Toyota 4Runner problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 326 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Toyota 4Runner. That averages 10.1 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.24 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Off-road SUVs segment it ranks #1 of 3 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 67.8.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Over eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Toyota 4Runner has recorded 326 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls, averaging 10.1 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical vehicles with an index of 0.24. While the 2025 model year shows a high rate of 34.7 complaints per year running at least 50% above the average, years 2020 and 2024 sit well below it. The most common problem area is Brakes accounting for 14.7% of complaints, which are 2.4 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles, followed by Steering at 13.8%. Owners report recurring terms like "tires" and "shake," with 39 complaints describing a crash or fire resulting in 23 injuries and 0 deaths.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 19% of the 2018 and 2019 models (13 early complaints per model year versus 18).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (34.7 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (3.0). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2020 and 2024 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Brakes (14.7% of complaints), followed by Steering (13.8%) and Interior & equipment (12.6%). Brakes complaints are 2.4 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “tires”, “steering wheel”, “balanced”, “shake” and “front”. 39 complaints (12.0%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 23 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 78 complaints versus 41 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (42). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 17 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2017 (2). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Off-road SUVs, including Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 58 | 6.7 | 0.16 | 18 | 0.2 | 3 | 5 | Steering | View › |
| 2019 | 64 | 8.3 | 0.2 | 18 | 0.22 | 8 | 4 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2020 | 33 | 4.9 | 0.12 | 17 | 0.3 | 3 | 1 | Interior & equipment | View › |
| 2021 | 35 | 6.2 | 0.15 | 18 | 0.29 | 8 | 1 | Steering | View › |
| 2022 | 39 | 8.3 | 0.2 | 22 | 0.3 | 7 | 3 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2023 | 31 | 8.4 | 0.2 | 19 | 0.23 | 6 | 1 | Interior & equipment | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 8 | 3.0 | 0.07 | 8 | 0.11 | 1 | 1 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2025 Years to research carefully | 58 | 34.7 | 0.82 | — | — | 42 | 1 | Brakes | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 78 · Previous 12 months: 41 Rising
Problem areas
Steering ›
45 · 13.8% · 2.13 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering42
- wheel31
- tires20
- balanced10
Interior & equipment ›
41 · 12.6% · 1.4 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- glass13
- sunroof9
- shattered8
- exploded7
Electrical
39 · 12.0% · 0.76 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- camera12
- reversing6
- rodents3
- devices3
Airbags & seat belts
32 · 9.8% · 2.57 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- deploy12
- air14
- seat14
- bag9
Body & structure
29 · 8.9% · 0.97 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- spoiler3
- glass7
- rusted3
- loose5
Wheels, tires & suspension
27 · 8.3% · 3.32 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire13
- grappler3
- nitto3
- size6
Fuel system
20 · 6.1% · 1.42 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel17
- gasoline10
- pump9
- confirms available7
Engine
17 · 5.2% · 0.23 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- lights9
- filter3
- engine oil3
- hood3
Transmission / powertrain
12 · 3.7% · 0.32 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- groaning3
- hill5
- differential3
- grinding3
Driver-assist systems
8 · 2.5% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- glass3
- brake3
- front3
- safety3
Lighting
7 · 2.1% · 1.37 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
1 · 0.3% · 0.17 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- tires37
- steering wheel48
- balanced13
- shake20
- front61
- alignment16
- suspension19
- air33
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 17 months
What owners report
On August 29, 2026, I was stopped at a red light with my foot on the brake when I noticed the vehicle moving forward even though I was pressing the brake pedal. I immediately entered a nearby parking lot at very low speed.
I am a fire investigator for the Olathe (KS) Fire Department. On July 3, 2026 at 1255 hrs our crews were called to a vehicle fire for the above listed car.
The steering system malfunctioned. The vehicle is at the dealer for inspection/repair. When driving the steering is loose, when you go over bumps there is an audible thump in the cabin of the vehicle.
Driver side headlight goes out approximately every 6 months. Sometimes the light only has to be “wiggled” in its connection and the light comes back on. Sometimes the light must be replaced.
The power door lock actuators on both front doors of my 2021 Toyota 4Runner have failed. The problem developed progressively. The front door locks initially began working intermittently and became less reliable over time.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Off-road SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota 4Runner | 326 | 10.1 | 0.24 | Stable | Rising | 12 | Brakes |
| 2 | Ford Bronco | 936 | 47.1 | 1.12 | Improving | Rising | 47 | Body & structure |
| 3 | Jeep Wrangler | 5,757 | 138.4 | 3.29 | Improving | Rising | 41 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 12
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (5) · 2019 (4) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (1) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (1)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota 4Runner model year has the most complaints?
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (34.7 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (3.0).
Is the Toyota 4Runner getting better or worse?
The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 19% of the 2018 and 2019 models (13 early complaints per model year versus 18). In the last 12 months owners filed 78 complaints versus 41 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Toyota 4Runner problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Brakes (14.7% of complaints), followed by Steering (13.8%) and Interior & equipment (12.6%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “tires”, “steering wheel”, “balanced”, “shake” and “front”.
How does the Toyota 4Runner compare with other Off-road SUVs?
Within the Off-road SUVs segment it ranks #1 of 3 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 67.8. It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Off-road SUVs, including Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.
Does the Toyota 4Runner have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2017 (2). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.