2014 Toyota 4Runner Owner Complaints

I am reporting what I believe is a design defect involving the Secondary Air Injection (SAI) System on my 2014 Toyota 4Runner. My vehicle illuminated the Check Engine Light and stored Diagnostic Trouble Code P2440 (Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve Stuck Open). During my inspection, I found that the factory-installed foam air pump filter had completely deteriorated and was missing. The filter appears to have disintegrated over time rather than being removed during maintenance. The filter is intended to prevent contaminants from entering the Secondary Air Injection pump and switching valves. Once it deteriorates, debris can enter the system, potentially contaminating the switching valve and causing the P2440 fault. This failure caused my vehicle to enter reduced-power ("limp") mode, resulting in a significant loss of engine power and acceleration. This created a safety hazard because the vehicle could not accelerate normally while driving, increasing the risk when merging into traffic, crossing intersections, or traveling at highway speeds. Toyota has discontinued the original replacement foam filter, preventing owners from restoring the system with the factory-designed component. Numerous other owners have reported similar failures involving deteriorated or missing foam filters, P2440/P2442 diagnostic codes, and costly Secondary Air Injection System repairs. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether deterioration of this factory foam filter is a design or material defect that allows contamination of the Secondary Air Injection System and can lead to limp mode and reduced engine performance. If confirmed, Toyota should provide an appropriate remedy, such as redesigned components or an extended warranty for affected vehicles. This failure appears to result from deterioration of an original factory component rather than improper maintenance or normal wear and presents a potential safety concern for other Toyota 4Runner owners.

NHTSA ID

11753646

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

White Paint Peeling From Metal Body Panels

NHTSA ID

11729684

Incident

Mar 31, 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota 4Runner. The contact purchased four Bridgestone tires in 2022, Tire Line: Alenza AS Ultra, Tire Size: 245/60/R20, DOT Number: 1RBTEAAU1. The contact stated that all four tires had developed cracks on the sidewalls and by the tire beads. The tires were replacement tires. The tire dealer was contacted and advised the contact that it was normal wear on the tires. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The tire failure mileage was approximately 20,000. The vehicle failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11723397

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

Mileage

80,000 mi

I had a collision and rear ended a truck. My front left bumper was completely damaged. My chest hit the steering wheel. My airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA ID

11670137

Incident

Jun 28, 2025

paint is peeling on my 2014 Toyota 4runner . Toyota recalled for white paint but nothing for blue . i already paid so much for the car but not paying extra for the paint . Toyota should fix it .

NHTSA ID

11665538

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Vehicle was involved in an accident where the driver side airbag did not deploy.

NHTSA ID

11657608

Incident

Apr 18, 2025

My exhaust pipe rusted apart after the muffler causing the hot exhaust to expel upward and melt a rubber grommet on the floor. Then it proceeded to shoot into cargo area, melting the carpet backing and Styrofoam pad and insulation under the cargo area carpeting. This happened on an 11 hour road trip with the cargo area full of vacation stuff. I'm concerned about this being a potential fire and carbon monoxide issue.

NHTSA ID

11629264

Incident

Oct 28, 2024

Left rear Brake Caliper Failure, Both Front Struts and both rear shocks were worn out per dealership. Had to replace all above.

NHTSA ID

11542728

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Stumbling/Studering and hesitation when accelerating took it to dealership and they performed a tune-up and complete fuel system service when to pick it up and still doing the same thing. Dealership rechecked it and said Torque converter was faulty. Had to replace transmission.

NHTSA ID

11542722

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

The handsfree calling/talking is unusable neither party can hear the other due to it echoing and has very distortion. So I'm unable to use my handsfree talking while driving.

NHTSA ID

11542714

Incident

Jun 8, 2023

I notice my gas wasn't lasting long. One day I was pumping gas and noticed that underneath my 4-runner gas was pouring out from the top of my fuel tank. Took it to the dealership and they repaired the charcoal canister, canister assembly and purge valve assembly. Cost me $953.48 with parts and labor. Very dangerous due to it could have started a fire while driving.

NHTSA ID

11542712

Incident

Sep 27, 2021

Intermediate steering shaft u joint Steering is difficult. Vehicle only has 80000 miles Just out of warranty as of 5/23

NHTSA ID

11535423

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. There were no injuries sustained. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,941.

NHTSA ID

11531831

Incident

Jul 11, 2023

Mileage

140,941 mi

My gear shift became difficult to shift. As I was driving it, when I physically shifted to the Drive position, the display didn't confirm "D", but I could drive. As I was driving, the car shifted to Neutral without me shifting, but did not show "N" on the display. My car stopped accelerating and revved higher. This occurred as I was driving on the road around 45 mph. I could not tell on the display that I was not in Drive. I pulled over safely luckily. I Continued to try to get it to drive to get it to a dealership to look at. They reported it was PRNDL switch issue. TECH FOUND INTERNAL CORROSION IN TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR CREATING A PHYSICAL RESISTANCE IN SENSOR WHICH PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM PROPERLY INDICATING GEAR. TECH REPLACED TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR, ADJUSTED SENSORWITH TECHSTREAM DATA LIST, AND PERFORMED HEALTH CHECK This is not the first they have seen either. This would appear to be a common safety issue to drivers. I also had a difficult time confirming the car was in the Park "P" position. I believe this issue could have potentially affected the vehicle's ability to engage in park and stay in park, much like the issue with getting into Drive and staying in Drive.

NHTSA ID

11501788

Incident

Jan 13, 2023

Three of the four locks do not work on a consistent basis. My car got broken into because the locks don't work. I just replaced three of the four locks for around $1,200.00. Neither the key fob nor the actual key would open the doors on the vehicle. This is an extreme safety issue in case of emergency, and it really makes me mad. It is a well-known defect which is commented on countless vehicle websites. There were no warning messages, the locks just stopped working.

NHTSA ID

11497648

Incident

Dec 12, 2022

The horn stopped functioning. This is a safety hazard because i am not able to alert other drivers. The vehicle has only been inspected by the Toyota Dealer. No codes and no lights were displayed.Fearing for my family's safety, I paid for the repairs.

NHTSA ID

11465513

Incident

Apr 1, 2022

Windshield cracking

NHTSA ID

11454605

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

Fuel level sensor in gas tank not working properly

NHTSA ID

11453120

Incident

Feb 17, 2022

The steering became almost unresponsive and I could not turn the steering wheel while driving. I brought it to a repair shop and they said the intermediate steering shaft and u-joints were rotted out and rusted to where it seized up. The vehicle only has 55k miles on it and I don’t live by the ocean. The parts were repaired by a shop and steering feels like new again. Had this seized up on the highway or at high speeds it could have been very bad. There were no warning lamps or issues with steering before

NHTSA ID

11436144

Incident

Oct 5, 2021

Having major problems with door lock actuators. just replaced front passenger side for 950 dollars at Toyota dealer and was told the other 3 doors may start failing as well. I did not realize at first that the door was not locking which would make it so easy for someone to break into my car.It is a 2014 Toyota 4runner. Sure enough the front driver side door is not locking. I need to spend another 950 dollars to get it fixed. What is wrong with these actuators? Now the replacement actuator I had put on the passenger side is giving me problems with the door opening and closing. What next?? Toyota should definitely have a recall on these actuators. It appears that I am not the only one having problems. This is a security issue.

NHTSA ID

11426420

Incident

May 1, 2021

Car would have trouble starting. Once i got it to start it would stall when stopped

NHTSA ID

11419689

Incident

May 30, 2021

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE / STEERING WHEEL SHAKES "VIOLENTLY". ALMOST TO THE POINT THAT IT IS HARD TO HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL. AND IF I'M DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STOP. I HAVE HAD TO SWERVE AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE MY BRAKES COULD NOT STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME. IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS ISSUE I HAVE HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AT 71K MILES, 83K MILES, 100K MILES WITH THE LAST TIME BEING WITH GENUINE TOYOTA ROTORS. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE GREAT FOR ABOUT 10K MILES AND THAN GO BACK TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING. EVEN WITH THE LAST SET OF GENUINE TOYOTA ROTORS, THE VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED AFTER ABOUT 15K - 18K MILES. LUCKILY WITH COVID I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY MUCH, BUT EVEN AT CITY SPEEDS IT STILL REALLY SHAKES. SO HERE I AM STILL LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11416317

Incident

May 12, 2021

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS FAILED ON EVERY DOOR IN MY CAR. I'VE HAD THEM FIXED BUT NOW THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED.

NHTSA ID

11400058

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

Mileage

166,500 mi

THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP AND THE BRAKES ARE SPONGY, IVE DRIVEN A FEW 4RUNNERS AND THEY ARE ALL LIKE THAT AND ITS DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE TICKING SOUND WHEN IDLING AND SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO BLOW UP

NHTSA ID

11397767

Incident

Feb 23, 2021

Mileage

94,000 mi

SOMETIMES BACK-UP CAMERAS DOESN'T TURN ON WHILE SHIFTED IN REVERSE. I HAVE TO SHUT ENGINE AND LIFT REAR GATE AND CLOSE THEN IT WORKS AGAIN SOMETIMES. WHEN I AM BUSY I JUST HAVE TO BACK UP WITHOUT THE CAMERA. THAT COULD LEAVE DRIVERS AT INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH WHEN THEY BACK UP WITHOUT CHECKING THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

NHTSA ID

11388757

Incident

Jan 18, 2021