
2017 Toyota 4RUNNER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2017 Toyota 4RUNNER has 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: we were driving on the highway from dallas to houston and all of the sudden, we heard and explosion. at first we thought that something hit our truck, but when we opened the sunroof cover it was completely shattered. some pieces hit the car behind us, but no one was hurt. luckily the interior cover . ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
47
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
OTHER
13 complaints- • WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE HEARD AND EXPLOSION. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING HIT OUR TRUCK, BUT WHEN WE OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. SOME PIECES HIT THE CAR BEHIND US, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. LUCKILY THE INTERIOR COVER
- • ON THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2018, MY PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT WINDOW EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW, AND I HADN'T HIT A POTHOLE OR ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD, THERE ALSO WAS NO EXTREME CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES ' IT JUST EXPLODED INTO MANY
- • CANADA HAS RECALLED THESE VEHICLES (DOT CANADA SAFETY RECALL 2017363) DUE TO FIRE HAZARDS FROM ENGINE BLOCK HEATERS. AS MANY NORTHERN LATITUDE VEHCILES IN THE US HAVE THESE SAME BLOCK HEATERS (AND HAZARDS) IT IS NECESSARY FOR A FORMAL RECALL TO REPLACE THEM, AS WAS DONE IN CANADA.TRIED TO UPLOAD A
“WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE HEARD AND EXPLOSION. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING HIT OUR TRUCK, BUT WHEN WE OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. SOME PIECES HIT THE CAR BEHIND US, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. LUCKILY THE INTERIOR COVER ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
9 complaints- • BRAKE FAILURE. APPROACHING 4 WAY STOP. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD-FELT A POP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO SLOW TO STOP. FORTUNATELY ONLY GOING 30MPH........STILL ROLLED INTO CENTER OF 4 WAY INTERSECTION
- • RE: COMPLAINT 11043597. EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. NO WARNING LIGHT. BRAKES WERE RESET? AFTER VEHICLE ARRIVED AT DEALER. ECU DID NOT DOWNLOAD ANY WARNING CODES. BASED ON THIS, TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR/REPLACE CORRESPONDING BRAKE COMPONENTS AND WANT ME TO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS WAS A COM
- • I PULLED UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. I STOPPED BUT WHILE I WAS SITTING WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, MY 4RUNNER STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR TO A POINT I COULD BARELY REACH TO GET IT TO STOP AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED THE BRAK
“BRAKE FAILURE. APPROACHING 4 WAY STOP. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD-FELT A POP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO SLOW TO STOP. FORTUNATELY ONLY GOING 30MPH........STILL ROLLED INTO CENTER OF 4 WAY INTERSECTION”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
5 complaints- • AFTER LESS THAN 20 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP OF A NEW 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND LESS THAN 600 MILES, THE CAR FAILED TO IDLE, SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT STAYED LIT. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTOR WIRE HAD BEEN CHEWED B
- • MY CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I GOT IN TO RUN ERRANDS AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND MY TRAC OFF LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH, I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE TRUCK STAYED OVERNIGHT SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSE BUT SH
- • CAR STALLED ON THE FREE WAY WHILE DRIVING . THE DASH BOARD HAD A WARNING TO CHECK ENGINE AT DEALER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TANSKY SAWMILL, DUBLIN OH). THEY RESET THE CAR AND IT WAS RETURNED TO US. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSTICS DETECTED TWO ERROR CODES REPORTED A) P0A0F,
“AFTER LESS THAN 20 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP OF A NEW 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND LESS THAN 600 MILES, THE CAR FAILED TO IDLE, SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT STAYED LIT. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTOR WIRE HAD BEEN CHEWED B”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
3 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS LOCATED AT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, THE REAR CURTAIN AIR BAGS LOCATED AT THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR, AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AIR BAGS ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE V
- • ON 7/22/2019, OUR 4RUNNER REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY. SPEED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 55MPG AFTER HARD BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. NONE OF THE 4RUNNER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS DESTROYED. SEE PHOTOS.
- • A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME, DRIVING 50 MPH. PASSENGER SIDE HIT, ALL 8 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG UNDER STEERING WHEEL, CUT UP MY LEGS HORRIBLY, VERY SWOLLEN, REFUSED HOSPITAL DUE TO COVID 19 FEAR. THE AIRBAGS CUT UP MY LEFT ARM AND MY DAUGHTER'S RIGHT ARM(SHE WAS PASSENGER). VERY
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS LOCATED AT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, THE REAR CURTAIN AIR BAGS LOCATED AT THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR, AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AIR BAGS ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE V”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
2 complaints- • CAR STALLED ON THE FREE WAY WHILE DRIVING . THE DASH BOARD HAD A WARNING TO CHECK ENGINE AT DEALER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TANSKY SAWMILL, DUBLIN OH). THEY RESET THE CAR AND IT WAS RETURNED TO US. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSTICS DETECTED TWO ERROR CODES REPORTED A) P0A0F,
- • Throttle has a lag when depressing gas pedal (occasionally a dead petal symptom) research indicates a TSB T-SB-0166-10 exist that relates to this issue. Lack of Toyota dealer assistance with this issue when contacted (Toyota of Round Rock Texas 78664) This issues is a safety concern when operatin
“CAR STALLED ON THE FREE WAY WHILE DRIVING . THE DASH BOARD HAD A WARNING TO CHECK ENGINE AT DEALER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TANSKY SAWMILL, DUBLIN OH). THEY RESET THE CAR AND IT WAS RETURNED TO US. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSTICS DETECTED TWO ERROR CODES REPORTED A) P0A0F, ”
— 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 47 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐OTHER: WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE HEARD AND EXPLOSION. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING HIT OUR TRUCK, BUT WHEN WE OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. SOME PIECES HIT THE CAR BEHIND US, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. LUCKILY THE INTERIOR COVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: BRAKE FAILURE. APPROACHING 4 WAY STOP. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD-FELT A POP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO SLOW TO STOP. FORTUNATELY ONLY GOING 30MPH........STILL ROLLED INTO CENTER OF 4 WAY INTERSECTION
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: AFTER LESS THAN 20 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP OF A NEW 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND LESS THAN 600 MILES, THE CAR FAILED TO IDLE, SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT STAYED LIT. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTOR WIRE HAD BEEN CHEWED B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS LOCATED AT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, THE REAR CURTAIN AIR BAGS LOCATED AT THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR, AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AIR BAGS ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE V
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 2017 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 47
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 7
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2017 Toyota 4RUNNER