Toyota 4Runner Reliability
Quick answer
Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 1,179 complaints about the Toyota 4Runner with NHTSA, most often about air bags and the brakes, and NHTSA lists 37 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the 4Runner to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine flags 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2025 as years to avoid and rates 2020 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
1,179
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
89
Complaints citing a crash
37
Recall campaigns
4
Years to avoid
Most-reported Toyota 4Runner problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2008–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 359 | 30% | 55 | 1 | 32 |
| Service brakes | 127 | 11% | 13 | 1 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 117 | 10% | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 95 | 8% | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Body structure | 91 | 8% | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Suspension | 84 | 7% | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 75 | 6% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine | 64 | 5% | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Of all 1,179 complaints, 89 (8%) report a crash, 17 (1%) a fire and 54 (5%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (214 complaints), the most-reported areas are the brakes (46), steering (29), suspension (25), air bags (19).
Toyota 4Runner complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine, which compares each 4Runner model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2009 | 22 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2010 | 147 | 12 | Air bags | — |
| 2011 | 163 | 10 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2012 | 96 | 8 | Air bags | — |
| 2013 | 36 | 6 | Air bags | — |
| 2014 | 77 | 7 | Electrical system | — |
| 2015 | 86 | 9 | Air bags | — |
| 2016 | 81 | 8 | Electrical system | — |
| 2017 | 36 | 5 | Service brakes | — |
| 2018 | 60 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2019 | 65 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2020 | 33 | 1 | Service brakes | Better year |
| 2021 | 36 | 1 | Steering | — |
| 2022 | 39 | 3 | Suspension | — |
| 2023 | 33 | 1 | Tires | — |
| 2024(new) | 10 | 1 | Body structure | — |
| 2025(new) | 63 | 1 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2026(new) | 0 | 2 | — | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Toyota 4Runner recalls
NHTSA lists 37 recall campaigns across Toyota 4Runner model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V741000Oct 17, 2019 | 2010–2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009… |
| 19V005000Jan 9, 2019 | 2010–2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the… |
| 17V425000Jul 3, 2017 | 2011–2016 | Body structure — body / hood / hinge and attachments | Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the… |
| 16V577000Aug 3, 2016 | 2010–2015 | Engine & cooling — exhaust system / manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured September 3, 2009, to December 1, 2014. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by… |
| 15V515000Aug 13, 2015 | 2010–2015 | Engine & cooling — exhaust system / manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured March 29, 2010, to July 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or… |
Best and worst 4Runner years
- Years to avoid: 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2025.
- Better years: 2020.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Toyota 4Runner years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Toyota 4Runner
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Toyota 4Runner can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Toyota 4Runner reliability FAQ
Is the Toyota 4Runner reliable?
Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 1,179 complaints about the Toyota 4Runner with NHTSA, most often about air bags and the brakes, and NHTSA lists 37 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the 4Runner to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine flags 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2025 as years to avoid and rates 2020 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Toyota 4Runner problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are air bags (359), the brakes (127), the electrical system (117) and steering (95). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the brakes, steering and suspension. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Toyota 4Runner should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine flags 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2025 as years to avoid and rates 2020 as a better year. Each model year is compared only with other 4Runner years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Toyota 4Runner last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 6.7% of 15,430 used 4Runner listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 16.4% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 26.7% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Toyota 4Runner have?
NHTSA lists 37 recall campaigns covering Toyota 4Runner model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 19V741000 (air bags, 2010–2016). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Toyota 4Runner?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure 4Runner reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Toyota 4Runner, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Year flags compare each 4Runner model year only with other 4Runner years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the 4Runner compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Toyota 4Runner research
Toyota 4Runner reliability by model year: