Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2023 | 3 | 9% | — |
| 2022 | 6 | 15% | — |
| 2021 | 10 | 28% | 0 miles |
| 2020 | 4 | 12% | 53,000 miles |
| 2019 | 7 | 11% | 32,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 7% | 22,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 6% | 45,000 miles |
| 2016 | 9 | 11% | 18,000 miles |
| 2015 | 10 | 11% | 40,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 4% | 50,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% | 56,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% | 1,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% | — |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% | 241,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 9% | 120,000 miles |
| 2008 | 11 | 11% | 84,000 miles |
| 2007 | 14 | 9% | 124,000 miles |
| 2006 | 65 | 17% | 125,000 miles |
| 2005 | 77 | 18% | 130,000 miles |
| 2004 | 113 | 17% | 138,000 miles |
| 2003 | 114 | 16% | 149,000 miles |
| 2002 | 49 | 22% | 132,000 miles |
| 2001 | 27 | 15% | 135,000 miles |
| 2000 | 102 | 21% | 165,000 miles |
| 1999 | 66 | 20% | 183,000 miles |
| 1998 | 60 | 24% | 170,000 miles |
| 1997 | 95 | 36% | 170,000 miles |
| 1996 | 39 | 24% | 184,000 miles |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% | 163,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On [redacted] while driving approximately 60 mph on a straight smooth highway only about 4 miles from my home my 4 Runner started violently shaking. The whole vehicle was shaking like the wheels were going to fall off. The steering wheel was shaking and I was shaking due to the amount of vibration. I did not depress the brakes for fear it would flip and crash. I let off the accelerator to slow down carefully and find a spot to pull off the highway. As I got slower I checked the onboard tire pressure which indicated all tires were holding correct amounts of air. About 3/4 to a mile from the time the shaking started it stopped shaking and about a quarter mile later it did it one more time for a few seconds. After that it did not occur again. …
Vehicle Component: Solid Rear Axle Assembly / Rear Suspension GeometryDefect Summary: The vehicle exhibits a factory manufacturing defect causing severe rear axle misalignment. At approximately 350 miles from new, an official dealership Hunter alignment report documented out-of-spec rear alignment parameters (-0.16 rear total toe) on a non-adjustable, factory solid rear axle assembly. Safety Risk & Impact: A misaligned solid rear axle compromises vehicle stability, introduces rear thrust angle deviation, and impairs predictable vehicle tracking and emergency evasive handling at highway speeds. Because a solid rear axle has no factory adjustment points, this indicates a bent or improperly manufactured axle housing or mounting structure. …
The right CV joint traverses up and down. Once warmed up it loses concentricity and the steering wheel begins to shake. It does not stop until I pull off the highway The shake is completely gone when the vehicle is in 4 wheel drive. There are numerous complaints regarding this. I have taken it back to the dealer and participated in "road tests" and the steering did in fact shake and the tech stated "this is normal". This is not and it is hard to drive in a straight line. Google "4Runner steering wheel shake/wobble", thousands of complaints and Toyota refuses to replace the bearing. This is disappointing as it is covered for 6 years , 60,000miles under the powertrain warranty, yet the dealer is insistent on stringing me along until the warranty expires. The vehicle is available for inspection and I have videos to send as well if needed.
Aggressive steering wheel vibration from 55-70 mph from the day I drove the vehicle off the lot. Ignoring the vibration, Toyota claims this 4runner is operating as it is manufactured to do so. This is causing unnecessary wear on the steering and/or suspension. Without a visual warning sign from the vehicle, this could cause catastrophic failure while driving, ultimately putting the driver and other drivers at risk while on the road. Additionally, the vehicle can be hard to control due to the vibration, which could cause excess swerving. Toyota claims it is the tires. Toyota issued me two different sets of tires and the issue persists. It is not the tires, it is a manufacturing defect that is a safety hazard and reduces the value of the vehicle.
Bought the vehicle brand new and have been dealing with a steering wheel/vehicle shake ever since. The vehicle feels out of control around 55-65mph(like death wobble) and the ride is rough at any speed over 50mph. This has been a serious issue on the highway with instances of crossing lanes because of lack of control over steering. No warning lights have ever come on. Been to the dealership many times complaining about the issue just to be told that the "problem can't be replicated". I have taken it to several tire shops as well to have the wheels/tires balanced but nothing seems to help. I even bought new wheels and tires just to see if this was the cause and still no solution. This is a serious problem that thousands of 4Runner owners are experiencing and Toyota needs to get to the bottom of this. This absolutely should not be happening on brand new/modern day vehicles. …
I purchased the vehicle from a Dealer. During a test drive I noticed a shake in the steering wheel that represented a wheel balance issue. The dealership acknowledged that, according to their techs that it was a wheel issue. A new set of tires was ordered mounted and balanced. I have been dealing with the issue of sometimes excessive steering wheel shake and a feeling of unstable suspension issues in the front end during highway speeds of 60-70 MPH. In researching this model of Toyota it appears this is a well documented problem that has not been addressed by Toyota.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for a routine inspection, he was informed that the front coil spring was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that 50% of the cost for the repair would be covered. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
The car shakes when going at speeds as low as 48 mph and as high as 68 mph that I know of. Typically, it shakes heaviest from the mid-50 mph range to the mid-60 mph range. I rarely Drive the full speed limit for energy conservation reasons, so I cannot tell you how much higher it goes on the range. The car has had the wheels rebalanced three times (installation, upon purchase from the dealer and on a take back to the dealership), the alignment has been checked twice and I have spoken to the tire manufacturer about the tires being the cause of this. I took the tires into an authorized retailer to no avail. With everything checked, including a road force balancing of the tires, my 4Runner still shakes disturbingly. I called a service advisor at another Toyota dealership today (they were not the seller). In describing the problem to him, he cut me off and said it is a known problem. …
Related recalls (3)
Suspension
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. During installation, certain steering and suspension components may not have been properly tightened.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and re-tighten the steering and suspension fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 19, 2019.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue in the front suspension lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball of the joint May have been scratched. The ball joint May eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints free of charge. The recall began on July 5, 2005. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Suspension
On certain 2-wheel-drive (2wd) and 4-wheel-drive (4wd) 4runner sport utility vehicles, a combination of heavy loading (simultaneous loading to rear gross axle weight rating and gross vehicle weight rating) and severe steering maneuvers could cause the 2wd 4runner to lose directional stability.
Remedy: Dealers will replace rear suspension parts. Although the 4wd 4runners do not exhibit the handling condition, Toyota will recall these vehicles to avoid any public confusion as to which vehicles should receive the…
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota 4Runner years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (114), 2004 (113), 2000 (102), 1997 (95) and 2005 (77) model years. Suspension complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Toyota 4Runner suspension problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 19V-670 (suspension, Sep 20, 2019); 05V-225 (lower ball joint, May 17, 2005); 02V-021 (suspension, Jan 18, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota 4Runner suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 147,000 miles; 8% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the rear (45 mentions), followed by the front (25).
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.