1.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
122,263 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #18

Apr 012021

4Runner

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the radiator boiled over without warning. The contact stated that the failure was due to the head gasket. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #17

Aug 082017

4Runner

  • 172,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4runner. While driving at any speed, the check engine indicator illuminated and remained lit. The vehicle was taken to ackerman Toyota (314-351-3000, located at 2020 hampton ave, saint louis, mo 63139) where it was diagnosed that the air switching valves needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the exhaust manifold and the air switching valves were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #16

Jul 112019

4Runner

  • 192,000 miles
Severe corrosion of frame at the rear body mount location. The body of the vehicle is no longer secured to the frame at this location due to the severe rust. Significant rust also on the front cross frame member which has the tow mounts rendering them useless and unsafe. Cracked exhaust manifold causing excessive engine noise and exhaust fumes. This is a time consuming and costly repair.

- Marietta, OH, USA

problem #15

Oct 122018

4Runner

  • 136,000 miles
The Toyota secondary air system has failed rendering my car without traction control... and other lights. There is no preventative measures for this part and Toyota used the exact same system on the Tundra's and sequoia's with the same problem I'm having. This needs to be addressed as the repair for the system is roughly $4000 almost half the cost of my car... please make them fix this on all cars where the same system was used.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #14

Aug 242018

4Runner

  • 110,000 miles
I'm a retired master mechanic turned aerospace engineer. On Aug 24, while my foot was on the brake, the engine revved to full throttle, squealing the rear tires. This event was clearly caused by a faulty electronic throttle control circuit. I shut off the truck. When I started it again, the situation was still there. I shut it off and waited 10 seconds, then started it and it idled normally. I concluded that there was a software glitch. This happened once before about two years ago. In both cases, my truck was luckily stopped in a parking lot with the transmission in drive.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #13

Aug 152018

4Runner

  • 100,000 miles
The secondary air injection pump is sending error messages and the vehicle is now in limp mode. The vehicle will not go over 30mph.

- Cape Girardeau, MO, USA

problem #12

Jun 182018

4Runner

  • 182,505 miles
Oil leak in #6 cylinder after 182,505 miles requiring an valve job.

- Downey, CA, USA

problem #11

Dec 012017

4Runner

  • 112,000 miles
Head gaskets leaking anti -freeze into piston cylinder. Dashboard lit up, all lights on.

- Big Bear City, CA, USA

problem #10

Oct 222017

4Runner

  • 150,000 miles
Secondary air pump failure due to defective design. Toyota has acknowledged this as a defective installation on the sequoia and Tundra models with an identical engine installation as the 4runner; but refuses to repair/retrofit the 4runner device. Result is loss of power which could result on vehicle accident

- Miller Place, NY, USA

problem #9

Sep 202017

4Runner

  • 102,000 miles
2005 Toyota 4runner 4.7L V8. "check engine" and vsc trac. Codes 1441, 1444 and 2440.Toyota knows they put a faulty secondary air injection system in the V8 engines for a number of years, and now they want $2200 to fix the problem. If the faulty valve sticks open, the vehicle will automatically go into "limp mode" with a maximum speed well below safe travel speeds on highways and interstates, creating a safety hazard for occupants and others on the road. Toyota did a recall on other models with the same engine, but nothing for the 4runner. This is a know issue with the V8 engine, and they are covering the repair for sequoias and Tundra with the same engine.

- West Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #8

Jul 222017

4Runner

  • 125 miles
2005 Toyota 4runner 4.7L V8. "check engine" and vsc trac. Codes 1441, 1444 and 2440 vehicle went into limp mode on the highway and I was unable to accelerate about 20 mph on a 70 mph highway. Major safety issue. This is a known issue with the Toyota V8 but Toyota is not covering the 4runner but is covering the same engine part in the Tundra. The mechanic knew exactly what the problem was and sees it all the time. Repair is $2,000 with no reimbursement from Toyota

- Bristow, VA, USA

problem #7

Dec 112013

4Runner

  • 75,000 miles
Leaking exhaust manifolds due to faulty design this is on the V8 4runner. Exhaust will go into the cabin of the vehicle and smell like rotten eggs. Toyota will not help in the replacement of these manifolds. The charge is 2500 to replace. There is a technical service bulletin on this issue. It is hard to drive with exhaust leaking in the cab sometimes getting sick.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #6

May 152016

4Runner

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4runner. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle lost power. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The check engine and vsc warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an auto store where a technician pulled up diagnostic trouble codes. The contact spoke with a local dealer who stated that, based on the codes provided, the vehicle would be repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 05V123000 (engine and engine cooling). The VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #5

Jan 012016

4Runner

  • 146,000 miles
Stationary on startup - my 2005 Toyota has been rendered worthless because of a factory defect in the blower fan that only runs when cold starting the engine. It triggers the "limp home" mode in the vehicle which overrides transmission shifting and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. The error code for this problem is P0418 secondary air injection system relay. This is a well-known problem and has occurred in many, many of the Toyota 4.7 L engines in different vehicles. Toyota is aware of this defect in this/these part(s). This could not be predicted or prevented by servicing the vehicle at regular intervals, or any other method of typical consumer maintenance. The price for repair is in the $3-thousand dollar range. This was not a consumer neglect item. Toyota has a part in their engine that is defective, and they know that. I do not have that kind of money for this vehicle, so I use a computer to reset the code until this gets resolved, or the vehicle completely shuts down.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #4

Jan 162016

4Runner

  • 121,000 miles
For 3 days the car would start with engine roughness, lasting 15 seconds or so (sometimes with a cloud of smoke from the exhaust). On the 3rd day the check engine light, vsc, and trac lights illuminated. An analysis at an independent repair shop found a computer code of P0306 (engine mis-fire on cylinder 6). A borescope video of the cylinder shows small amounts of coolant entering the cylinder, indicating a head gasket leak. Searching this vehicle online and in this database shows a high number of reports of head gaskets leaking into cylinder 6. I am looking at quotes between $2500-5000 for repairs.

- Belmont, CA, USA

problem #3

Oct 132014

4Runner

  • 108,953 miles
My check engine light came on along with vsc trac. After taking vehicle to dealership I was told that the repair would cost $2,048.73 due to the air pump being stuck in off position. While Toyota in response to reports of air induction pump assemblies and/or air injection switching valves issues on their 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 sequoia models, Toyota has decided to increase its warranty on these parts and is even offering a reimbursement if you already had this issue fixed. My vehicle has the identical engine of the above-named vehicles but Toyota does not offer any help with the 4runner. It is my understanding that if I do not get the problem fixed it becomes a huge problem within federally mandated emissions requirement.

- Boothwyn, PA, USA

problem #2

Aug 012014

4Runner

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and failed to slow down when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact mentioned that after shifting in neutral the vehicle slowed down. The vehicle was then maneuvered to the side of the road where the engine was shut off. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then to the dealer. The mechanic noticed metal fragments in the engine oil. The contact was made aware that the vehicle was included in recall NHTSA campaign id number: 11V113000 (vehicle speed control). However, the contact did not receive a recall notification prior to the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Eden, VT, USA

problem #1

Jul 032012

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 100,150 miles
Engine loosing coolant. Vehicle brought to an independent service station which determined that the vehicle has head gasket failure. 3.0 V6 engine. Coolant being lost through exhaust system with usual symptoms of this problem. Vehicle has just over 100K miles. Appears this is around the mileage that gasket failures occur. This is a problem for which Toyota previously identified a limited number of vehicles for a recall. However in reviewing this website it appears the problem was ongoing beyond the vehicles identified. Although this is an older vehicle, if it had been recalled and fixed I most likely would not have had this problem. Toyota notified but is denying any responsibility for faulty gaskets beyond identified vehicles.

- Lansdale, PA, USA