UsedScore

2008 Toyota 4Runner: Use caution

Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota 4Runner in its first five years on the road, about 64 for every 100,000 sold: 1.5× the rate of a typical 4Runner year. That's above average, so use caution.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (38% of complaints, median 18,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.5×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical 4Runner year
Rank
11th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
37
first five years; 64 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
4th generation, 2003–2009 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5

Photo: 2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Powertrain38% · 14 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  2. Speed control30% · 11 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  3. Brakes14% · 5 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  4. Steering8% · 3 complaints
  5. Wheels and tires5% · 2 complaints
  6. Engine5% · 2 complaints
  7. Electrical5% · 2 complaints
  8. Suspension3% · 1 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners describe brakes that intermittently fail to engage, self-apply, or lose power momentarily, sometimes with noise, smell, or warning lights. Several also report front calipers sticking or seizing over time, and dealers sometimes couldn't reproduce or fix the issue.

Warning signs:
Owners report loud popping or squeaking noises, a dash beep, ABS or traction control lights, burning smells, and overheated rotors before or during the issue.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the problem or find anything wrong, though in some cases rotors, pads, or calipers were replaced.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 115,000 miles, among 12 complaints that give it

“While driving less than 30 MPH with the brakes applied they failed to engage and made a loud popping noise”

“The calipers will seize up and stick on”

Powertrain

Many 2008 4Runner owners describe a hesitation or delay when shifting from reverse to drive, sometimes accompanied by a thump or sudden lurch forward. Dealers frequently could not reproduce or fix the issue, leaving owners uncertain when the vehicle will respond to the accelerator.

Warning signs:
Owners notice a thump or clunk when releasing the brake, a pause of several seconds after shifting, and occasional sudden forward lurching once gear engages.
What shops did:
Dealers often said the condition was normal, could not duplicate or diagnose the problem, or offered no repair; a few reported transmission or torque converter component replacement.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 105,000 miles, among 22 complaints that give it

“When engaging drive from reverse there is a delay of 3-5 seconds and a thump when it finally engages drive.”

Speed control

Owners describe episodes of sudden or unintended acceleration in their 2008 4Runners, sometimes tied to a stuck pedal or floor mat interference, occasionally resulting in crashes. Dealers frequently could not reproduce the problem, leaving some owners without a clear repair.

Warning signs:
Some owners report the accelerator pedal traveling to the floor or sticking, engine revving suddenly, or the vehicle lurching forward despite braking.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate the failure; some vehicles were inspected or tested by the manufacturer, and one owner reported the dealer lacked parts to repair a floor mat hook issue.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 25,000 miles, among 14 complaints that give it

“The accelerator pedal went all the way to the floor and became stuck and the speed increased to 90mph”

“Engine raced uncontrollably to around 7-8000 RPM and shuddered terribly”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (5)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 16V396000June 20167,749 vehicles

    Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

    Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory.

  • NHTSA 14V743000November 20143,233 vehicles

    Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

    Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

    Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 11V113000February 20111,363,244 vehicles

    Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.

    Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

    Fix: The remedy is now available.

  • NHTSA 10V035000February 2010271,417 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

    Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.

    Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge.

  • NHTSA 10V036000February 2010153,418 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

    Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 240 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2008 4Runner. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • TSB003220 · August 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ?
  • TTT063620 · March 2022TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
  • T-SB-0014-22 · March 2022TSB: This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly.
  • T-TT-0636-20 Rev · March 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
  • T-TT-0636-20 · December 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
  • T-SB-0134-16-Rev · July 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ?
  • T-SB-0026-15_Rev · June 2018TSB: REVISION NOTICE June 8, 2018 Rev2: ?
  • T-TT-0086-11 · August 2015TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been interrupted.

All 2008 4Runner bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2008 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota 4Runner in its first five years on the road, about 64 for every 100,000 sold: 1.5× the rate of a typical 4Runner year. That's above average, so use caution. Ratings compare 4Runner years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2008 4Runner problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (38%), speed control (30%) and the brakes (14%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2008 Toyota 4Runner been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2008 Toyota 4Runner, the most recent in June 2016 (seats). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2008 Toyota 4Runner on NHTSA.gov · How we rate