Toyota 4RUNNER — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

8 model years to avoid, 5 to watch and 10 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid8 years

Caution5 years

Best bets10 years

Complaint history

1984: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1987: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1988: 9 complaints, Not enough data 1989: 6 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 79 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 43 complaints, Recommended 1992: 53 complaints, Recommended 1993: 52 complaints, Recommended 1994: 12 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 47 complaints, Recommended 1996: 72 complaints, Recommended 1996 1997: 139 complaints, Caution 1998: 130 complaints, Caution 1999: 220 complaints, Avoid 2000: 379 complaints, Avoid 2001: 154 complaints, Caution 2002: 192 complaints, Avoid 2003: 527 complaints, Avoid 2004: 612 complaints, Avoid 2004 2005: 410 complaints, Avoid 2006: 381 complaints, Avoid 2007: 154 complaints, Caution 2008: 96 complaints, Recommended 2009: 22 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 145 complaints, Caution 2011: 163 complaints, Avoid 2012: 96 complaints, Recommended 2013: 36 complaints, Recommended 2014: 77 complaints, Recommended 2014 2015: 86 complaints, Recommended 2016: 79 complaints, Recommended 2017: 36 complaints, Recommended 2018: 58 complaints, Recommended 2019: 65 complaints, Recommended 2020: 32 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 36 complaints, Recommended 2022: 39 complaints, Recommended 2023: 30 complaints, Recommended 2024: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2025: 59 complaints, Recommended 2026: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2004 · 612
1984: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1987: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1987 1988: 9 complaints, Not enough data 1989: 6 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 79 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 43 complaints, Recommended 1992: 53 complaints, Recommended 1993: 52 complaints, Recommended 1993 1994: 12 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 47 complaints, Recommended 1996: 72 complaints, Recommended 1996 1997: 139 complaints, Caution 1998: 130 complaints, Caution 1999: 220 complaints, Avoid 1999 2000: 379 complaints, Avoid 2001: 154 complaints, Caution 2002: 192 complaints, Avoid 2003: 527 complaints, Avoid 2004: 612 complaints, Avoid 2004 2005: 410 complaints, Avoid 2006: 381 complaints, Avoid 2007: 154 complaints, Caution 2008: 96 complaints, Recommended 2008 2009: 22 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 145 complaints, Caution 2011: 163 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 96 complaints, Recommended 2013: 36 complaints, Recommended 2014: 77 complaints, Recommended 2014 2015: 86 complaints, Recommended 2016: 79 complaints, Recommended 2017: 36 complaints, Recommended 2017 2018: 58 complaints, Recommended 2019: 65 complaints, Recommended 2020: 32 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 36 complaints, Recommended 2022: 39 complaints, Recommended 2023: 30 complaints, Recommended 2023 2024: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2025: 59 complaints, Recommended 2026: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2004 · 612
1984: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1984 1985: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1986: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1986 1987: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1988: 9 complaints, Not enough data 1988 1989: 6 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 79 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 43 complaints, Recommended 1992: 53 complaints, Recommended 1992 1993: 52 complaints, Recommended 1994: 12 complaints, Not enough data 1994 1995: 47 complaints, Recommended 1996: 72 complaints, Recommended 1996 1997: 139 complaints, Caution 1998: 130 complaints, Caution 1998 1999: 220 complaints, Avoid 2000: 379 complaints, Avoid 2000 2001: 154 complaints, Caution 2002: 192 complaints, Avoid 2002 2003: 527 complaints, Avoid 2004: 612 complaints, Avoid 2004 2005: 410 complaints, Avoid 2006: 381 complaints, Avoid 2006 2007: 154 complaints, Caution 2008: 96 complaints, Recommended 2008 2009: 22 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 145 complaints, Caution 2010 2011: 163 complaints, Avoid 2012: 96 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 36 complaints, Recommended 2014: 77 complaints, Recommended 2014 2015: 86 complaints, Recommended 2016: 79 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 36 complaints, Recommended 2018: 58 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 65 complaints, Recommended 2020: 32 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 36 complaints, Recommended 2022: 39 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 30 complaints, Recommended 2024: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2024 2025: 59 complaints, Recommended 2026: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2026 2004 · 612
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2026 ○ Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 ● Recommended 59 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2024 ○ Not enough data 9 Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2023 ▲ Recommended 30 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 ▲ Recommended 39 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 ▲ Recommended 36 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 ▲ Recommended 32 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 ● Recommended 65 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 ● Recommended 58 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 ▲ Recommended 36 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 ● Recommended 79 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 ● Recommended 86 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2014 ● Recommended 77 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2013 ▲ Recommended 36 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 ● Recommended 96 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2011 ■ Avoid 163 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 ◆ Caution 145 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 ○ Not enough data 22 Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2008 ● Recommended 96 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2007 ◆ Caution 154 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 ■ Avoid 381 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2005 ■ Avoid 410 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2004 ■ Avoid 612 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2003 ■ Avoid 527 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2002 ■ Avoid 192 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2001 ◆ Caution 154 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2000 ■ Avoid 379 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1999 ■ Avoid 220 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1998 ◆ Caution 130 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 ◆ Caution 139 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 ● Recommended 72 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1995 ▲ Recommended 47 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1994 ○ Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1993 ▲ Recommended 52 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1992 ▲ Recommended 53 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1991 ▲ Recommended 43 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1990 ● Recommended 79 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1989 ○ Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1988 ○ Not enough data 9 Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1987 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1986 ○ Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1985 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1984 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

47

recalls on file across every Toyota 4RUNNER model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Toyota models