Last updated: 2026-10-10

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
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
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)
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

2021 Ford Bronco Sport
Reliability: 54/100

2021 Honda Passport
Reliability: 68/100

2021 Land Rover Defender 110
Reliability: 59/100

2021 Jeep Wrangler
Reliability: 56/100

2021 Ford Bronco
Reliability: 41/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- STEERING (11)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
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 soldSegment avg: 16.7
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.
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.
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.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Toyota 4Runner NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 24.6%
Safety Technologies
Toyota 4RunnerRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based 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
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%
- 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.comMPG & 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
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Runner 2WD 4.0L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S5) | 16 | 19 | 17 | $3,500 |
| 4Runner 4WD 4.0L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S5) | 16 | 19 | 17 | $3,500 |
| 4Runner 4WD 4.0L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S5) | 16 | 19 | 17 | $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.
STEERING
11 complaintsShaking 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 complaintsSafety-relatedThe 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.
SERVICE BRAKES
3 complaintsSafety-relatedThe 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.
SUSPENSION (3 complaints)
SUSPENSION
3 complaintsOn 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION (2 complaints)
BACK OVER PREVENTION
2 complaintsSafety-relatedThe 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.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (2 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2 complaintsThe 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.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaintVehicle 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 complaintAs 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-relatedwas 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 complaintYokohama 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.
Best & Worst Toyota 4Runner Years
Best Toyota 4Runner Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2023
2021
(Current Model)
2020
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.
| 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 |
Toyota 4Runner Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Does the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER have steering wheel shake problems?
Does the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER have brake problems?
How does the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER compare with the 2020 and 2022?
Don’t buy a 2021 Toyota 4Runner without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
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.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Toyota 4Runner.
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