722 of the
6,482 complaints filed about the Toyota 4RUNNER
are about the other systems —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
**Vehicle:** 2026 Toyota 4Runner SR5- -700Miles I am reporting a persistent vibration issue that appears to come from the engine bay and is transmitted through the driver's side floorboard into the driver's left foot and leg. The vibration is most noticeable when the transmission is engaged and the vehicle is under load. If the transmission is disengaged while the vehicle is still moving, the vibration disappears, even though the driveshaft, axles, and other drivetrain components are still rotating. This suggests the issue may be related to the engine or transmission rather than the tires or other rotating components. My daily one-way commute is approximately 30 minutes. By the time I arrive at work, I experience a noticeable vibration sensation in both feet, especially my left foot. The sensation continues for more than an hour after driving and is concerning enough that I believe it could have health implications if the issue continues over time. I have found reports from other owners describing similar vibration concerns, which suggests this may not be an isolated incident. I believe this issue deserves investigation because continuous vibration transmitted directly to the driver's foot and leg can affect driver comfort and may have potential health and safety implications during extended driving. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this complaint and determine whether this condition represents a broader vehicle defect requiring investigation.
NHTSA complaint #11753918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The driver’s side window rattles in its tracks when open 2-3”, and when all the way down. Any rough roads will induce the rattle. Toyota master technician has confirmed the rattle in my vehicle and a new 4Runner, which displays the same problem. It appears to be a defective design.
NHTSA complaint #11750618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car was running while in park. Our son got and and shifted the car into reverse from the passenger seat. The gear shift will engage without applying the brake or even without running and in park. The car crashed into one of our other vehicles parked behind the 4 runner. There is a malfunction with the automatic shift locking mechanism otherwise known as the safety interlock.
NHTSA complaint #11750215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Traveling on highway with no other cars anywhere around. Going 80 mph on an 80 degree day when sun roof on 2025 Toyota 4 runner exploded. Sun roof was closed at the time, but could have had devastating consequences if it had been open. Toyota rep did not take a look at the broken glass to check for imperfections or manufacturing issues, just told us we needed to make an insurance claim.
NHTSA complaint #11746050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Purchased used car from champion motorsports. I was handed a clean carfax report and was told the sunroof had no issues. 8 days later the seal around the sunroof came off and allowed water into the car. I scheduled a repair and brought it to passionauto body. On June 16th they notified me the car was unsafe to drive due to two support brackets being cutout and not replaced. After some research Toyota of calumet city had top coverage in some service notes. Car was also brought back to the shop on December 15th 2025 due to the sunroof not closing. Of course there were no notes on the service ticket.
NHTSA complaint #11745185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
unknown, vehicle started to leak a fluid, took vehicle to mechanic shop they said frame rotted to the point they would not let me drive it home had to have it towed and now without transportation. the almost identical frames on other toyota vehicles were recalled for exactly the same problem. i dont understand why toyota will stand behind some of their vehicles and take care of some of the toyota owners but not all.
NHTSA complaint #11743956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was informed by my mechanic that my vehicle has extensive rust and corrosion on the vehicle frame.I understand there was a recall on this issue by Toyota but did not include this model year. This issue affects not only driver safety but also resale value.
NHTSA complaint #11744022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle less than 1 month old and less than 500 miles had a total transmission failure causing a unsafe driving situation while driving , no warning of impending failure resulting loud banging noise and vibration , sudden loss of speed while driving and dashboard lighting up with different warnings. Very stressful situation trying to exit traffic safely.
NHTSA complaint #11738355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a suspected manufacturing defect involving the exterior paint on my 6th generation Toyota 4Runner. The paint appears to be abnormally thin and is showing premature wear, including chipping and surface irregularities, under normal driving conditions. This vehicle has not been subjected to any abnormal environmental exposure, misuse, or neglect. The condition developed much earlier than expected for a new vehicle and raises concerns about inadequate paint application or quality control during manufacturing. While this issue is cosmetic in nature, it may lead to long-term structural concerns such as corrosion if the underlying metal becomes exposed. Additionally, this concern appears to be reported by multiple owners of the same generation vehicle, suggesting a potential pattern rather than an isolated case. I am requesting that this issue be documented and reviewed for possible investigation if additional complaints are received.
NHTSA complaint #11732471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving 70 mph on a cloudy 73° day around 6:30 pm no cars immediately around me on I45. I heard a loud gunshot to the point I ducked in my car. Immediately pulled over walked around the car. My Sunroof exploded upwards. Took to Longo Toyota on Monday at 7am. Upon arrival they thought it would be covered under warranty. They brought in a specialist to evaluate and they can’t prove it but something must have hit it and they are denying warranty. The glass moved upward and was shattered but intact upon initial inspection. Upon online review this is a known problem w Toyota but one that needs to be addressed in a bigger scale as this could have caused an accident just from the sound alone or if the sunroof cover had been open glass raining down on passengers and driver.
NHTSA complaint #11731554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle: 2025 Toyota 4Runner Summary of Issue: The rear tailgate cannot be opened if the rear window is even slightly lowered. This appears to be an intentional design feature; however, it creates a real-world safety concern. Description of Safety Concern: In normal daily use, I needed to quickly access the rear cargo area (to retrieve my child’s belongings) while parked with the vehicle turned off. The rear window was partially lowered, which prevented the tailgate from opening entirely. This resulted in a delay while I attempted to determine why the tailgate would not open and then had to return to the driver’s seat to raise the rear window before accessing the cargo area. During this time, my child was left standing in a parking lot longer than necessary. While the vehicle was stationary, the inability to quickly access the rear compartment created an avoidable safety exposure. Why This Is a Concern: The system does not account for vehicle state (e.g., parked, engine off, zero speed). A more appropriate design would allow the tailgate to open when the vehicle is stationary or automatically raise the rear window when the tailgate is activated. Instead, the current behavior enforces a strict lockout regardless of context, which can delay access in situations where timely access is important for safety. Requested Action: I request that this behavior be reviewed for potential safety implications and that consideration be given to a software update or design change that allows tailgate operation when the vehicle is stationary, or provides an automatic window-close function when opening the tailgate. Additional Notes: This behavior may be present across multiple model years and could affect a large number of vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11727350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Windshield cracked approximately 2” from the bottom all the way across while using the defroster to clear ice from it. I was still parked at the time. I am unsure how long it will stay water tight or become worse. One concern is the crash avoidance and the automatic high beam sensor are both attached to the windshield and don’t want them to fail. I also don’t want the entire piece of glass to shatter and land in my lap while driving. The dealer refused honoring the repair under warranty. They only use one particular repair shop (which I suspect they own) and even quoted me a price for replacing the ruined glass. In addition to paying for that I would need to pay the dealer to recalibrate the crash avoidance and headlight sensor. I have yet to report the damage to my insurance. As of yet there are no warning lights showing.
NHTSA complaint #11716332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
the rear manual tailgate has opened 3 times while the vehicle was at highway speeds and the doors would be locked. the latest incident happened on 1-30-26, at highway speed (70mph) the tailgate opened completely without warning. the indicator on the dash did light up and an alarm did sound. I had been on the road approximately 10 miles without incident before that. this was the third time this happened, although the first two the door did not completely open, only became unlatched but stayed shut. all three times were mornings that were extremely cold. (below -1 F) each time i made sure there was no ice or snow or other object in the way of securely closing the tailgate. even if there were, the door would not be closed from the onset and the dash warning should have indicated the door was not completely latched.
NHTSA complaint #11714444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2019 Toyota 4Runner is experiencing a faulty backup camera, the display shows a frozen or blank image when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash. The current Toyota backup camera recall includes 2020 and later models, however it does not include 2019 4runners. A faulty backup camera in a 2019 vehicle is as much a safety issue as a backup camera in a 2020 vehicle. The backup camera is currently inoperable and is expensive to fix, it has not been replaced as of this complaint.
NHTSA complaint #11700430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The paint on the outside of my 2011 Toyota 4Runner has recently been peeling significantly in various areas of the car, including the roof, the door below the window, and the front driver side panel. These areas are prone to rust, and many inhibit the safety of the car due to rust. Due to living near the ocean (within a mile), the salty air may increase the rust due to the paint peeling in various and significant areas of the car.
NHTSA complaint #11696117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle purchased new on 8/10/2025. Within days, developed severe vibration at highway speeds (70+ mph) and rattling driver-side window. Vehicle was at dealership (AutoNation Toyota Winter Park) from 8/20–8/31/2025; during this time, odometer readings increased significantly without explanation and no mileage log was provided. Vehicle was returned unrepaired, with “take-off” tires installed without disclosure. Issues persisted and vehicle was later taken to a second dealership (Seminole Toyota) from 9/2–9/13/2025. Dealer staff confirmed vibration linked to tire condition, but contradictory invoices and lack of transparency left safety issues unresolved. Concerns: Vehicle stability and vibration at highway speeds. Window rattle impacting safety on uneven roads. Odometer irregularities during dealer custody (mileage logged inconsistent with actual travel). Dealer substitution of tires without proper disclosure. Reason: Unknown – possible tires, suspension, or related system. Manufacturer and dealerships have not resolved after multiple service attempts. Claim filed with NCDS and Toyota, scheduled for Arbitration Hearing on 10/3/2025 at AutoNation Winter Park, FL.
NHTSA complaint #11690190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While my mechanic was servicing a small exhaust leak on my vehicle he noticed that the chassis/frame of the vehicle was heavily corroded. He told me that he believe it was no longer safe to drive and that I contact Toyota. I had a local Toyota service center also look at it and they confirmed that the chassis/frame was heavily corroded and unsafe to drive.
NHTSA complaint #11688509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.