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Toyota 4Runner: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota 4Runner problems by model year, from 980 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
No Toyota 4Runner year we score has an elevated engine or transmission signal. The highest is the 2019 at 26%, under the 33% line.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (6%), 2020 (8%) and 2022 (10%). 2021, 2020 and 2022 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (16 of 119 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota 4Runner year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 4Runner | no elevated signal | 18% | 9 | 145 | 8/14 | 12 |
| 2011 4Runner | no elevated signal | 25% | 13 | 163 | 2/14 | 10 |
| 2012 4Runner | no elevated signal | 23% | 6 | 96 | 5/14 | 8 |
| 2013 4Runner | no elevated signal | 22% | 6 | 36 | 7/14 | 6 |
| 2014 4Runner | no elevated signal | 17% | 12 | 77 | 9/14 | 7 |
| 2015 4Runner | no elevated signal | 24% | 16 | 85 | 3/14 | 9 |
| 2016 4Runner | no elevated signal | 24% | 16 | 79 | 4/14 | 8 |
| 2017 4Runner | no elevated signal | 12% | 4 | 36 | 11/14 | 5 |
| 2018 4Runner | no elevated signal | 22% | 11 | 58 | 6/14 | 5 |
| 2019 4Runner | no elevated signal | 26% | 15 | 65 | 1/14 | 4 |
| 2020 4Runner | no elevated signal | 8% | 2 | 33 | 13/14 | 1 |
| 2021 4Runner | no elevated signal | 6% | 2 | 36 | 14/14 | 1 |
| 2022 4Runner | no elevated signal | 10% | 3 | 39 | 12/14 | 3 |
| 2023 4Runner | no elevated signal | 16% | 4 | 32 | 10/14 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota 4Runner years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota 4Runner engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Toyota 4Runner involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 32 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2015 | 15V515000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | 2010–2015 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V577000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | 2010–2015 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V012000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2014–2015 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V682000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
28 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2010 | 10V035000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V036000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Mar 2012 | 12V120000 | equipment: electrical | 2012 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V014000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V123000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010–2011 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V743000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V828000 | equipment | 2014–2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V228000 | equipment: other: labels | 2015–2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V236000 | tires | 2016 |
| May 2016 | 16V340000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V396000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V937000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2016 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V006000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| May 2017 | 17V291000 | equipment | 2016–2017 |
| May 2017 | 17V295000 | tires: temporary/emergency spare tire | 2017 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V425000 | structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments | 2011–2016 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V763000 | structure: body: hood | 2015–2018 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V831000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017–2018 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V024000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Oct 2018 | 18V753000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017–2019 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V005000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2016 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V244000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V670000 | steering | 2018–2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V741000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2016 |
| Dec 2021 | 21V963000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2022 |
| May 2022 | 22V310000 | equipment: other: labels | 2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V480000 | equipment: other: labels | 2020–2022 |
| Oct 2023 | 23V680000 | equipment: other: labels | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota 4Runner
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota 4Runner
What are the worst years for the Toyota 4Runner?
None stands out. No Toyota 4Runner year we score has an elevated engine or transmission share; the highest is the 2019 (26%).
What are the best years for the Toyota 4Runner?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Toyota 4Runner years are the 2021 (6%), the 2020 (8%) and the 2022 (10%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Toyota 4Runner have engine problems?
Not as a pattern. Across the 14 scored years, 119 of 632 relevant NHTSA complaints (19%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine.
Is the Toyota 4Runner reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 0 of 14 Toyota 4Runner years we score have an elevated complaint share and 14 do not. Pooled across those years, 19% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota 4Runner?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota 4Runner years we track, out of 32 in total: 16V577000 (Aug 2016, 2010–2015), 20V012000 (Jan 2020, 2014–2015), 20V682000 (Nov 2020, 2018–2019), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.