RoadVitals

2000 Toyota 4Runner Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Mar 8, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 483 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Toyota 4Runner submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed Mar 8, 2016

FUEL GAUGE SEEMS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING OR INACCURATE. MY CONCERNS FOR IT BEING INACCURATE ARE THAT WHEN REFUELING THE TANK AFTER 8-10 MILES THE YELLOW LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE TANK ONLY "FILLS UP" WITH 13.2 GALLONS WHERE THE MANUAL STATES THAT IT HAS A FUEL CAPACITY OF 18.5 GALLONS (PAGE 261 OF MANUAL). AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK, THE NEEDLE SEEMS TO BE AT THE "FULL" LINE. HOWEVER, AFTER ONLY DRIVING 5 MILES ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD OF AT A MAXIMUM 40 MPH, THE NEEDLE OF THE GAUGE "COMES OFF" FULL QUICKLY. ONLY DRIVING 26 MILES, THE NEEDLE IS AT THE 1/4 LINE OF GAUGE. ESTIMATING THE CAR TO GETTING 104 MILES PER TANK.

NHTSA ID
10845541
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Mileage
213,458 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 21, 2015

READINGS FLUCTUATES, OR INDICATE MORE GAS THAN ACTUALLY IN TANK. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN MOTION AND THE TRUCK STOPPED WORKING. I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND LUCKY NOTHING HAPPENED. IT TURNS OUT THE QUARTER TANK READING WAS FALSE. THE TANK WAS EMPTY.

NHTSA ID
10785231
Incident
Jul 13, 2015
Mileage
180,000 mi
Body & structureFuel systemSuspension
Filed Jul 22, 2013

WHILE HAVING MY 2000 4RUNNER SERVICED RECENTLY, MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY CARRIAGE FRAME WAS CRACKED AND ROTTING. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER IN BRISTOL CT, WHO PUT VEHICLE ON HOIST AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR TSB ON MY SUV, AND PROBABLY NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND INFO & PICTURES TO DISTRICT OFFICE FOR REVIEW AND ADVISE WHEN THEY HEARD BACK. I ASKED THEM ABOUT FIXING IT IN THE MEANTIME, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T ACCEPT THE LIABILITY? I CAN EMAIL PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO REVIEW THESE AS WELL. I AM HAVING IT WELDED IN THE MEANTIME, AS THE CRACK WAS RATHER SEVERE. MY MECHANIC AND TOYOTA BOTH ADVISED THAT IF THE CRACK BROKE THRU WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR AXLE WOULD COME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. THE ESTIMATE TO FIX MY SUV IS APX. $1,500, WHICH INCLUDES REPLACING THE GAS TANK UNDER-SHIELD, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A CHUNK OF SWISS CHEESE AS WELL. PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY RECOURSE I MAY HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10526087
Incident
Jul 15, 2013
Mileage
165,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 24, 2011

FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE, GIVES MISLEADING INFORMATION, MAY BE TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE FUEL REMAINING. THIS LEADS TO FREQUENT, UNNECESSARY, GAS STATIONS STOPS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10441163
Incident
Oct 28, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 7, 2011

WHEN I FILL MY CAR UP IT ONLY TAKES 12 GALLONS OF GAS. TANK SIZE IS 18.5. *TR

NHTSA ID
10429076
Incident
Oct 7, 2011
Mileage
122,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 9, 2011

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN AND BASICALLY REDESIGNED THE PARTS FOR A FAULTY SYSTEM AND EXPECTS THE CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR THEIR ENGINEERING PROBLEMS. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO HAVE CONSUMERS PAY 800 TO 900 DOLLARS AS QUOTED FROM MY DEALER FOR A DESIGN FLAW FOR TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10375304
Incident
Dec 18, 2010
Mileage
74,000 mi
Body & structureFuel systemPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jun 10, 2010

2000 SPORT EDITION 4 RUNNER, ALL WORKING COMPONENTS AND FRAME ARE BADLY RUSTED. NOTHING CAN BE WORKED ON WITHOUT BREAKAGE OF PARTS AND BOLTS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS FROM THE EAST COAST WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS. CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN REPLACEMENT FRAMES OR THEIR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BACK FROM TOYOTA. OUR CAR IS FROM VERMONT AND NEW YORK WHERE I AM SURE THEY USED ROAD SALT AND THIS IS WHY THE UNTREATED FRAMES OF THESE VEHICLES CORRODED SO BADLY LIKE OUR 4 RUNNER. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE THE SAME OFFER FOR THE 2000 4 RUNNER. MY SON WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AND AT 18 YEARS OLD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR $9000.00. WE WERE CRUSHED WHEN WE REALIZED THE EXTENT OF RUST DAMAGE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE. NOTHING CAN BE REPAIRED WITHOUT HUGE EXPENSE, AND EVERY THING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS CAR NEEDS REPLACED. WHERE IS TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE AND SATISFACTION NOW? *TR

NHTSA ID
10335725
Incident
Oct 20, 2009
Mileage
120,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 28, 2008

I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE IS READING FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 00 MILES, MY CAR STALLED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT I WAS OUT OF GASOLINE. I WAS LUCKY, I DID NOT GET HIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10232577
Incident
Jun 27, 2008
Mileage
138,335 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed May 3, 2008

2000 4RUNNER FUEL GAUGE IS MISLEADING IN TERMS OF AMOUNT OF GAS USED/REMAINING IN TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226539
Incident
Apr 29, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 25, 2007

VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN, VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204039
Incident
Sep 12, 2007
Mileage
104,962 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 10, 2007

BOUGHT TRUCK USED HAD 2 WEEKS NOTICED PROBLEM NOW ITS GOING TO COST 400.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10195989
Incident
Jul 10, 2007
Fuel system
Filed Sep 21, 2005

THE VEHICLES FUEL SENDING SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE TO READ INACCURATE FUEL QUANTITIES. THIS HAS LED TO FUEL STARVATION WHICH COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD IT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN AS OF YET. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY TOYOTA AS A KNOWN DEFECT IN TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN EL010-00. SINCE TOYOTA HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AS A KNOWN DEFECT ISSUE; MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ORDERED TO RECALL AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10137216
Incident
Aug 2, 2005
Mileage
82,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 26, 2003

THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN THERE ARE 5 GALLONS LEFT IN THE GAS TANK. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 4RUNNER FUEL GAUGES. MY VEHICLE IS A FEW MONTHS AND MILES OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOY WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. SOME ADDRESSED THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2. THIS CAUSE VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051122
Incident
Dec 25, 2003
Mileage
71,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 26, 2003

MY 99 4RUNNER'S FUEL GAUGE NEVER HAS WORKED. READINGS FLUCTUATES, OR INDICATE MORE GAS THAN ACTUALLY IN TANK. HAVE HAD GUAGE REPLACE IN '02. NOW SCHEDULED FOR A THIRD VISIT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10023852
Incident
Jun 27, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Jul 11, 2002

GAS GAUGE CONTINUES TO READ INACURATELY. *AK

NHTSA ID
764089
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Jun 29, 2001

CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
891739
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Aug 18, 2000

DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE

NHTSA ID
728395
Fuel system
Filed Aug 16, 2000

FUEL TANK DOES NOT FILL UP TO THE ADVERTISED 18.5 GALLONS. WHEN THE FUEL GACE IS ON EMPTY, IT ONLY FILLS UP TO 14.5 GALLONS.

NHTSA ID
728193
Fuel system
Filed Aug 16, 2000

I REPLACED IT ONCE AND STILL READ WRONG READING. FIRST TIME, AT "E" THE TANK WAS PHYSICALLY HALF FULL!

NHTSA ID
728114
Incident
Jul 14, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Aug 12, 2000

SPECIFICATIONS ON VEHICLE INDICATE 18.5 GAL. TANK, BUT ONLY CAN FILL TO 15 GALS. FUEL GAUGE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WITH 3-5 GALLONS STILL IN THE TANK. FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR NOT PROPORTIONATE WITH GAS LEFT IN THE TANK.

NHTSA ID
727726
Incident
Jul 4, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Aug 7, 2000

INCORRECT READINGS AND MISRPRESENTATION OF FUEL CAPACITY BY MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID
726855
Incident
May 1, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Aug 7, 2000

FUEL GUAGE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *ET

NHTSA ID
553533
Fuel system
Filed Aug 6, 2000

GAS GUAGE READS EMPTY WHEN THERE IS GAS IN THE TANK

NHTSA ID
726793
Incident
Apr 20, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Jun 29, 2000

FUEL GUAGE DEFECTIVE ADMITTED BY TOYOTA (NO CURRENT SOLUTION). *AK

NHTSA ID
724776
Incident
Jun 11, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Apr 4, 2000

THE FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE. IT DID NOT READ THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THEIR WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
859652

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .