Toyota 4Runner Years to Avoid

Why 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2015 call for caution

2009 Toyota 4Runner

Use cautionTop issue: powertrain · 69% of complaints · median 20,000 miles

Owners of the 2009 4Runner describe the transmission slipping or revving high before engaging when accelerating after slowing below about 15 mph, then lurching forward. Some report dealer diagnostics and ECM reflashes didn't resolve it or couldn't find the cause.

Full 2009 report ›

2010 Toyota 4Runner

Use cautionTop issue: brakes · 41% of complaints · median 6,000 miles

Owners of the 2010 4Runner describe frame rust that eats away at brackets and mounts, sometimes judged unrepairable, plus peeling clear coat that dealers were slow to fix. Others report soft or sinking brake pedals and stability systems abruptly applying brakes, often unresolved after dealer visits.

Full 2010 report ›

2011 Toyota 4Runner

Use cautionTop issue: steering · 16% of complaints

Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 4Runner in its first five years, about 56 for every 100,000 sold: 1.5× the rate of a typical 4Runner year. 16% of them involve the steering.

Full 2011 report ›

2015 Toyota 4Runner

Use cautionTop issue: air bags · 26% of complaints · median 15,000 miles

Owners describe crashes, including head-on and side impacts, where front or side air bags did not deploy, sometimes with injuries, and some noticed a non-working horn beforehand. Several also report dealers saying Takata recall parts were backordered or unavailable, delaying repairs.

Full 2015 report ›

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints on NHTSA's site and checked against them; the counts and mileages come from our data.

Best Toyota 4Runner years to buy

2013 Toyota 4Runner

Best betTop issue: brakes · 60% of complaints

Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 4Runner in its first five years, about 10 for every 100,000 sold: 0.2× the rate of a typical 4Runner year. 60% of them involve the brakes.

Full 2013 report ›

2021 Toyota 4Runner

Best betTop issue: brakes · 19% of complaints

Owners filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 4Runner in its first five years, about 19 for every 100,000 sold: 0.5× the rate of a typical 4Runner year. 19% of them involve the brakes.

Full 2021 report ›

A best bet drew 0.6× the complaint rate of a typical 4Runner year or less in its first five years on the road. How we rate

1. Brakes18% of complaints · 102 complaints · median 3,000–34,000 miles by year · worst years: 2010, 2012 and 2017
2. Electrical12% of complaints · 70 complaints · median 13,000–36,000 miles by year · worst years: 2014, 2015 and 2016
3. Steering12% of complaints · 68 complaints · median 1,000 miles · worst years: 2018, 2019 and 2021
4. Air bags9% of complaints · 53 complaints · median 9,000–15,000 miles by year · worst years: 2015, 2016 and 2022
5. Powertrain9% of complaints · 52 complaints · median 18,000–20,000 miles by year · worst years: 2008, 2009 and 2011

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA in each model year's first five years on the road, all years combined. A complaint can name more than one area. Worst years are the rated years with the most complaints about that area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

Questions owners ask

Which Toyota 4Runner years should you avoid?

No 4Runner year from 2008 to 2022 drew more than twice the complaint rate of a typical 4Runner year. The 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2015 ran above average, so use caution.

What is the best year for a used Toyota 4Runner?

The best bets are the 2013 and 2021 4Runner, which drew far fewer complaints per vehicle sold than a typical 4Runner year. The 2013 drew the fewest for its time on the road (0.2× the rate of a typical 4Runner year). Years from 2023 on haven't had five years on the road, so they aren't rated yet.

What is the most common problem with the Toyota 4Runner?

Across every year, the problem area owners report most is the brakes (18% of complaints), followed by the electrical system (12%) and the steering (12%). A complaint can name more than one area.

Has the Toyota 4Runner been recalled?

Yes. NHTSA lists 37 recall campaigns covering 4Runner model years 2008 to 2026, the most recent in September 2026. Enter a vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether its repairs were done.