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

What owners actually said

612 reports

98,007 miles · Sep 16, 2015

SteeringStructureUnknown Or Other

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SUV IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF FRAME AND ALL OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE METAL PARTS. FRAME INTEGRITY IS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. RUST IS EXPONENTIATING OVER TIME. RUST LEACHING TO OTHER MAJORS PARTS LIKE THE EXHAUST. TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AC, WHEELS, BRAKES, EXHAUST, STEERING, ETC ALL ARE COMPROMISED AND FAILING DUE TO RUST. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. RADIATOR REPLACED. AC LEAKING. OCT 2011 HEAT SHIELD RUST NOTED BY TOYOTA. FEB. 2014 HEAT SHIELDS WERE REMOVED BY TOYOTA. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE TRUCK DOESN'T NEED THE HEAT SHIELDS. THEY DID NOT MENTION THE FRAME RUSTING OR THE LIFETIME EXHAUST RUSTING. THEY DID NOT MENTION THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 4RUNNERS. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH THAT SERVICE DEPT. BUT THE ONLY OTHER TOYOTA IS WORSE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS SERIOUS RECALL ASAP. I THINK THESE TRUCKS WILL START FAILING AND CAUSING DEATHS SOON. NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK OVER THE YEARS ALL MAY BE DUE TO RUST. BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO LAST AND THE TRUCK IS HARDLY USED. I BELIEVE RUST IS INTERFERING WITH THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #10764189

144,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015

StructureUnknown Or Other

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MY 2004 4RUNNER WITH $144K MILES WAS RECENTLY DISCOVERED TO HAVE A SIX INCH HOLE IN THE FRAME DUE TO RUST, AND BASED ON MD SAFETY INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS, THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN NOT BE REGISTERED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE REPAIR WOULD BE A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACED AT A COST OF $18-20K. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE METICULOUSLY THROUGHOUT IT'S LIFE WITH MOSTLY DEALERSHIP MAINTENANCE AND AT NO TIME DID ANY MECHANIC OR SERVICE DEPARTMENT MENTION EXCESSIVE RUST OR HOLES IN THE FRAME. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECALL PROGRAMS FOR TACOMA AND SEQUOIA VEHICLES DUE TO SIMILAR FRAME RUSTING PROBLEMS, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY FLAW EXISTS WITH EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE 4RUNNER MODELS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT TOYOTA HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM RELATED TO THIS GENERATION OF 4RUNNERS, AND SINCE THEY ARE UNWILLING TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS, IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRES GOVERNMENTAL/NHTSA INTERVENTION. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHER 4RUNNERS ARE ON THE ROAD WITH SIMILAR COMPROMISED FRAMES, AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FRAME FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED OR DURING TIGHT CORNERING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT ANY INADVERTENT INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA ODI #10763726

127,640 miles · Sep 8, 2015

Structure

THE FRAME OF MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS CONSIDERABLE RUST THAT EXCEEDS NORMAL WEAR AND AGE. CONSIDERING THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE TACOMA OF THE SAME YEAR IT SEEMS PRUDENT AND RESPONSIBLE FOR TOYOTA TO STAND BY THEIR RELIABILITY SLOGAN AND REMEDY THIS SITUATION, AS THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE SAME CONDITION AS MINE.

NHTSA ODI #10762322

174,000 miles · Aug 19, 2015

Service Brakes

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WHEN I RETURNED TO MY HOME AND PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, AN ALARM SOUND WENT OFF IN THE DASHBOARD AND ALL OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE JUST PRIOR. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO TRY TO DRIVE IT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER AND NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD TO PUSH AND HAD VIRTUALLY NO BRAKING ABILITY. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY (AKA AN ABS MODULE). THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE REPLACED WITHIN 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. ON THE DAY THAT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE ALARM AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE INDICATIVE OF. I SAW THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE MOST OF WHICH HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND WERE THEREFORE LEFT WITH THE INABILITY TO BRAKE. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL, ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10749900

86,000 miles · Jul 29, 2015

Service BrakesSteeringSuspension

2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED, HAS EXCESSIVE CHASSIS RUST AND ROTTED OUT AT SOME POINT ON THE SUB FRAME, CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THERE IS NO RECALL AVAILABLE ALSO CALLED TOYOTA AND RECALL IS NOT AVAILABLE.I AM AFRAID THAT THE CHASSIS WILL BREAK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10744741

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2015

Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES, TIRE LINE: 105S RUGGED TRAIL, AND TIRE SIZE: P265/65R/17 (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE CRACKING AROUND THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THE TIRES WERE NOT INSPECTED OR REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS M…

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NHTSA ODI #10735498

60,285 miles · Jul 14, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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I WAS DRIVING HOME AT AROUND 50 MPH AND HAD TO BRAKE AND SUDDENLY THE VSC/ABS BRAKE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND A LOUD ALARM STARTED TO SOUND. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, I JUST PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHOLE SYSTEM WENT OFF. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXIT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER, A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY, SO I DROVE VERY CAREFULLY TO IT AND PARKED THE CAR. WHEN THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, THE VSC, ABS, BRAKE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITH THE AUDIBLE ALARM ONCE AGAIN. SHE ALSO SAID THE BRAKES WERE HARD AND THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT ANYWHERE. REPLACEMENT OF THE SYSTEM COST ME AROUND $3700, OUT OF POCKET. SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR COLLISION, MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY DON'T COVER MAINTENANCE REPAIRS. AFTER CHECKING IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, WHICH THERE WASN'T AND READING ABOUT OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE VSC/ABS BRAKE DASH ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, I TRULY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TOYOTA VEHICLES USING THIS VSC/ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MY CAR HAS ONLY AROUND 60K MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TOYOTA 4RUNNER.

NHTSA ODI #10734030

140,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015

StructureSuspension

FRAME HAS STARTED RUSTING NEAR WELDS AND HOLES. VERY POOR PREVENTION OF RUST BY TOYOTA. SKID PLATES TOTALLY RUSTED OUT AND FUZED BOLTS. REAR DIFF HOUSING IS ALSO RUSTY. CAR WILL PROBABLY FALL APART IN A YEAR OR TWO.

NHTSA ODI #10733529

148,000 miles · Jul 6, 2015

StructureUnknown Or Other

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TOOK MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR INPSECTION AND MAINTENANCE. LEFT DEALER THINKING TRUCK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. WHEN CHANGING BRAKES, NOTICED AN CV JOINT BOOT WAS TORN SO TOOK THE TRUCK TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE AXLE REPLACED (SINCE THEY DON'T JUST REPLACE THE BOOT ANYMORE). THE MECHANIC CALLED ME AS SOON AS HE PUT THE TRUCK UP ON A LIFT AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS RUST ISSUES DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME THAT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE WELD ALONG THE WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME SEEMS TO HAVE RUSTED OUT AND THERE IS A HOLE THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE FRAME. THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL HOLES TOWARD THE FRONT THAT ARE RATHER LARGE IN SIZE. CALLED TOYOTA, NOT THE TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. WHEN I ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UPON A BAD DIAGNOSIS, THEY STATED NOTHING BECAUSE THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RECALLS OR CAMPAIGNS FOR THE TOYOTA 4RUNNERS ONLY THE TACOMAS, TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIA'S. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS ISSSUE BEFORE CAUSING PEOPLE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I AM TERRIFIED WITH MY DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD THINK TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLE OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #10732127

72,000 miles · Jul 3, 2015

Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

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I WAS GOING 5 MPH AND HIT MY BRAKES. THE CONTROL ARM WAS RIPPED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO ROT/RUST. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR 4RUNNERS, BUT HAS ONLY OFFERED ASSISTANCE ON THE TACOMA AND TUNDRAS. THE BODY OF MY VEHICLE HAS NO RUST ANYWHERE, AND THE MILEAGE IS EXTREMELY LOW. I CANNOT EVEN FIND A MECHANIC TO FIX IT, BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SO BAD. I WAS TOLD, IF IT GETS FIXED, ANOTHER PART OF THE FRAME MAY FAIL WHEN I'M CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY AND PEOPLE COULD GET HURT OR KILLED. NO MECHANIC WANTS THIS LIABILITY IN DOING A REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10731909

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