IllustrationTRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT TIMES
2001 Toyota 4 Runner
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota 4 Runner are lower than the model-year median of 96.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4 Runner years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reportsWHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A BEEPING NOISE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALL 4 WHEELS THEN LOCKED UP SIMULTANEOUSLY WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO SWERVE, ALMOST COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLES. PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES DURING TRIP. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE YAW CONTROL SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED …
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WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A BEEPING NOISE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALL 4 WHEELS THEN LOCKED UP SIMULTANEOUSLY WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO SWERVE, ALMOST COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLES. PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES DURING TRIP. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE YAW CONTROL SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO THINK IT WAS FLIPPING OVER, THUS TAKING CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*JB
CONSUMER STATES ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. WHEN CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING A COLLISION. CONSUMER ADVISED ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT FUNCTION. *AK *YH
WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 50MPH HAS A FRONT COLLISION, AND NEITHER PASSENGER OR DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. ANY DETAILS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, FEEL FREE TO ADD ON.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 45-60 MPH, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SUDDENLY BREAKS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATES, A BUZZER ALARM SOUNDS (WITH NO WARNING LIGHT ON) AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONDITION IS SIMILAR TO HITTING A WATER PUDDLE WITH THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS 2 TO 3 TIMES…
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CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 45-60 MPH, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL SUDDENLY BREAKS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATES, A BUZZER ALARM SOUNDS (WITH NO WARNING LIGHT ON) AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONDITION IS SIMILAR TO HITTING A WATER PUDDLE WITH THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY ABNORMAL CONDITION WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. *TT
CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER WASHING AND SPRAYING THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO WASH OFF ROAD SALT, CONSUMER BACKED CAR INTO GARAGE WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START. *JG
PE 020; WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, HEARD A NOISE. REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, AT P225/75R15 (NO MENTION OF DOT #). *AK *TT
VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHEN REAR WHEELS SPIN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT A SUDDEN/ EMERGENCY STOP VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE OR SKID BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL IS OF SUCH DESIGN THAT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES CONSUMER HAS TO TURN FOOT SIDEWAYS TO GET PEDAL TO DEPRESS. ARM THAT ATTACHES TO PEDAL GOES UPWARD, AND IS IN THE WAY WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED TOYOTA, WAS TOLD TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.