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

125,000 miles · Jun 19, 2015

Engine

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MY 4RUNNER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VSC TRAK OFF LIGHTS CAME ON WITH IT. THE TROUBLE CODE INDICATED #6 CYLINDER MISFIRE. AFTER CHECKING ALL THE SENSORS IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT LOSS OF COOLANT. CHECKED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET FOR #6 HAD FAILED. LOOKING ON LINE I SEE THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS AROUND THE 120K MILES MARK. ISN'T TOYOTA REQUIRED TO REPORT THESE TO NHTSA AND SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS? THIS PROBLEM SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO AN EARLIER TOYOTA ISSUE THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL. A HEAD GASKET SHOULD NOT FAIL DURING NORMAL USE OF A VEHICLE ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS USED VERY LIGHTLY AND NOT OFF ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10726169

84,000 miles · Jun 8, 2015

Service BrakesSteering

FRONT CALIPER SEIZE UP L/F AND R/F 3 INCIDENTS 11/2012 02/2015 06/2015

NHTSA ODI #10724056

88,540 miles · Jun 2, 2015

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME SUPPORT MEMBER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,540. MA 10/2 UPDATED 10/18/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10723046

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2015

Structure

EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST. UNSAFE BODY STRUCTURE. MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE FRAME DUE TO RUST ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10716919

80,000 miles · May 6, 2015

Air BagsStructure

WE HAVE A MELTING DASH IN OUR 4 RUNNER. IT CAN BURN TO THE TOUCH AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER PAST YEAR. IT IS STICKY TO TOUCH ALSO AND HAS A BAD ODOR ALSO. WE MADE COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA BUT NO OFFER TO REPAIR. I CALLED DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA CORP HAS NOT GIVEN THEM A…

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NHTSA ODI #10715021

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2015

Vehicle Speed Control

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2004 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE HE HAD INTERIOR PACKAGE, INCLUDING A SPORT ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL COULD NOT BE MODIFIED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SILVER WOULD HAVE TO BE STRIPPED OFF THE PEDAL AND THEN MODIFIED, BUT THE SILVER PART OF THE PEDAL WOULD NOT BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD THEN HAVE THE SILVER SPORT PACKAGE ON ALL THE OTHER PEDAL INTERIOR PEDAL, BUT WOULD HAVE A THINNER, BLACK, ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER CHOSE NOT TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10681240

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2015

Structure

TOOK MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FOR A OIL CHANGE AND FREE 28 POINT VEHICLE INSPECTION. WAS TOLD BY THE AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED BROKEN AND HAD HOLES SIMILAR TO THE TACOMA RECALL. CALLED TOYOTA CALIFORNIA AND ALL THE WOULD DO IS OFFER A $500 SERVICE ALLOWANCE TO ONE OF MY OTHER TOYOTA'S (CAMRY) THE CAR IS I…

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NHTSA ODI #10691135

200,000 miles · Feb 26, 2015

Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10690818

125,000 miles · Feb 25, 2015

Structure

DASHBOARD COVER DEVELOPED HAIRLINE SURFACE CRACKS. DASHBOARD COVER WAS STILL SOFT TO TOUCH AND RETAINED A SPONGE TYPE FEEL. THE THIN SKIN OF OVER THE SPONGE-LIKE CORE IS WHAT CRACKED. OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ARE REPORTED ON TOYOTA OWNERS FORUM WEB PAGES. THE DASHBOARD COVER IS DEFECTIVE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10690636

140,000 miles · Feb 11, 2015

Structure

THE DASH BOARD OF THE VEHICLE HAS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE COVER OVER THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I AM CONCERNED WHETHER THIS WILL AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IF IT SHOULD NEED TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682749

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