2018 Toyota 4Runner Reliability Report

Most of these reports concern recall 20V682000 for the fuel pump, and the main complaint is that dealers had no parts to do the repair, with no date for when parts would arrive. Before the fix, some trucks stalled while driving at speeds from 25 to 55 mph, sometimes with the check engine and traction control lights on. One stall came with inoperable brake lights. Owners also hear the fuel pump humming while the truck sits parked. Failures are reported between roughly 20,000 and 30,500 miles.

The brake pedal suddenly sinks close to the floor and the truck does not stop when it should. Drivers have to pump the pedal, and stopping distances get longer. Some owners say the pedal slowly sinks at a stop and the truck creeps forward, so they shift into park at lights. One report describes the wheels locking and pulling to one side. Dealers and mechanics often cannot reproduce the problem, even after bleeding the brakes. Reported mileages fall around 21,000 to 26K.

These reports cover three separate failures. In one crash, the truck rolled backward quickly as the driver got out, dragged him, and hit a fence. Another owner describes a surging feeling that got worse until the truck stalled and a long list of warning lights came on, after a dealer first found nothing at about 14900 miles. A third report describes a front differential that failed with no warning, damaged a front axle, and made turning difficult. The owner cites a Toyota service bulletin, but Toyota refused to cover the repair.

The fuel pump keeps running and making noise long after the truck is shut off. It stops only when the ignition is cycled or the doors are locked. One owner smelled gasoline in the garage while this was happening. Another report describes repeated stalls at low speed, around 15 to 20 mph, just after turning and starting to accelerate. Shifting to neutral brought power back. These symptoms match the fuel pump complaints filed under the fuel system category.

Power door locks stop working with no warning, first on one side and then the other, and one owner was quoted almost $1000 for repair out of warranty. Rodents chewing engine wiring caused warning lights and rough shaking at startup, with a repair cost over $1000. The most serious report describes a sudden total loss of power on a highway, including braking and steering. The driver had to stop with the emergency brake, and the truck would not restart.

The front bumper pulls away from the body as its retaining clips work loose while driving. One owner went through 10 dealer visits without a lasting fix and was told the problem is specific to the 2018 model. That report puts the onset around 31K miles. Another owner found severe rust on the frame that holds the radiator, and the dealer painted over it instead of replacing it. One report says the driver door opened while driving.

Front coil springs crack and snap in cold weather with no warning. In one case this was found during a tire change at 25K miles, and the dealer declared the truck unsafe to drive. Replacement parts were back-ordered for months, which left the owner without a vehicle. The other report describes front-end and steering wheel shake that several dealer visits did not fix, plus a fuel pump that ran with the key out of the ignition.