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2001 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

134 reports with mileage · 20 unknown

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.

  • Structure. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

5 reports
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160,000 miles · Jul 24, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT CENTER OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY BY STATE FARM. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT CENTER OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY BY STATE FARM. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10743380

109,000 miles · Apr 26, 2013
Air BagsElectrical System

MY FUSE FOR MY WINDOWS BLEW, THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT MY WIRING HARNESS IN THE BACKSEAT HAD BURNED UP. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS ALSO FRIED. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG WIRING. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF WEAR AND TEAR OR OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. THE AIR…

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MY FUSE FOR MY WINDOWS BLEW, THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT MY WIRING HARNESS IN THE BACKSEAT HAD BURNED UP. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS ALSO FRIED. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG WIRING. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF WEAR AND TEAR OR OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. THE AIRBAGS CREATED THE PROBLEM, ARE NOW COMPROMISED AND ARE COMPLETELY UNSAFE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR AND EVEN IF REPAIRED, THE AIRBAGS ARE NOW COMPROMISED FOREVER RENDERING THE CAR USELESS. TOYOTA DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THEY CLAIM THAT THE CAR IS TOO OLD TO BE THEIR PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION SO THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS THE SAME EXPERIENCE OR WORSE, IS KILLED DUE TO AIRBAGS DEPLOYING AT WILL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509700

246,000 miles · May 22, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AND THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND, RENDERING THE CONTACT UNCONSCIOUS. DURING THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AND THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND, RENDERING THE CONTACT UNCONSCIOUS. DURING THE CRASH, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY PERSON INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 246,000.

NHTSA ODI #10459237

92,000 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH WHEN SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FOUR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH WHEN SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FOUR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10353032

90,000 miles · Dec 16, 2009
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED,WENT AIR BORN, AND LANDED DOWN A RAVINE. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TRAPPED BY THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED,WENT AIR BORN, AND LANDED DOWN A RAVINE. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TRAPPED BY THE FLOOR MAT. SHE RECEIVED POLICE REPORT NUMBER 097267. SHE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO REDUCE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10296112

Official recalls

1

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.