, 2003 and 2004, which drew far more complaints than other 4Runner years at the same age. The best years are 2013, 2017 and 2024.

32model years
5,582complaints
44recalls
2025, 2011worst years
2013, 2017best years

Complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’2617216126125033048318522569667842538115496221471639636778780365965333639339607
Owner complaints per model year, Toyota 4Runner. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
202671.4×2TransmissionAverage
2025602.9×1BrakeAvoid
20249−55%1BodyGood
202333typical1Collision AvoidanceAverage
202239typical3Collision AvoidanceAverage
202136−28%1SteeringAverage
202033−50%1AirbagGood
201965−16%4Fuel SystemAverage
201859−34%5SteeringAverage
201736−63%5BrakeGood
201680−31%8ElectricalAverage
201587−16%9AirbagAverage
201477−34%7ElectricalAverage
201336−69%6AirbagGood
201296typical8AirbagAverage
20111631.6×10AirbagCaution
20101471.4×12AirbagAverage
200922−81%6TransmissionGood
200896−34%5TransmissionAverage
2007154typical5BodyAverage
20063811.4×5BodyAverage
20054251.3×5BodyAverage
20046782.1×2BodyAvoid
20036962.7×3BodyAvoid
2002225−35%1BodyAverage
2001185−41%1BodyGood
20004831.2×—BodyAverage
19993301.3×—BodyAverage
19982501.4×1BodyAverage
19972611.3×1SuspensionAverage
1996161typical2BodyAverage
1995172typical1EngineAverage

* Complaints compared with the median 4Runner year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Toyota 4Runner problems

Latest Toyota 4Runner recalls

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 26V-571 · Sep 2, 2026 · 135 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid, 2025 Tundra Hybrid, Tundra, 2026 RAV4 Hybrid, 4Runner i-Force Max Hybrid, and 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the load carrying capacity modification label, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 18, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 26V-282 · May 4, 2026 · 94 vehicles

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2026 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy: GST will mail a new modification label to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 26R1.

Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA recall 25V-595 · Sep 11, 2025 · 591,377 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the…

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 24V-548 · Jul 23, 2024 · 33,848 vehicles

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra…

Remedy: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 23V-680 · Oct 12, 2023 · 13 vehicles

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC will mail a new modified label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2023. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

All 44 Toyota 4Runner recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Toyota 4Runner should you avoid?

2025, 2011, 2003 and 2004 — these years have the most complaints relative to other 4Runner years at the same age, led by brakes problems in the 2025.

What is the best year for the Toyota 4Runner?

2013 has the fewest complaints compared with other 4Runner years at the same age, followed by 2017 and 2024. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Toyota 4Runner problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the body & structure (1,789), suspension (906) and brakes (532). Body complaints peak in the 2004 model year.

How many recalls has the Toyota 4Runner had?

44 recalls across 1995–2026. The model year with the most is 2010. See all Toyota 4Runner recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.