Structure. Review the 309 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 108 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports3 fire reports14 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports

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131,000 miles · Apr 26, 2012

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingTraction Control System

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CEL (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) CAME ON AND THE VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL. APPARENTLY TOYOTA DISABLES VSC WHEN THE CEL IS TRIGGERED. IN MY CASE, THE 2 TIMES IT HAS OCCURRED HAS BEEN DUE TO EMISSIONS RELATED FAILURES (1ST TIME THE CAT FAILED, 2ND TIME ONE OF THE O2 SENSORS FAILED). IN THE 1ST CASE, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I WAS APPROACHING THE END OF THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THEY MADE THE REPAIRS AND CLEARED ALL THE CODES SO WASN'T AWARE THAT THE VSC SYSTEM WAS ACTUALLY DISABLED. THE 2ND TIME (O2 FAILURE) I REPLACED THE FAILED O2 SENSOR, THE CEL HAS CLEARED, HOWEVER THE VSC LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND VSC IS DISABLED. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT TOYOTA DISABLES KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS DUE TO EMISSIONS RELATED FAILURES ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INHERENT STABILITY PROBLEMS WITH SUV'S. IF I'M ON A TRIP WITH MY FAMILY AND AN O2 SENSOR FAILS, OR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILS, OR THE GAS CAP FAILS, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT HELP KEEP MY FAMILY AND I SAFE SHOULD NOT BE DISABLED! I THINK THIS DESERVES AN INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456633

48,000 miles · Dec 29, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THIS INCIDENT WAS 1ST NOTICED 12/9/2009. I STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND LET IT WARM UP, WHEN I WENT TO GET IN IT A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE HEATER FAN WOULD NOT WORK. SINCE THEN, I FIND THAT THE HEATER FAN WILL WORK OFF AND ON, SEEMS TO BE AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP A BIT -MAYBE (NOT SURE OF THE RHYTHM OR REASON). I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND FEAR GETTING STUCK OR STRANDED WITH NO HEAT! I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2008 AND DROVE IT ALL LAST WINTER WITH NO PROBLEMS-THEREFORE I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHEN AND WHERE IT WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297405

1,500 miles · Jan 29, 2008

Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringTires

VIBRATION IS FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55 MPH OR HIGHER). THIS IS ESPECIALLY PRESENT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. HAVE HAD TIRES REBALANCED WITH NO CHANGE IN VIBRATION. PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. TIRE REPLACEMENT AND ROTATION DOES NOT CORRECT VIBRATION. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10216382

55,000 miles · Nov 26, 2007

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

1.) THERE IS A SERIOUS "CLUNK" NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND ALSO THE SAME NOISE WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP WHEN YOU TAKE FOOT OFF BRAKE. 2.) THERE IS "SULFUR SMELL " IN CABIN FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209988

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2007

Engine And Engine Cooling

EXCESSIVE SULFUR SMELL WHEN ACCELERATING. OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR CAN SMELL THE SULFUR, AND ALL WINDOWS MUST BE ROLLED UP IN WARMER WEATHER TO BLOCK OUT SMELL. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO TSB FOR THE V8 (BUT THERE IS FOR THE V6) TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197296

24,500 miles · Mar 2, 2007

Engine And Engine Cooling

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AFTER 2.5 YEARS AND ABOUT 25000 MILES, MY 4 RUNNER SPORT DEVELOPS A STRONG SULFUR ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN DRIVING. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER (CALDWELL TOYOTA) IN WEST CALDWELL, NJ WHO INFORMED ME THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL AND CAUSED BY THE TYPE OF FUEL USED. CALDWELL TOYOTA HAD NO ANSWER TO MY QUESTION WHY THE PROBLEM SUDDENLY SURFACED AFTER 2.5 YEARS NOR DID THEY OFFER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE. THE CALDWELL TOYOTA TECHNICIAN COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW THE SULFUR SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST, WHICH SHOULD BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE ENGINE AND SHOULD ONLY TO BE EXPELLED FROM THE CAR THROUGH THE MUFFLER ENTERED, THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING (SEEMS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE). THE STRONG SULFUR ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN CAUSES NAUSEA, LIGHT HEADINESS AND GENERAL DISCOMFORT, WHICH DISTRACT ME FROM DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE FOR TOYOTA 4RUNNER ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184036

30,000 miles · Jul 17, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR EVEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THERE WAS STRONG GAS ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED RUST IN THE INJECTION SYSTEM AND A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10162587

Official recalls

16V065000 · Air Bags:side/window

Feb 5, 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.

11V113000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: THE REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN EARLY APRIL 2011. THE REMEDY WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

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

DP18002 · Frame Corrosion

Opened Aug 17, 2018 · Closed Mar 18, 2022

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:frame And Members

On August 7, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Gary Weinreich alleging premature frame corrosion failure in model year (MY) 2002 - 2006 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The petitioner based his request upon a corrosion-related front suspension failure he experienced in his MY 2005 Toyota 4Runner, a class action lawsuit settlement involving other Toyota products, and other complaints of underbody corrosion in Toyota 4Runner vehicles that he found in NHTSA?s online complaint database. The petitioner submitted a complaint to NHTSA documenting his experience (NHTSA ID 11098055). On August 17, 2018, ODI opened DP18-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI?s evaluation included information provided by the petitioner regarding his vehicle, facts related to the class action lawsuit cited by the petitioner, and consumer complaint data received by NHTSA regarding underbody corrosion in third and fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner vehicles.The undercarriage of the petitioner?s vehicle exhibited severe corrosion damage indicative of seawater immersion. The vehicle?s service history shows that concerns with underbody corrosion were first noted by a Toyota dealer in a multi-point vehicle inspection performed on April 28, 2011. The invoice for that inspection noted ?severe and excessive amount of rust on the undercarriage and on the drive shaft transmission.? Two years later, on October 21, 2013, another multi-point inspection by a Toyota dealer observed further progression of underbody corrosion damage, noting: ?rust on shocks/struts and other components,? ?rust on exhaust system,? ?both splash shields severely rusted,? and ?undercarriage very rusty.? On July 17, 2017, approximately 10 months prior to experiencing the suspension failure incident, an independent repair facility performing routine oil change and brake maintenance informed the Petitioner of a concern with ?excessive frame corrosion? on his vehicle. The service history, severe general corrosion damage, failure age, and environment do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure.ODI?s analysis of NHTSA complaint data identified fifteen incidents of front lower control arm failure in fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicles. Two of the failures, including the petitioner?s vehicle, involve vehicles operated in ocean front communities with continuous exposure to aerosolized marine salts and potential exposure to seawater immersion. The remaining thirteen failures all involved vehicles owned or previously registered in states with the greatest use of deicing salts to treat road surfaces in winter months (?Salt states?). On average, the front lower control arm failures occurred after 13.1 years in service in highly corrosive environments. The failure ages and environments do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure. NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Since the information before the Agency is not indicative of a vehicle-based defect, it is unlikely that any investigation opened because of granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action if warranted or the p

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal