2016 Toyota 4RUNNER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Toyota 4RUNNER has 104 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: 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 . ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 9 crash reports 10 injuries

104

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

17%

• 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
• 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 D
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

15%

• 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 D
• 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
• 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 TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

10%

• "TAKATA RECALL " ALSO STICKING GAS PEDAL
• I HIT A CAR THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING NORTH BOUND AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO TAKE A LEFT FROM A SIDE STREET TO GO SOUTH BOUND. I WAS GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR AND THE OTHER CAR WAS AT A DEAD STOP IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THEM JUST BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. MY VEHICLE IS NOT DR
• I AM LIVING IN KOREA WITH THE US MILITARY. I JUST RECEIVED THIS SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 1 WEEK AGO AND MOVE TO THE USA IN 1 MONTH. THE LOCAL DEALER STATES THEY NEED 2-3 MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE PARTS. I WILL BE MOVED BEFORE THAT DATE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“"TAKATA RECALL " ALSO STICKING GAS PEDAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

9 complaints

• TRD PRO MODEL FRONT SHOCKS MAKE A CLUNK BELOW 40 DEGREES. TOYOTA T-SB-0054-16 TOYOTA WON'T LOOK AT.
• WHENEVER I GO OVER POTHOLES AND BUMPS MY CAR MAKES CLUNKING NOISES AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE.
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TRD PRO MODEL FRONT SHOCKS MAKE A CLUNK BELOW 40 DEGREES. TOYOTA T-SB-0054-16 TOYOTA WON'T LOOK AT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

7 complaints

• 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 O
• 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.
• 75 MPH IMPACT ON INTERSTATE, 4 RUNNER COMPLETE LOSS. ENGINE PROTRUDED INTO FOOT WELL AND NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. INJURIES INCLUDE - CONCUSSIONS, BROKEN NOSE, HEAD LACERATIONS, HEAD AND NECK PROBLEMS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 104 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: "TAKATA RECALL " ALSO STICKING GAS PEDAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TRD PRO MODEL FRONT SHOCKS MAKE A CLUNK BELOW 40 DEGREES. TOYOTA T-SB-0054-16 TOYOTA WON'T LOOK AT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)