
2010 Toyota 4RUNNER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Toyota 4RUNNER has 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (53% of all complaints), specifically: my wife was at a red light waiting for the light to change when she was hit on the driver side front fender and tire area . no air bag deployed there is over 8,000 dollars in damages the other driver was moving 35+ mph at impact so now along with the whiplash and shoulder bruises and seat belts cuts.
175
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
92 complaints- • MY WIFE WAS AT A RED LIGHT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE WHEN SHE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER AND TIRE AREA . NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED THERE IS OVER 8,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGES THE OTHER DRIVER WAS MOVING 35+ MPH AT IMPACT SO NOW ALONG WITH THE WHIPLASH AND SHOULDER BRUISES AND SEAT BELTS CUTS
- • DURING A WREAK GOING ABOUT 40 MPH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR FLIPPED AND HIT A TREE THEN LANDED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAR LEFT THE STREET AND WENT ONTO GRAVEL ROAD PRIOR TO LOOSING CONTROL.
- • TL* TAKATA RECALL.THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUF
“MY WIFE WAS AT A RED LIGHT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE WHEN SHE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER AND TIRE AREA . NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED THERE IS OVER 8,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGES THE OTHER DRIVER WAS MOVING 35+ MPH AT IMPACT SO NOW ALONG WITH THE WHIPLASH AND SHOULDER BRUISES AND SEAT BELTS CUTS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
12 complaints- • TOYOTA RAV4 2010 - ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MPH AND I LOOKED DOWN FOR A SECOND AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE I HIT THE CAR I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND BASED ON MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE (12+) I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE STOPPED BUT IT DID NOT. THE INCIDENT WAS VERY
- • THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE NEW 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND HANDLING FOR THIS VEHICLE. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL TRAVELS A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE SOUNDS SQUEAKY AND NOTCHY AND DELAYS IN STOPPING. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT INTERACT QUICKLY AND OF
- • THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE NEW 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND HANDLING FOR THIS VEHICLE. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL TRAVELS A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE SOUNDS SQUEAKY AND NOTCHY AND DELAYS IN STOPPING. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT INTERACT QUICKLY AND OF
“TOYOTA RAV4 2010 - ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MPH AND I LOOKED DOWN FOR A SECOND AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE I HIT THE CAR I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND BASED ON MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE (12+) I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE STOPPED BUT IT DID NOT. THE INCIDENT WAS VERY ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
12 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE LIFT GATE WAS OPEN AND CLOSED ON ITS OWN WITH FORCE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AUTOMATICALLY AND THAT SHE HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN IT. THE VEHICL
- • PASSENGERS ARE FALLING WHILE USING THE FOOT STEP INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WHEN LOADING AND UNLOADING DUE TO THE IMPROPER DESIGN AND INSUFFICIENT SURFACE PROVIDED BY THE FOOT STEP TO SECURE PROPER FOOTING. SEVERAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING FRONT AND BACK PASSENGERS, WORSE UNDER WET CONDITIONS. FOOT STEP T
- • THIS 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS BEING DRIVEN LESS THAN 30MPH WHEN A KNOCK WAS HEARD COINCIDING WITH SLOPPY HANDLING. TAIL PIPE WAS RIPPED FROM MUFFLER. 4W DRIVE HAD BEEN IN USE FOR A FEW DAYS DUE TO SNOW, THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS PUT BACK INTO 2WD. BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MY MECHANIC THINKING ST
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE LIFT GATE WAS OPEN AND CLOSED ON ITS OWN WITH FORCE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AUTOMATICALLY AND THAT SHE HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN IT. THE VEHICL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
9 complaints- • TOYOTA RAV4 2010 - ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MPH AND I LOOKED DOWN FOR A SECOND AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE I HIT THE CAR I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND BASED ON MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE (12+) I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE STOPPED BUT IT DID NOT. THE INCIDENT WAS VERY
- • 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FAILS TO ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR FOR A FULL THREE SECONDS AT ONE POINT. COMMONLY, DELAYED RESPONSE LASTS 1-2 SECONDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SERVICE TECH SAID THIS CO
- • 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, IN THIS CASE A 4 WHEEL DRIVE. PANIC BRAKING AT 55MPH+ IS DANGEROUS. IF YOU SUDDENLY REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND SUDDENLY APPLY FULL BRAKING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR LURCHES DOWNWARD INTO A NOSE DIVE SO VIOLENTLY THAT IN ONE CASE I WOULD SWEAR THE REAR TIR
“TOYOTA RAV4 2010 - ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MPH AND I LOOKED DOWN FOR A SECOND AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE I HIT THE CAR I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND BASED ON MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE (12+) I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE STOPPED BUT IT DID NOT. THE INCIDENT WAS VERY ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
8 complaints- • FEBRUARY 22, 2010, MY 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER ACCELERATED FIERCELY, MY HEAD WAS SLAMMED INTO THE HEADREST. I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AT THE CROSSWALK; IF A PERSON HAD BEEN IN THE CROSSWALK I WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. THE CAR WENT BACK TO NORMAL AS SUDDENLY AS IT ACCELERATED. TERRIFYING! MY HEAD STILL ACHES
- • TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. YOU NEED TO CHECK EMI (ELECTROMAGNECTIC INTERFERENCE), RFI (RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE) ON EXACT SITES OF PROBLEM. INSTANCE OF RUNAWAY, SAN DIEGO, CA, SUBJECT EAST, INTERSTATE 8, YOU HAVE MIRAMAR USMC AIRFIELD, ALSO SAN DIEGO AIRPORT, BOTH HAVE RADAR. OREGON CITY,
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS.
“FEBRUARY 22, 2010, MY 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER ACCELERATED FIERCELY, MY HEAD WAS SLAMMED INTO THE HEADREST. I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AT THE CROSSWALK; IF A PERSON HAD BEEN IN THE CROSSWALK I WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. THE CAR WENT BACK TO NORMAL AS SUDDENLY AS IT ACCELERATED. TERRIFYING! MY HEAD STILL ACHES”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 175 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: MY WIFE WAS AT A RED LIGHT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE WHEN SHE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER AND TIRE AREA . NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED THERE IS OVER 8,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGES THE OTHER DRIVER WAS MOVING 35+ MPH AT IMPACT SO NOW ALONG WITH THE WHIPLASH AND SHOULDER BRUISES AND SEAT BELTS CUTS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TOYOTA RAV4 2010 - ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MPH AND I LOOKED DOWN FOR A SECOND AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE I HIT THE CAR I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND BASED ON MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE (12+) I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE STOPPED BUT IT DID NOT. THE INCIDENT WAS VERY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE LIFT GATE WAS OPEN AND CLOSED ON ITS OWN WITH FORCE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AUTOMATICALLY AND THAT SHE HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN IT. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: TOYOTA RAV4 2010 - ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MPH AND I LOOKED DOWN FOR A SECOND AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. BEFORE I HIT THE CAR I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND BASED ON MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE (12+) I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE STOPPED BUT IT DID NOT. THE INCIDENT WAS VERY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Toyota 4RUNNER — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 175
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 9
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Toyota 4RUNNER