NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Toyota 4Runner. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
GENERAL BRAKE USE. WHEN PRESSING TO THE BRAKES THE PEDAL HAS TO BE PRESSED ON ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR BEGINS TO STOP.
THE TRD PRO TUNED FOX SHOCKS MAKE AUDIBLE HOLLOW 'THUNK' SOUNDS WHEN TRAVELING OVER SMALL BUMPS OR CRACKS IN CONCRETE AT LOW SPEED (<15MPH) WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 50 DEGREES F. IT OCCURS IN THE FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS. THE REAR SHOCKS ALSO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE UNDER THE SAME WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN TURNING IN REVERSE FROM AN INCLINE TO A FLAT SURFACE.
BY DESIGN, WHICH TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA INC. ACKNOWLEDGES, THE 2019 4RUNNER SR5 WINDSHIELD AND FRONT WINDOW DEFROST FUNCTIONS WITH EXTERNAL AIR ONLY, AND WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH RECIRCULATED VEHICLE CABIN AIR. THIS EXPOSES VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS EXTERNAL AIR CONDITIONS DURING WINTER DRIVING. I'VE PERSONALLY BEEN EXPOSED TO THIS HEALTH HAZARD ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE OPERATING THE 4RUNNER WINDSHIELD DEFROST HVAC IN INCLEMENT WEATHER: IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND EXPOSED TO VEHICLE EXHAUST-LADEN EXTERNAL AIR, AND IN MOUNTAIN WINTER DRIVING AND EXPOSED TO EXTERNAL DIESEL EXHAUST FROM SNOW REMOVAL VEHICLES. AS AN ASTHMA SUFFERER SUCH EXPOSURE DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS A HEALTH RISK. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION I'VE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS DUE TO THIS 2019 TOYOTA 4RUNNER DESIGN DEFECT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUED EXPOSURE AND RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS FOR ME AND OTHER VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WHILE OPERATING A INTEGRAL VEHICLE FEATURE, ONE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR SAFE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2019 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FROM STADIUM TOYOTA. IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2019, I BEGAN TO HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR WHEN EVER I WOULD BACK-OUT OF MY GARAGE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND LIGHTLY RELEASE THE BREAKS. I RECORDED THE NOISE AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. I SHOWED THE VIDEO TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT. 2 DAYS AFTER THE SERVICE, THE SQUEAKING SOUND, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE METAL RUBBING AGAINST METAL, CAME BACK. IN THE BEGINNING, THE SOUND WOULD HAPPEN FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, AFTER I HAVEN'T DRIVEN FOR 12 HOURS. NOW, THE SOUND CAN BE SOMETIMES HEARD EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAVE BEEN PARKED FOR AN HOUR. I FULLY RESPECT THE OPINION OF THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT THE SQUEAKING SOUND IS A NORMAL SOUND OF THE VEHICLE, AND I WANT THE ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 4 MILES ON IT AND CURRENTLY HAS ~4000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ATTACHED THE FIRST CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ME AND TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN WHICH I DETAIL THE THE ISSUE TO THEM. I MENTION THAT THE SQUEAKING SOUND IS COMING FROM THE FRONT, BUT AFTER MY MEETING WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, I WAS LET KNOW THAT THE SQUEAKING SOUND COULD BE COMING FROM THE BACK AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN 3 TIMES SO FAR WITHOUT AN SOLUTION PRIVILEGED. AFTER I COME BACK FROM THE DEALER, THE SQUEAKING SOUND COMES BACK AFTER 3 DAYS. THE TECHNICIAN ALWAYS TELLS US THAT THE SQUEAKING IS BECAUSE OF MOISTURE AND BREAK DUST, BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN THE BEGINNING 2017, BRAND NEW FROM THE SAME DEALER AND SAME SALES PERSON, DOES NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. THE 2019 4RUNNER HAS BEEN GARAGE STORED SINCE THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH and attempting to overtake another vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was a 15-second delay in the vehicle response. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE AS THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DON MCGILL TOYOTA (11800 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77079, (281) 496-2000) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN OBJECT STRUCK THE SUN ROOF. THE SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE ADHERING TO THE DEALER'S REPORT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,983.
THIS BRAND NEW 4RUNNER MAKES LOUD GROANING SOUND FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL NOW, EVERY TIME WHEN TRANSFERRING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO REVERSE ON A HILL ROAD, NO MATTER AN ALLEY OR A PARKING WAY. PEOPLE WHO HEARD OF IT SAID IT SHOULD BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND IT'S BAD. BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING INSIDE IS BEING BROKEN AND NOT SURE WHEN IT'S TOTALLY DEAD SUDDENLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL. I DON'T KNOW CAR. I DIDN'T LET ANY MECHANIC TOUCH IT YET BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FOR A THIRD PARTY LEGALLY TO CHECK IT AND THEIR REPORT WOULD BE ALSO ACCEPTED BY TOYOTA. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY REPORT ABOUT THE PROBLEM NOW AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO EITHER. BUT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW BAD IT IS AND IF IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A TOYOTA MECHANIC THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO PURCHASED 4RUNNER TOO FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP SHOP COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SOUND TOO. SO I REPORT IT HERE. HOPE YOU CAN HELP! I HAVE OVER DOZEN RECORDS OF THE SOUND, I'D LIKE TO SENT THEM BY EMAIL OR MAIL TO YOU. THANK YOU!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING, LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRESHAM TOYOTA (950 NE HOGAN DR, GRESHAM, OR 97030, (503)667-1135) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,200. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A HIGH-PITCHED WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR AXLE. EACH TIME THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE WHINING NOISE OCCURRED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE WHINING NOISE WENT AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG TWO TOYOTA OF CHANDLER (LOCATED AT 1250 S GILBERT RD, CHANDLER, AZ 85286, (480) 989-6000) WHERE IT WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE PINION GEAR WAS NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT ASKED WHY THE WHINING NOISE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE TORQUE BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1904182303. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,300.
THIS SR5 WAS B RAND NEW PURCHASED IN MARCH 2019. IT HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING I DRIVE IT UP A HILL TO MY BARN OVER LAWN USING 4WD HIGH. I'VE HEARD THIS GRINDING NOISE TWO TO THREE TIME WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE WHEN THE TRUCK IS STATIONARY AND ON A HILL. I HAVEN'T CHECKED IF THIS OCCURS IN EACH OF THE TRANSMISSION MODES. I BELIEVE I HAVE HEARD IT BOTH IN 2WD AND 4WD HIGH BUT HAVE NOT CHECKED YET IF IT HAPPENS ALSO IN 4WD LOW. THIS IS ALARMING AND FOR NOW, I AVOID PUTTING IT IN DRIVE BY DRIFTING BACK TO LEVEL GROUND WHEN POSSIBLE. I AM CONCERNED THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING DAMAGED INTERNALLY WHEN I HEAR THIS. I PLAN TO SEE WHAT THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
Shaking steering wheel 60-70mph
MY MODEL IS A TRD OFF ROAD 4RUNNER WITH THE "BOLD" PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES A NON-FUNCTIONAL HOOD SCOOP. THE UNSAFE FACTOR IS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HOOD SCOOP ALLOWS FOR BRIGHT SUNLIGHT TO BE REFLECTED DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVER EYES, EFFECTIVELY BLINDING THE DRIVER. ALTHOUGH IT TAKES THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, TIME OF DAY, ETC. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE 5 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PERSONALLY SOLVED THE ISSUE BY APPLYING A NON REFLECTIVE DECAL WHICH HAS ELIMINATED THE ISSUE. I ATTEMPTED TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT YOUR AGENCY SUGGEST TOYOTA APPLY A NON-REFLECTIVE DECAL AS PART OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS (AS THEY ALREADY DO ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP).
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026