2016 Toyota 4Runner: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Toyota 4Runner: 8 recalls, 79 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
_DSC_2927.jpg){kind=link}
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #16V228000 · 2016 · 844 vehicles
What's wrong: Gulf states Toyota, Inc. (gulf states) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Toyota 4runner vehicles manufactured September 22, 2014, to March 23, 2016 and equipped with accessories installed by gulf states. The load carrying capacity modification label May not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
Why it matters: An incorrect label May result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gulf states will notify owners, and dealers will install an accurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 1, 2016.
Equipment, Tires Vehicle recall #16V236000 · 2016 · 94 vehicles
What's wrong: The load carrying capacity modification label May not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "tire selection and rims for passenger cars."
Why it matters: An incorrect label May result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V937000 · 2016 · 2 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with takata pspi-ld front passenger air bag inflators that May have been manufactured without ignition booster tablets. As a result, in the event of a crash, the air bag May not fully inflate during deployment of the primary stage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash…
Why it matters: The improper inflation of the passenger air bag May increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Toyota dealers have replaced the passenger side air bag modules, free of charge. Toyota notified the affected dealers on December 15, 2016.
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V291000 · 2017 · 1,019 vehicles
What's wrong: The fasteners for the aftermarket roof rack May have been improperly tightened.
Why it matters: If the roof rack fasteners loosen, the roof rack May detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gulf states will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the roof rack fasteners, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017.
Equipment, Body & structure Vehicle recall #17V425000 · 2017 · 3,547 vehicles
What's wrong: The adhesive attaching the hood scoop May weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If the hood scoop detaches, it May become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #17V763000 · 2017 · 431 vehicles
What's wrong: The u-nut that secures the overlay grille May fracture, allowing the billet grille overlay to detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If the billet grille overlay detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will replace the securing u-nuts with upgraded hardware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 26, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V005000 · 2019 · 1,299,448 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota corolla, corolla matrix, Lexus is250, is350, 2011-2016 4runner, 2011-2015 Scion xb, Lexus is350c, is250c, 2011-2014 Toyota sienna, Lexus is-f, 2011-2017 Lexus gx460, and 2011-2012 Lexus es350 vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #19V741000 · 2019 · 928,220 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (18): the most common themes are electrical failure (12), door / lock issues (5), warning light on (4).
- Other / unknown (16): the most common themes are electrical failure (2), noise or vibration (2).
- Airbags (10): the most common themes are fails to deploy (2).
- Suspension (9): the most common themes are noise or vibration (3).
The 2016 Toyota 4Runner has 79 owner complaints, ranking #19 of 37 4Runner model years for complaints (well below the 158 average). Complaints peaked in 2017 (11 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 25,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (86 complaints, 9 recalls), 2017 (36 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
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 2016 Toyota 4Runner.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2016 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Toyota 4Runner. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Toyota 4Runner problems?
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (18), other / unknown (16), airbags (10).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota 4Runner get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (4.0 L, Automatic (S5)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Toyota 4Runner repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.