Toyota 4Runner Problems and Common Complaints

Do you already own a 4Runner or are you looking to buy one? Being aware of the most common problems this vehicle has can help you prepare or prevent. Check out this list for the most common problems 4Runner owners face.

Note: The list of problems below is organized by vehicle generation. Scroll down to find your model range.

2010-Present 4Runner - Common Problems

Airbag Propellant Degradation: Some newer 4Runners came with Takata front passenger airbag inflators. These inflators can inflate with too much power in an accident. This happens because these airbags are missing a chemical drying agent that absorbs moisture. This leads to early propellant degradation due to excessive moisture and fluctuating high temperatures. To address this issue, Toyota issued a massive safety recall in summer 2017.

Peeling Paint: 2010-2015 4Runners that came with either the Blizzard Pearl or Super White colors were prone to peeling paint. This happens because these colors are sensitive to sunlight. Over time, the sunlight degrades the adhesion between the factory-applied paint primer coat layer and the base metal electrodeposition layer. The process speeds up with those two colors. Normally, Toyota's factory warranty, which is good for 3 years or 36K miles, covers the paint. Toyota received many complaints about the Blizzard Pearl and Super White paint colors degrading too fast. It responded by extending the warranty up to 14 years for those two colors only. If you want to verify that your 4Runner has one of the affected colors, here's how you can identify your vehicle's paint color. 

Bad Sound Quality: Many 2016-2019 4Runner owners have complained about an echo that occurs when they make hands-free calls. Toyota recommends adjusting your phone’s volume to decrease the echo. This issue disappeared in some 2019 and 2020+ 4Runners. Because of this, some people believe that the issue was actually with Toyota’s own software and Bluetooth system, and Toyota quietly fixed it.

2003-2009 4Runner - Common Problems

Melting Dashboard: Even though Toyota extended dashboard warranty coverage for 2003-2005 4Runners only, this problem affects all the 4Runners in this generation. This happens when there’s excessive heat and humidity, and it can create a dangerous glare from the sun.

Frame Rust: Many 4th gen 4Runner owners learned the hard way that Toyota didn’t properly treat its 4Runner frames with anti-corrosion chemicals. This results in excessive frame rust, especially in salt belt states. Vehicles in dryer states were not usually affected. A class action lawsuit was filed over this issue in 2018.

1995-2002 4Runner - Common Problems

Frame Rust: Many third-gen 4Runner owners have had issues with unusual levels of frame/undercarriage rust. This can lead to suspension system failure. This problem shouldn’t be attributed to the SUV’s age but rather the way its frame is constructed. The design allows moisture to enter inside the frame and rust it out. A frame replacement is a good way to fix it.

Blown Fuses: When something, such as a bad aftermarket phone charger, draws too much electricity from your third-gen 4Runner, the 15A ACC and/or the 10A dome fuse can blow. This leads to the dome light and/or the radio not working. Another fuse that commonly blows is the door lock fuse. The good news is that this issue is easy to fix. All you have to do is to replace the blown fuse(s).

Broken Heater Blower Motor: It's common for 4Runner owners to experience issues with their heater. Sometimes the heater is too weak, or it's broken. There are several different reasons a 4Runner heater may stop working. The most common reason is a broken heater blower motor. You may hear a loud blowing or whirring noise coming from the heater blower motor before it fails.

1997-2021 Toyota 4Runner TSBs

To find Toyota 4Runner TSBs, Google the TSB ID #, the name of the TSB, or some combination. You can also subscribe to Toyota's Technical Information System (TIS) to get the latest TSBs for your 4Runner.