Toyota 4runner Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Toyota 4runner years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2018: the 2015 alone has 85 NHTSA owner complaints and 338 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by air bags issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2024 and 2023 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-09-04 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015AVOID | 85 | 338 | 9 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 79 | 249 | 8 | — |
| 2017 | 36 | 208 | 5 | — |
| 2018AVOID | 58 | 192 | 5 | — |
| 2019 | 64 | 156 | 4 | — |
| 2020 | 33 | 157 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | 35 | 127 | 1 | — |
| 2022 | 39 | 92 | 3 | — |
| 2023BEST | 31 | 95 | 1 | — |
| 2024BEST | 8 | 56 | 1 | — |
| 2025 | 56 | 43 | 1 | $54,111 (17 deals) |
| 2026 | 7 | 25 | 1 | $55,092 (43 deals) |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Toyota 4runner problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Toyota 4runner are unknown or other, electrical system, air bags, service brakes. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2015 Toyota 4runner: 85 owner complaints, 338 service bulletins, 9 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: air bags, unknown or other, electrical system.
2016 Toyota 4runner: 79 owner complaints, 249 service bulletins, 8 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: electrical system, unknown or other, air bags.
2018 Toyota 4runner: 58 owner complaints, 192 service bulletins, 5 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: steering, unknown or other, air bags.
2024 Toyota 4runner: cleanest recent federal record (8 complaints, 56 bulletins).
2023 Toyota 4runner: cleanest recent federal record (31 complaints, 95 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Toyota 4runner?
Based on federal records, the Toyota 4runner years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2018: the 2015 alone has 85 NHTSA owner complaints and 338 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by air bags issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2024 and 2023 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Toyota 4runner?
Among recent model years, the 2024 and 2023 Toyota 4runner show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Toyota 4runner reliable?
The Toyota 4runner's reliability varies by model year. Across 531 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2015, 2016, 2018 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2024 and 2023 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Toyota 4runner?
The most-reported problem areas for the Toyota 4runner are unknown or other, electrical system, air bags, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Toyota 4runner before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.