2015 Toyota 4RUNNER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Toyota 4RUNNER has 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle is brand new with 600 miles on it. wife driving at speed of 40 mph, major side impact damage with over $9000 damage and side air bags did not deploy.. wondering why??.

13 crash reports 12 injuries

116

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

17 complaints

15%

• VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW WITH 600 MILES ON IT. WIFE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH, MAJOR SIDE IMPACT DAMAGE WITH OVER $9000 DAMAGE AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.. WONDERING WHY??
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW WITH 600 MILES ON IT. WIFE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH, MAJOR SIDE IMPACT DAMAGE WITH OVER $9000 DAMAGE AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.. WONDERING WHY??”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

14 complaints

12%

• 1ST INCIDENT - REVERSING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME, WANTED TO PULL UP SOME SO CHANGE THE GEAR TO DRIVE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO REVERSE BACKWARDS FOR A COUPLE OF FEET. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKES AND STOP THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY STARTED DRIVING FORWARD. NO CRASH OCCURRED THIS TIME 2ND
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A MILDEW ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE OCCUPANTS BECAME ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY MOLD COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAG
• THE LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE WORKED ERRATICALLY, PUT IN SHOP COST OVER $600. WEEKS LATER PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE KEY. INSTALLED MYSELF $300, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH 40,000 MILES. THE CONCERN IS IN AN EMERGENCY I WOULD HAVE A DIFFICUT TIME REMOVING A PERSON FROM THE VEHICLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“1ST INCIDENT - REVERSING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME, WANTED TO PULL UP SOME SO CHANGE THE GEAR TO DRIVE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO REVERSE BACKWARDS FOR A COUPLE OF FEET. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKES AND STOP THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY STARTED DRIVING FORWARD. NO CRASH OCCURRED THIS TIME 2ND ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

11%

• RODENT CHEWED THROUGH INJECTOR 3 WIRE. 4 DAYS LATER, AFTER I PAID FOR THE FIRST REPAIR...SEVERAL OTHER WIRES WERE CHEWED THROUGH. THE PREVIOUS CONNECTOR REPAIRED WITH "RODENT DETERRENT TAPE" WAS NOT DAMAGED.
• ENTUNE RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM CONTINUALLY CRASHES AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD IF DRIVER HAS TO CONTINUALLY RESET THE RADIO POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS MORE SO WHEN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS ENGAGED. IT WILL CRASH OUT OF NO WHERE, USE TO JUST HAPPEN WITH INSTRUCTIO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ALL THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“RODENT CHEWED THROUGH INJECTOR 3 WIRE. 4 DAYS LATER, AFTER I PAID FOR THE FIRST REPAIR...SEVERAL OTHER WIRES WERE CHEWED THROUGH. THE PREVIOUS CONNECTOR REPAIRED WITH "RODENT DETERRENT TAPE" WAS NOT DAMAGED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

10 complaints

• I HAVE A NEW 4RUNNER THAT I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH HOW IT WAS HANDLING. I TOOK IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHOP TO GET AN OBJECTIVE OPINION. THE RESULTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT. 10 OUT OF 14 OF THE SETTINGS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. I PAID TO HAVE THESE ITEMS FIXED. MY CA
• THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, SOUNDS LIKE SUSPENSION... I MENTIONED IT TO THE TECH AT THE 5000 MILE CHECK, AND THE 15000 MILE CHECK. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. IT IS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE TEMPS ARE BELOW ABOUT 40 F OR SO. IT IS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND MADE A CHATTERING NOISE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CONTACT THOUGHT THEY WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I HAVE A NEW 4RUNNER THAT I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH HOW IT WAS HANDLING. I TOOK IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHOP TO GET AN OBJECTIVE OPINION. THE RESULTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT. 10 OUT OF 14 OF THE SETTINGS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. I PAID TO HAVE THESE ITEMS FIXED. MY CA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

10 complaints

• THE 4RUNNER HESITATES AT 40MPH AND 60MPH WHEN TRYING TO COAST/MAINTAIN SPEED WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. AT OTHER SPEEDS OR WHILE ACCELERATING AT 40/60MPH THERE IS NO HESITATION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT IS STILL HAPPENING THOUGH.
• ABOUT 4-5 TIMES PER YEAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS MY VEHICLE WILL HESTTATE OR STALL FOR 3-4 SECONDS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, AT NO REGULAR SEQUENCE, AND WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTUR
• TOYOTA CAME OUT WITH RECALL 1-13-2020 (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 20V012) AND AS OF 5-29-2020, THEY STILL CLAIM THAT NO REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. WHAT IS A TIMELY PERIOD TO WAIT?*DT*JB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE 4RUNNER HESITATES AT 40MPH AND 60MPH WHEN TRYING TO COAST/MAINTAIN SPEED WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. AT OTHER SPEEDS OR WHILE ACCELERATING AT 40/60MPH THERE IS NO HESITATION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT IS STILL HAPPENING THOUGH.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 116 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW WITH 600 MILES ON IT. WIFE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH, MAJOR SIDE IMPACT DAMAGE WITH OVER $9000 DAMAGE AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.. WONDERING WHY??
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 1ST INCIDENT - REVERSING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME, WANTED TO PULL UP SOME SO CHANGE THE GEAR TO DRIVE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO REVERSE BACKWARDS FOR A COUPLE OF FEET. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKES AND STOP THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY STARTED DRIVING FORWARD. NO CRASH OCCURRED THIS TIME 2ND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: RODENT CHEWED THROUGH INJECTOR 3 WIRE. 4 DAYS LATER, AFTER I PAID FOR THE FIRST REPAIR...SEVERAL OTHER WIRES WERE CHEWED THROUGH. THE PREVIOUS CONNECTOR REPAIRED WITH "RODENT DETERRENT TAPE" WAS NOT DAMAGED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: I HAVE A NEW 4RUNNER THAT I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH HOW IT WAS HANDLING. I TOOK IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHOP TO GET AN OBJECTIVE OPINION. THE RESULTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT. 10 OUT OF 14 OF THE SETTINGS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. I PAID TO HAVE THESE ITEMS FIXED. MY CA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)