Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 43% | — |
| 2025 | 2 | 3% | 11,000 miles |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% | 1,000 miles |
| 2019 | 4 | 6% | 1,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 5% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2016 | 6 | 8% | 22,000 miles |
| 2015 | 4 | 5% | 67,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% | 97,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% | 9,000 miles |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% | 35,000 miles |
| 2009 | 10 | 45% | 20,000 miles |
| 2008 | 27 | 28% | 25,000 miles |
| 2007 | 11 | 7% | 49,000 miles |
| 2006 | 30 | 8% | 32,000 miles |
| 2005 | 25 | 6% | 100,000 miles |
| 2004 | 36 | 5% | 72,000 miles |
| 2003 | 39 | 6% | 16,000 miles |
| 2002 | 33 | 15% | 132,000 miles |
| 2001 | 32 | 17% | 122,000 miles |
| 2000 | 42 | 9% | 127,000 miles |
| 1999 | 23 | 7% | 168,000 miles |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% | 190,000 miles |
| 1997 | 25 | 10% | 132,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% | 155,000 miles |
| 1995 | 14 | 8% | 104,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
**Vehicle:** 2026 Toyota 4Runner SR5- -700Miles I am reporting a persistent vibration issue that appears to come from the engine bay and is transmitted through the driver's side floorboard into the driver's left foot and leg. The vibration is most noticeable when the transmission is engaged and the vehicle is under load. If the transmission is disengaged while the vehicle is still moving, the vibration disappears, even though the driveshaft, axles, and other drivetrain components are still rotating. This suggests the issue may be related to the engine or transmission rather than the tires or other rotating components. My daily one-way commute is approximately 30 minutes. By the time I arrive at work, I experience a noticeable vibration sensation in both feet, especially my left foot. …
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.
This brand new 4runner makes loud groaning sound from the first day until now, every time when transferring from reverse to drive or drive to reverse on a hill road, no matter an alley or a parking way. People who heard of it said it should be a transmission problem and it's bad. Because it sounds like something inside is being broken and not sure when it's totally dead suddenly and the vehicle would lose control. I don't know car. I didn't let any mechanic touch it yet because I'm looking for a third party legally to check it and their report would be also accepted by Toyota. So I don't have any report about the problem now and I don't know what I should do either. But I really want to know how bad it is and if it's safe to drive. I've been told by a Toyota mechanic that another customer who purchased 4runner too from the same dealership shop complained about this sound too. …
This sr5 was b rand new purchased in March 2019. It has never been driven off road with the exception being I drive it up a hill to my barn over lawn using 4wd high. I've heard this grinding noise two to three time when shifting from reverse into drive when the truck is stationary and on a hill. I haven't checked if this occurs in each of the transmission modes. I believe I have heard it both in 2wd and 4wd high but have not checked yet if it happens also in 4wd low. This is alarming and for now, I avoid putting it in drive by drifting back to level ground when possible. I am concerned the transmission is being damaged internally when I hear this. I plan to see what the Toyota dealer has to say about this.
While my father was exiting his 2018 Toyota 4Runner SR5, the vehicle unexpectedly started reversing fairly quickly, despite no foot being on the brake. He was dragged by the vehicle while attempting to stop it outside the car, and it continued moving backwards then down a hill before crashing into a fence, causing significant damage to both the car and the fence. This vehicle should not have rolled back at this speed, and it appears to be related to a potential design flaw in the vehicle's brake-shift interlock system or automatic reverse functionality. This incident is concerning, and after reviewing discussions in various forums, it seems that similar issues may not be isolated to this particular vehicle and could point to a larger defect in Toyota vehicles. I am very disappointed that there are no built-in safety features that could have prevented this incident. …
The front differential in our 2018 Toyota 4Runner failed. This caused damage to one of the front axels of the vehicle. The failure can cause difficulties in turning the vehicle. The failure can lead to catastrophic failure of the axels, leading to the wheels to lock up. The problem is reoccurring in model years 2016-2019. Toyota is aware of the problem and has issued bulletins (see Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-TCI-5185 Rev.1, dated 4/5/2019). Yet, Toyota refuses to offer a cost free repair of the failure/damage. The failure was inspected and confirmed by an authorized Toyota dealership on 2/9/2022. The failure had no warning signs/indicators. The failure began approximately 30-45 ago with a faint grinding sound coming from the drivetrain while driving.
This vehicle transmission is demonstrating transmission shuddering problems, We have returned this car three time for the same repair. The highly reputable transmission has cited direct purchases of this part from Toyota has constantly have quality issues with the torque converter, This problem was inspected and confirmed by dealer and independent service center. They both concluded the same diagnose, There were no warning messages. We fear travelling on interstate roads is hazardous.
Vehicle was parked in my driveway which has a moderate slope. Engine was not running. Despite being in park, the vehicle rolled down the driveway and only stopped when it hit my mailbox at the curb. I complained about the matter to Toyota. They inspected the vehicle and concluded "we did not find evidence of a defect with the transmission or shift selector [sic] caused this incident." the vehicle had been sitting there for at least 10 minutes. The parking brake was not set. I did not bump the shift lever or do anything else that could have caused the vehicle to come out of park. I spoke with the Toyota engineer who inspected the vehicle and he told me he could not explain what happened. I am concerned there is a safety defect with this vehicle. Obviously, I will always use the parking brake in the future. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota 4Runner years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (42), 2003 (39), 2004 (36), 2002 (33) and 2001 (32) model years. Transmission complaints make up 9% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Toyota 4Runner transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain 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 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles; 35% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (64 mentions), followed by the driveline (48).
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.