Last updated: 2026-10-10
Toyota 4Runner Reliability by Year
Toyota 4RUNNER reliability rates excellent among SUVs, with below-average repair costs. Highway steering shake is the top complaint.
Toyota 4Runner Reliability Overview
Used 4RUNNERs hold up well, and yearly repair costs run below the midsize SUV average. The 2023 model year is the pick, while 2018 and 2019 carry more recalls and complaints. Check first for steering wheel shake at highway speeds, then for owner reports of a brake pedal that sinks toward the floor.
Current generation: 6th gen (2025–2024).
Best & Worst Toyota 4Runner Years
Best Toyota 4Runner Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe 2023 model year has an excellent standing, one recall, and 2.5 complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2018 and 2019 years log 4 and 4.6, with five and four recalls. Its top complaints are tire vibration and a low-beam shadow, and it has been on the road long enough to trust the record.
Toyota 4Runner Years to Avoid
No Toyota 4Runner years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 77 and 84 across 9 scored model years.
Toyota 4Runner Reliability Score Trend
Toyota 4Runner reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 80/100.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 84/100 | Excellent |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Toyota 4Runner
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Rates excellent with no complaints or recalls filed so far, though it has had the least time on the road to collect any.
2025 Toyota 4Runner
1 recalls · 36 complaints
Rates excellent with one electrical recall, but brake noise and a loose front air dam stand out among its owner complaints.
2024 Toyota 4Runner
1 recalls · 8 complaints
Final year of the fifth generation, with few complaints but a weaker standing than 2023, plus distorted cameras and a key fob fault.
2023 Toyota 4Runner
1 recalls · 28 complaints
Rates excellent and well above other 2023 SUVs, with fewer recalls than 2022, though owners report air bag and seat belt failures in crashes.
2022 Toyota 4Runner
3 recalls · 36 complaints
Middle of the pack for the 4RUNNER, with complaints about air bags not deploying and brake pedals that sink; the 2021 and 2023 rate better.
2021 Toyota 4Runner
1 recalls · 31 complaints
Rated excellent and well above other 2021 SUVs, though a highway steering shake and a few sudden brake pedal drops stand out among owner complaints.
2020 Toyota 4Runner
1 recalls · 30 complaints
Excellent reliability with just one recall, a sharp drop from the 2019, though some owners report air bags that did not deploy in crashes.
2019 Toyota 4Runner
4 recalls · 61 complaints
Good reliability and well above its class, yet the weakest of nine scored 4Runner years, with highway steering shake and four recalls.
2018 Toyota 4Runner
5 recalls · 56 complaints
Good standing against other SUVs, yet among the weaker 4RUNNER years, with highway steering shake and fuel system stalling leading owner complaints.
Found Your Toyota 4Runner? Check Its History
Steering (11) problems come up most in Toyota 4Runner owner complaints, and 17 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Toyota 4Runner Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
4/5
Annual Repair Cost
$514
Repair Frequency
0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk
13%
$59 below the midsize SUVs average of $573/yr.
Ranked #9 of 26 among midsize SUVs.
Toyota 4Runner Resale Value
The Toyota 4Runner is estimated to retain about 82.2% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 82.2%
- Depreciation
- 17.8%
- Listings Analyzed
- 720
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Toyota 4Runner depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comToyota 4Runner Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
Most Reliable Toyota Models
Compare all Toyota models by reliability
Compare Toyota 4Runner With Similar SUVs
The Toyota 4Runner competes with other midsize suvs such as Ford Bronco Sport, Honda Passport, and Land Rover Defender 110.
4Runner vs Ford Bronco Sport
6 years tracked · 1119 complaints
4Runner vs Honda Passport
8 years tracked · 548 complaints
4Runner vs Land Rover Defender 110
6 years tracked · 187 complaints
4Runner vs Ford Bronco
6 years tracked · 1803 complaints
4Runner vs Jeep Wrangler
9 years tracked · 5160 complaints
More Toyota 4Runner comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best year for the Toyota 4RUNNER?
- The 2023 model year is the best pick. It has an excellent standing, one recall, and a lower complaint rate than 2018 and 2019. It has also been on the road long enough for complaints to show up. The 2020 and 2021 years also rate excellent.
- Is the Toyota 4RUNNER reliable?
- Yes. Its overall standing is excellent and well above average among SUVs on the site. Our data covers model years 2018 to 2026, so it says nothing about very high mileage. The weakest years in that range are 2018 and 2019, and both still rate good.
- What are the most common Toyota 4RUNNER problems?
- Steering leads with 39 owner complaints, mostly steering wheel shake at highway speeds between 50 and 65 mph. Service brakes follow with 34, often a pedal that sinks. Air bags have 24 complaints and the electrical system has 23, including door locks that quit.
- How much does the Toyota 4RUNNER cost to repair?
- Independent repair-cost data puts the estimated annual repair cost at $514. That is below the $573 average for midsize SUVs. Out-of-warranty electrical jobs are the exception, since owners report quotes near $1000 for door lock repairs and over $1000 for rodent-chewed wiring.
- Do 4RUNNER air bags fail to deploy?
- Owners filed 24 air bag complaints, and 20 are linked to crashes. Most say the air bags did not deploy in serious frontal impacts. These are unverified owner reports, and several guardrail filings look like repeats of one crash.
How we score the Toyota 4Runner
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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