Last updated: 2026-10-10

2021 Toyota 4Runner
RELIABILITY SCORE: 82/100 (EXCELLENT)

2021 Toyota 4Runner Reliability Report

The 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER rates excellent for reliability. Watch for a steering wheel shake at highway speed that often starts within 500 miles.

Recalls

1

Complaints

31

Complaint Rate

2.1per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$514

Annual Fuel Cost

$3,500

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity79/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity83/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

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.

Top Issues to Watch

  • STEERING (11)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
  • SERVICE BRAKES (3)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2021 is 8 years after the facelift refresh.

  • Year 12 in the Fifth generation (N280) (2010–2024).
  • Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
  • 5th generation 4Runner (US).

What this means for buyers

Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.

2010: Fifth generation (N280) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2013: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2021: This Model Year

2021 is 8 years after the facelift refresh.

Should You Buy the 2021 Toyota 4Runner?

Yes, with one caveat. Owner complaints and independent repair-cost data put this year well above average among 2021 SUVs, and among the stronger of the nine scored 4Runner years. The 2020 rates about the same. The 2022 rates worse and has more complaints and recalls.

The main problem is a shake through the steering wheel at highway speed, usually between 55 and 65 mph. It often starts within the first 500 miles. New tires, rebalancing and alignments rarely fix it, and dealers often cannot reproduce it. Three brake complaints describe the pedal sinking to the floor with no warning light, and one led to a low-speed crash in a garage. One owner reported a fire in a parked vehicle. Federal records list one equipment recall.

Test drive at highway speed before you buy. Ask for service records showing any steering or brake visits, and whether the recall work is done. If you buy a TRD Pro, listen for clunks from the shocks at low speeds.

Compared to the 2022 Toyota 4Runner, which scored 3 points lower. See also the 2020 Toyota 4Runner for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Strong reliability score
  • +$59 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize SUVs
  • +Low major repair risk (13%)
  • +Low recall count
  • +Below-average complaint rate for SUV

Cons

  • −STEERING issues reported (11 complaints)
  • −1 fire incident reported in owner complaints

Compare 2021 Toyota 4Runner With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • STEERING (11)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

1

recall on record

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

2.1

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 16.7

LowAvgHigh
Low

Safety Incidents

3

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 4/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2021 Toyota 4Runner Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Toyota 4Runner. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

22V4800002022-07-06

EQUIPMENT

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence

An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2021 Toyota 4Runner? Check its history first

Steering problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota 4Runner, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2021 Toyota 4Runner NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 3/5

Rollover risk: 24.6%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Restraint (Not Available)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat, 3rd row)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (N/A)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Toyota 4RunnerRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$514

vs $573 avg for midsize SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

13%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

4Runner
$514
Category Avg
$573
All Vehicles
$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

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.

This benchmark covers the Toyota 4Runner model overall and is not specific to the 2021 model year.

Value Retained
82.2%

after 5 years

Depreciation
17.8%

over the same period

Listings Analyzed
720

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.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

17 MPG

Running cost: $4,000/yr

Fuel + repair

16 city / 19 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
4Runner 2WD 4.0L 6-cylRear-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S5)161917$3,500
4Runner 4WD 4.0L 6-cylPart-time 4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S5)161917$3,500
4Runner 4WD 4.0L 6-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S5)161917$3,500

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Toyota 4Runner.

  • Drive at 55 to 70 mph and feel for steering wheel shake, seat vibration, or a pull to the right.

  • Ask for service records showing repeated tire balancing, alignments, or tire replacement for a vibration complaint.

  • Press the brake pedal firmly several times and walk away if it sinks toward the floor.

  • Check brake and rotor wear, and ask how often brakes have been replaced.

  • Lock and unlock every door and the liftgate with both the remote and the door switch.

  • Shift into reverse several times and confirm the backup camera image appears each time.

  • On a TRD Pro, drive slowly over bumps and listen for clunking from the shocks.

  • Confirm the suspension recall 23E051000 repair is complete, and watch for an airbag warning light at startup.

2021 Toyota 4Runner Common Problems by Component

31 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

11
5
STEERING (11)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)SERVICE BRAKES (3)SUSPENSION (3)BACK OVER PREVENTION (2)VISIBILITY/WIPER (2)FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1)POWER TRAIN (1)Other (5)

STEERING

11 complaints

Shaking or shimmy through the wheel at highway speed is the dominant complaint, most often between 55 and 65 mph, though reports range from 45 to 70 mph. The vibration can spread to the floor and seats, and some owners feel the SUV pull to the right. Several describe it as a loss of control, worse in rain or snow, and one mentions crossing lanes. It often starts when the car is new, within the first 500 miles. Rebalancing, alignments, and even new wheels and tires rarely fix it, and dealers often say they cannot reproduce it.

11 complaints total

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 complaintsSafety-related

The most serious report is a fire that started in a parked vehicle with about 5,500 miles inside a closed garage. The vehicle was a total loss and the garage was badly damaged. Door lock actuators also fail early, one door after another and then the liftgate, which can make it hard to get in or out quickly. A separate report describes an SRS airbag malfunction warning traced to a failed front passenger occupant ECU, which the dealer had trouble diagnosing.

3 complaints total1 fire

SERVICE BRAKES

3 complaintsSafety-related

The brake pedal suddenly sinks to the floor and the vehicle does not stop. In one case this caused a low-speed crash in a garage. Brakes then work normally again, no warning lights appear, no fluid leaks show up, and dealers cannot reproduce or repair the problem. A separate pattern is rapid wear: brakes and rotors needing replacement in under 10,000 miles, three times in 45,000 miles of light commuting, with the dealer finding nothing wrong.

3 complaints total1 crash
SUSPENSION (3 complaints)

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

On the TRD Pro, the Fox shocks clunk at low speeds. Warranty replacement brings only temporary relief, and the noise returns. A separate complaint concerns a suspension recall, campaign 23E051000, where the repair part was not yet available and the owner waited longer than expected without any failure. Another report repeats the steering wheel shimmy at roughly 55 to 63 mph, which comes and goes and has no clear fix.

3 complaints total
BACK OVER PREVENTION (2 complaints)

BACK OVER PREVENTION

2 complaintsSafety-related

The backup camera works only some of the time. Sometimes it shows the area behind the car, and other times the screen stays black, with no dashboard warning. One driver who had come to rely on the camera backed into a parked car without noticing it had failed. Dealers have not confirmed the problem, one would not inspect it without payment, and the camera fault is not covered by a recall.

2 complaints total1 crash
VISIBILITY/WIPER (2 complaints)

VISIBILITY/WIPER

2 complaints

The sunroof glass shatters outward at highway speed with a loud bang, with nothing hitting it, on a car with under 500 miles. The closed shade kept the glass out of the cabin, and the dealer replaced the sunroof but would not cover it under warranty. A second complaint describes the pre-collision system shutting off in a snowstorm when ice packs over its sensor on the front grille. The warning light stays on until the driver stops and clears the ice by hand.

2 complaints total
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint
2025-12-10

Vehicle was diagnosed from a mechanic with no fuel pressure due to not starting. Vehicle has approximately 135,000 miles and had no warnings or indications of problem. It appears when VIN was ran on gov. recall that Honda had issues with fuel pump. Vehicle will be inspected by Toyota dealer.

POWER TRAIN (1 complaints)

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint
2024-02-28

As the vehicle was traveling on a highway at 35 mph the vehicle shut off electronically three times and powered itself back on after 15 seconds or so of continuous cruising on the highway. Unable to accelerate or control the vehicle while the electronic component shut off in the vehicle. Three days later, a series of warning lights and check engine lights turned on, which has occurred 6 other times, and has been brought to local Toyota dealer multiple times (over six times) and no fix has been conducted to repair the vehicle other than resetting the vehicles ECU. When all of the warning lights turn on, the vehicle loses 2nd gear and juts itself forward and becomes extremely difficult to control to the point where I have almost gotten into life threatening accidents over 4 times. Toyota has acknowledged that they do not know what is wrong with the vehicle and is unsure how to fix it. This is a safety concern that is not getting enough attention and needs to be rectified before someone or myself ends up killing ourselves

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaintSafety-related
2023-02-04Crash reported1 injury

was going to work on rt 80 east had cruise control on and was getting off exit 45 in new jersey to get bus into manhattan at approx 430 amwhile getting off highway stepped on brakes pedal went to floor tried pumping nothing happened nor did criuise control disengage or collision warning come on a total collapse of system had this car for approx 1 month purchased used at paramus mercedes benz took this vehicle to my mechanic for a full inpection everything was good vehicle had approx 22000 miles on it at purchase lost all control and crashed going off roadway and sliding down bridge abuttment car is a total loss rushed to hospital car was hauled off abutment by wrecker company police fire and ambulance showed up had to break sunroof to get me out no one could belive i survived this happened yesterday feb 3 2023 called toyota corporate and they issued me a claim number as well as my insurance comp looking on line this problem seemed to happen to quite a few people can you please address this issue before more people get injured or worse its only by the grace of god that i am writing this to you this vehicle is now in storage at powder mill collision thankyou

TIRES (1 complaints)

TIRES

1 complaint
2022-11-18

Yokohama 245/60r20 Geolander G96 that came with my brand new 2021 Toyota 4Runner Limited I purchased in December 2020. Over the last several weeks every 7 to 10 days I have needed to put air in all 4 tires. Then I was driving on a smooth paved street arriving at work my low pressure warning light came on. I got out and had a flat tire. I found the inner sidewall failed at only 28,000 miles. I didn’t hit anything on the road, or hit a curb etc. just normal driving on paved roads. Putting on the spare I took my 4Runner to the Toyota dealership a few miles away. The service technician at our local Toyota dealer today stated they, “are seeing this issue as a common problem with this particular tire on Toyota 4Runners in our Colorado Cold climate, is causing the rubber to become excessively brittle. Even with normal use, the smallest stones/sand used in our highway plows/sanding trucks cause catastrophic premature tire failure. They may be fine for use in California warm clients but not here in Colorado.” This explains why recently every 7 to 10 days I have needed to put additional air in all 4 tires. The rubber is prematurely becoming brittle/rot in cold weather thus not properly sealing the air. The technician recommended going with 4 new tires from a different manufacturer, stating the problem will continue with the other 3 Yokohama tires and likely a new Yokohama tire as well. He agreed the tire should be recalled as this is unacceptable especially for a tire with a M+S (mud and snow rating), only 28,000 miles on and properly taken care of. At $400+ per tire this is a huge expense and clearly a HUGE safety issue in cold climates. In cold weather having to refill tires with air every 7 to 10 days is a real hassle as well. Good thing I have my own air compressor at home. I only drive with the correct air pressure per my owners manual as stated on my drivers door. The Toyota dealer drew a white chalk square around the tire failure area.

When Do 2021 Toyota 4Runner Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

100–500 milesHighway steering wheel shake

Best & Worst Toyota 4Runner Years

Best Toyota 4Runner Years to Buy

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

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Toyota 4Runner reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201877/100Good
201977/100Good
202082/100Excellent
202182/100Excellent
202279/100Good
202382/100Excellent
202479/100Good
202581/100Excellent
202684/100Excellent

Toyota 4Runner Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202684/100+3Excellent00
202581/100+2Excellent136
202479/100-3Good18
202382/100+3Excellent128
202279/100-3Good336
2021(selected)82/1000Excellent131
202082/100+5Excellent130
201977/1000Good461
201877/100—Good556

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER reliable?
Yes. Its reliability standing is excellent, well above other 2021 SUVs, and among the stronger of the nine scored 4Runner years. Owners filed 31 complaints, about 2.1 per 10,000 sold. The 2020 rates about the same, while the 2022 rates worse.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Steering is the biggest issue, with 11 complaints about a shake in the wheel at highway speed. Electrical, brake and suspension problems follow with three complaints each. They include failing door lock actuators, a brake pedal that sinks, and clunking shocks on the TRD Pro.
Does the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER have steering wheel shake problems?
Some do. Owners describe a shimmy at highway speed, mostly between 55 and 65 mph, that can spread to the floor and seats. It often begins within the first 500 miles. Rebalancing, alignments and new tires rarely cure it, and dealers often cannot reproduce it.
Does the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER have brake problems?
A few owners report them. Three complaints describe the pedal suddenly sinking to the floor with no warning light and no fluid leak, and dealers could not reproduce it. Others report brakes and rotors wearing out in under 10,000 miles.
How does the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER compare with the 2020 and 2022?
The 2020 rates excellent, about the same as the 2021, with 30 complaints and one recall. The 2022 rates good and worse than the 2021, with 36 complaints and three recalls. Model-wide repair costs are about $514 a year, against $573 for the class.

Don’t buy a 2021 Toyota 4Runner without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2021 Toyota 4Runner

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Toyota 4Runner does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (79/100). 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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