Traction Control complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 3% | 4,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 3% | 59,000 miles |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% | 32,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 3% | 49,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% | 98,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 8 | 5% | 6,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% | 98,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% | 118,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 1% | 90,000 miles |
| 2004 | 18 | 3% | 118,000 miles |
| 2003 | 12 | 2% | 80,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 2% | 92,000 miles |
| 2001 | 5 | 3% | 120,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 0% | 200,000 miles |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% | 212,000 miles |
| 1997 | 2 | 1% | 145,000 miles |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% | 138,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (electronic stability control and traction control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have a 2015 4runner (VIN: [redacted]) I purchased brand new. It currently has less than 50K miles on it. A few weeks ago it started periodically going into ?limp? Mode while driving at highway speeds. My two toddlers were in the vehicle the first time this happened; I almost lost control since the ?tractional control? Disabled concurrently. I took the vehicle to multiple mechanics who confirmed the diagnostic code p2445 (secondary air injection pump). I was shocked to hear this because the vehicle is relatively new and exceptionally well maintained. I looked online and the failure of this component appears to be a systemic issue with Toyota 4runners and tacomas. The fact that this component failed after a short duration in such a sudden and violent way is very dangerous. …
I had 20,000 miles and bought the veichle brand new and went to leave work and my veichle was struggling to stay going and my check engine light was flashining. When I'd go to reverse the vehicle would struggle and act like it was going to die. I had to go 20mph on the side roads about 15 miles to the dealer. The RPM shouldn't shift. It was caused by a mouse I guess? Since they use soy base and see this a lot. So fustrating when you pay $38,000 for a veichle. I'd much rather drive my older 2010 Honda that never had an issue with so called a mouse. They of course wouldn't cover it. To top it off I had a major oil leak at 19,000 miles causing about $6,000 worth of damage. Which was the factory's fault they said. It was covered by warrenty, but still it's ridiculous. I bought the car new. With 1 mile on it, fresh off the truck. As of right now I have no faith in Toyota. …
22dec12 49f entered corner at 50mph, roads slightly wet. 4runner decided the car was slipping and the panic beeps went off and the car applied brakes. Unfortunately the computer straightened the car out and pointed it off the road. It took all my strength to turn the car back into the corner and finally the computer stopped the panic. After this I was unable to turn off the traction control via the enable/disable button until I had turned off the vehicle. I was following a car into the corner and that car navigated the corner fine. Also, since owning this vehicle, 10 times it has assumed I was panic braking. Literally, the 4runner slams on the brakes and brings the vehicle to a stop. Luckily there has been no one behind me during these events. In the winter of 2011, the 4runner lost control on an icy road at fairly low speed. …
The vehicle stability control is much too sensitive. As a turn is taken at speed the vehicle electronics take over and change the trajectory. For example, if turning on a curve to the right, if it senses a tire rotation discrepancy it steers the vehicle into oncoming traffic. This is reproducible demonstrating that this is the way that it is designed and not an unusual occurrence. Changing tires helps somewhat but does not mitigate it entirely. I have brought the vehicle in many times to Toyota under warranty and nothing is found and nothing is done to improve it. Online help directly with Toyota likewise has not lead to any improvement. This is a safety issue for many reasons including directing the vehicle into traffic and it is very disconcerting to suddenly have the vehicle take control of the steering when negotiating a turn, particularly on narrow roads or sharp turns. …
Traction control light came on, check engine light came on and vehicle would move only slowly. Turned car off and on several times, tried engaging 4 wheel drive and other drive functions, tried accelerating, but vehicle would only move slowly. After turning off and on one more time the vehicle drove as normal but all the warning lights stayed on. This happened in a parking lot while going slowly. Mechanic has indicated that this resulted from a failure of the air injection pump and air valve, which apparently for some reason turns off traction control. This is a common enough problem on tundras and sequoias that there is an "extended warranty" offered on these vehicles. I do not know if the air injection pump and air valves on 4 runners are the same design or same model, but there are numerous complaints on the internet of the same problem for 4 runners as for tundras.
The wiring harness to the rear ABS wheel sensor fails. This must be a common problem as many people have been looking for this part. A warning light appears on the dash, it also prevents the vehicle from being put into gear. You have to use the override switch to put it into gear.
The Toyota secondary air system has failed rendering my car without traction control... And other lights. There is no preventative measures for this part and Toyota used the exact same system on the tundra's and sequoia's with the same problem I'm having. This needs to be addressed as the repair for the system is roughly 4000.00 almost half the cost of my car... Please make them fix this on all cars where the same system was used.
While making a left turn at a controlled (light) intersection, my rear wheel skidded slightly on the wet pavement. At that point the ABS system kicked in and totally locked up the left rear wheel causing the vehicle to spin 180 degrees and tearing the right rear tire completely off the wheel. During this spin I had absolutely no control over the vehicle which ended up crossing the highway divider before coming to rest in the lane of the opposing traffic. Fortunately no vehicles happened to be in that lane at the time or there would have been a very serious accident. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest Toyota dealer who claimed that a check of the computer revealed no erroneous message from the ABS system, leading them to conclude that there was no equipment failure despite the obvious evidence of the tire having been torn off the wheel. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota 4Runner years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (18), 2003 (12), 2010 (8), 2001 (5) and 2002 (5) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Toyota 4Runner traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for any Toyota 4Runner model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Toyota 4Runner traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles; 26% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic (asc) (1 mentions).
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.