Toyota 4Runner problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every 4Runner from 1990 to 2026: 5,862 owner complaints and 127 recalls across 37 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2003 (695), 2004 (678), 2000 (483). Best fuel economy: 23 mpg combined (2025).
Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 | 78 | 18 | |
| 1991 | 1 | 43 | 18 | |
| 1992 | 1 | 53 | 18 | |
| 1993 | 1 | 51 | 18 | |
| 1994 | 1 | 64 | 18 | |
| 1995 | 1 | 172 | 18 | |
| 1996 | 2 | 161 | 20 | |
| 1997 | 1 | 261 | 19 | |
| 1998 | 1 | 250 | 19 | |
| 1999 | 0 | 330 | 19 | |
| 2000 | 0 | 483 | 19 | |
| 2001 | 1 | 185 | 17 | |
| 2002 | 1 | 224 | 16 | |
| 2003 | 3 | 695 | 18 | |
| 2004 | 2 | 678 | 18 | |
| 2005 | 5 | 425 | 18 | |
| 2006 | 5 | 381 | 18 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 154 | 18 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 96 | 18 | |
| 2009 | 6 | 22 | 18 | |
| 2010 | 12 | 145 | 20 | |
| 2011 | 10 | 163 | 19 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 96 | 19 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 36 | 19 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 77 | 19 | |
| 2015 | 9 | 86 | 19 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 79 | 19 | |
| 2017 | 5 | 36 | 18 | |
| 2018 | 5 | 58 | 18 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 65 | 18 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 | 17 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 36 | 17 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 39 | 17 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 32 | 17 | |
| 2024 | 1 | 9 | 17 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 59 | 23 | |
| 2026 | 2 | 7 | 22 |
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Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Toyota 4Runner.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Toyota 4Runner?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2003 (695), 2004 (678), 2000 (483).
How many recalls has the Toyota 4Runner had?
Across 1990–2026, NHTSA lists 127 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).