NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota 4Runner. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
SINCE NEW, I HAVE DOCUMENTED AT LEAST 20 OCCURRENCES OF LACK OF ACCELERATION, SEVERAL TIMES ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL OCCURRENCES HAPPEN FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THEN APPLYING AT LEAST HALF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRUCK WILL INITIALLY ACCELERATE, THEN PAUSE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, VERY SCARY WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC OR GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. HAPPENS ON TURNS AND WHEN GOING STRAIGHT.
STARTED WITH SHAKING WHILE DRIVING, THEN THEY SAY THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE SAME FEELING. THEN THE FRONT CAR WOULD SQUEAK LIKE AND OLD COIL, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THAT. NOW THEY SAID I NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND THEN THE ABS, BRAKE, AND SKID CONTROL LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND OFF WHICH COINCIDES WITH A COIL/CLICK FEELING UNDER THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL. CAR STILL SHAKES AND SQUEAKED. TOYOTA KEEPS SAYING MY CAR IS FINE.
HAVE AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOCKING DURING BREAKING. FEELS LIKE THE YOU SUDDENLY MASHED THE BREAK PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT WHILE GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD APPROX 50MPH CONSTANT BREAK PRESSURE. HAS DONE THIS AT SLOWER SPEEDS GOING FORWARD AND BACKING UP, JUST SEEMS TO DRAG THE RF TIRE WHILE OTHER THREE ARE ROTATING NORMALLY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT. INCLUDED IMAGES OF DRAG MARKS IN SHOP FLOOR.
DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK ACTUATORS ARE GOING OUT. DRIVER'S SIDE AND NOW FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PREVALENT ISSUE ON LINE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. REPLACING ONE COSTS $550.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A MODERATE SLOPE. ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. DESPITE BEING IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT MY MAILBOX AT THE CURB. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE MATTER TO TOYOTA. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED "WE DID NOT FIND EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR SHIFT SELECTOR [SIC] CAUSED THIS INCIDENT." THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING THERE FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET. I DID NOT BUMP THE SHIFT LEVER OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME OUT OF PARK. I SPOKE WITH THE TOYOTA ENGINEER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND HE TOLD ME HE COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. I AM CONCERNED THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY, I WILL ALWAYS USE THE PARKING BRAKE IN THE FUTURE. ATTACHED IS TOYOTA'S LETTER TO ME SAYING THEY DID NOT FIND A DEFECT AND MY LETTER IN RESPONSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ORANGE SERVICE ENGINE AMD TRAC ORANGE LOGHT ILLUMINATED. ONCE THAT HAPPEN D THE THROTTLE BODY BECAME TOTALLY NON-RESPONSIVE. NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRESSED THE THROTTLE IT WAS NON-RESPONSIBILVE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TWICE, ON THE SECOND RESTART BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON BUT THROTTLE APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMAL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND PROVIDED A LOANER. THE SERVICE TECH AND SERVICE ADVISOR EXPLAINED HOW RARE THIS IS ESPECIALLY ON A 12 MONTH OLD VEHICLE WITH UNDER 30K MILES ON IT. THEY ORDERED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND WE'LL SEE IF IT FIXES THE ISSUE. GIVEN TOYOTA'S RECENT HISTORY WITH 'SUDDEN ACCELLERATION' I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS JUST IN CASE.
RODENTS CHEWED UP WIRING HARNESS FOR FUEL INJECTOR. VEHICLE PARKED IN ENCODED GARAGE.
Above 55 mph uncontrollable shaking of entire vehicle. The wheels have been balanced and rotated with no help.
THE TFORCE FENDER FLARES HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY LOOSE, AND RATTLE WHEN DRIVING. I AM AFRAID OF THEM FLYING OFF ON THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO A FOLLOWING VEHICLE.
"TAKATA RECALL " ALSO STICKING GAS PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING WAS SOY BASED AND WAS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. AT 12,000 AND 30,000 MILES, THE WIRES WERE PREMATURELY DAMAGED BY RODENTS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN SUGGESTING THAT THE CONTACT REPLACE THE WIRES TWICE. THE DEALER (DURANGO TOYOTA, 1200 CARBON JCT, DURANGO, CO 81301, (970) 385-4822) INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
I STARTED THE 4RUNNER AND NOTICED THAT A FEW OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON (ABS, BRAKE, & A FEW OTHERS I CAN'T REMEMBER). I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT ANYWAY TO RUN SOME ERRANDS (SHORT DISTANCE), AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY EITHER (NOT GOING INTO ECO MODE AND STRUGGLING TO REACH 40 MPH). I DECIDED TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED A SQUIRREL NESTED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE FIREWALL. THE SQUIRREL ALSO USED THE INSULATION FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ALONG THE FIREWALL TO MAKE ITS NEST. I TOOK THE 4RUNNER TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE ELECTRIC RUNS WAS CHEWED ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH SOME DAMAGE ON THE MAIN HARNESS. I LET THEM KEEP THE 4RUNNER OVER NIGHT TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE DAMAGE. THE INITIAL ESTIMATE WAS FOR $5,716.30. I DECIDED TO LET THEM KEEP THE 4RUNNER UNTIL THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC HARNESS WOULD TAKE 3 TO 5 DAYS TO BE SHIPPED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEN I WAS NOTIFIED (6 DAYS LATER) THAT THE ELECTRIC HARNESS WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND WOULD TAKE ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE THEY RECEIVE IT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL SAYING THAT ALL THE PARTS WERE IN, BUT NOW THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE OR RAISE THE BODY TO INSTALL THE FIREWALL INSULATION. SO AN ADDITIONAL $2,219.66 FOR THAT PORTION OF IT. SURE MY INSURE PICKED UP THE TAB LESS MY DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I DROPPED THE 4RUNNER OFF MARCH 7, 2017 AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT SHOULD BE READY AROUND APRIL 5TH. HOPEFULLY NOTHING ELSE IS FOUND. I PURCHASED THE 4RUNNER BRAND NEW ON FEBRUARY 4, 2017 (DRIVEWAY KEPT). I TRADED IN A 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT I HAD FOR 11 YEARS THAT SAT OUTSIDE FOR THIS HEADACHE. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE TACOMA. THE 4 RUNNER ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS INCONVENIENCE HAPPENED.
PUT THE VEHICLE IN H4 MODE (4 WHEEL DRIVE). IN A STOP POSITION, TURN ALL THE WAY RIGHT, OR ALL THE WAY LEFT IF YOU PREFER. ACCELERATE, PUSH ON GAS PEDAL. PROBLEM: 1) THE CAR MOVES IN A CLUNKING MOTION. 2) FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES ON - BUT NO BRAKES IS ON. 3) SMELLS VERY BAD TIRE BURNT SMELL. 4) IF TOYOTA DOESN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM, ITS GONNA COST MORE MONEY TO FIX WHATEVER IT CAUSES - GEAR SHAFT, ECT.. GETS GRIND OR DAMAGE. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR MECHANICS SAYS YOU CAN'T USE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHAT? ITS A 4 RUNNER! YOU CAN DRIVE 4 WHEEL WHEN YOU WANT TOO. BESIDES, THE PROBLEM EXIST ON WET PAVEMENT OR SNOW CONDITIONS TOO. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSE TO GET OUT OF OUR DRIVE WAY IF THIS FEATURE DOESN'T WORK DURING SNOW CONDITIONS. OR WHEN YOU USE IT, IT DAMAGES YOUR CAR - AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TRIED THIS ON THE NEW 2017 4 RUNNERS THAT THEY HAVE THERE AND IT HAS SAME PROBLEM. MY 2016 4 RUNNER ONLY HAS 300 MILES. JUST BOUGHT IT TWO WEEKS AGO 2/17/2017. BAD TESTING.. THIS HAS TO BE FIX. PLEASE RECALL AND MAKE IT RIGHT. THANKS ALSO - I OWN A 2004 4RUNNER AND IT WORKS FINE IN THIS SENARIO - DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. BUT MY NEW 2016 HAS THIS PROBLEM. AGAIN - BAD TESTING. PLEASE RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM TOYOTA. THANK YOU.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED.
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME AND WHEN I WENT OUT IN THE MORNING TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL MY VEHICLE STARTED MISFIRING ALL THE CHECKS ENGINE LIGHTS WERE LIGHTED UP EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON MY PANEL LIT UP. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. COME TO FIND OUT THAT ALL MY WIRING UNDER THE HOOD HAD BEEN EATEN OR CHEWED UP BY RATS. IT COST ME $500.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED (TAPED) LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN . AND LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER THAT IT HAPPENED AGAIN! I READ SOMEWHERE THAT YOUR VEHICLES ARE KNOWN TO ATTRACT RATS AND THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY CUSTOMER TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ANY TIME SOON ? IT'S BECOMING VERY EXPENSIVE FOR ME .
TOYOTA KNOWINGLY USES A SOY BASED WIRE COATING THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS. SOMETHING CHEWED THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS MAKING MY VEHICLE SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND ACT VERY STRANGE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE WHAT IF THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY PARTIAL AND THEN THROUGH NORMAL USE LIKE HIGHWAY DRIVING THE WIRE FULLY COMES APART DISRUPTING ANY AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES
WHENEVER I GO OVER POTHOLES AND BUMPS MY CAR MAKES CLUNKING NOISES AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE.
BOUGHT A USED 2016 4RUNNER. HAD IT 3 WEEKS AND A RODENT CHEWED THE WIRES ON THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. TOYOTA (THAT I HAVE 2 WARRANTIES THROUGH) DOES NOT COVER RODENT DAMAGE EVEN THOUGH THE MATERIAL THAT THEY USE ATTRACTS RODENTS APPARENTLY FROM MY RESEARCH. I HAVE $3500-$5500 IN DAMAGE AND MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS FIGHTING THEM ON THE REPAIR AND I AM STUCK WITHOUT THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO REPAIR IT MYSELF. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING AND REPLACING THE WIRES THAT THEY USED SINCE IT IS ENCOURAGING THE DAMAGE! THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY CARPORT. I LIVE IN THE NICER PART OF A LARGE TOWN.
2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I HAVE NOTICED A LACK OF RESPONSE TO THROTTLE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. BY THIS I MEAN NO INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM'S PROPORTIONAL TO THROTTLE POSITION. I HAVE SHRUGGED IT OFF AS MY IMAGINATION. NOW I HAVE HAD TWO OCCASIONS WHERE AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN ON A STEEP INCLINE WHERE WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STEPPED ON GAS THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST 1/4 THROTTLE APPLIED. NOT A GOOD SITUATION IF THERE IS A VEHICLE BEHIND YOU.
TOYOTA USES ENGINE WIRING THAT HAS A SOY BASED COATING. THIS ENCOURAGES RODENTS TO CHEW ON THEM. WE WERE CAMPED (PARKED) AND WHEN WE TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR IT SHUDDERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER INDICATORS. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON FIVE CYLINDERS. WE MANAGED TO GET IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO TOLD US OF BITE MARKS AND DROPPINGS. IN RESEARCHING THIS ON LINE WE FOUND REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN TOYOTAS AND HONDAS. WE COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE DESERT IN 110 DEGREE HEAT IF THE DAMAGE WAS ENOUGH TO DISABLE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT FOUND SEVER RUST UNDERNEATH THE SEATS, THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE SEAT BELT LATCHES. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LATCH DUE TO THE SEVERE RUST ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. IN ADDITION, UNDERNEATH THE SEAT CUSHION OF THE THIRD ROW SEATS, THE ENTIRE SEATING FRAMEBOARD WAS RUSTED SEVERELY. THE RUST HAD AN UNPLEASANT ODOR. READOR-DYKES TOYOTA OF PLAINVIEW, TEXAS WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THE CONTACT COULD CONTINUE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS SOLD "AS IS". THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD, IT'S EASY TO CRACK. I HAD THE VEHICLE ONLY 6 MONTHS AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER A ROCK HIT IT. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN AFTER A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHEN I WAS HEADED ONTO 85 SOUTH OFF OF EXIT 93 IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO THIN OR MADE WITH CHEAP MATERIALS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE WINDSHIELDS. BECAUSE IT CAUSES A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO THIN AND CRACKS EASILY.
TRD PRO MODEL FRONT SHOCKS MAKE A CLUNK BELOW 40 DEGREES. TOYOTA T-SB-0054-16 TOYOTA WON'T LOOK AT.
THIS VEHICLE IS JUNK. HAS NO POWER, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, CONSTANT TICKING, ALL OVER THE ROAD, CRUISE CONTROL SPEEDS UP UNCONTROLLABLY, SITS LOPSIDED, EXTREMELY LOUD, BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP.,LACKS HEAT, POOR VISIBILITY . ALL THESE AND MORE OCCURR WHILE STARTING AND DRIVING VEHICLE.
THE DAY AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS 4RUNNER IN OCTOBER 2015 THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STOPPED WORKING AND WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT RODENTS HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE WIRE HOUSING CONNECTED TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. INITIALLY THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WARRANTY THE ISSUE BUT AFTER FURTHER AGGRESSIVE DISCUSSION BY ME IT WAS COVERED. APPARENTLY TOYOTA USES A SOY BASED SPRAY OR COATING ON THE WIRING THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE BUT THE 4WD WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND 4WD DID NOT ENGAGE. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM A NEIGHBOR WITH A 2015 4RUNNER THAT A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED TO THEM BUT IT AFFECTED THEIR WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026