2016 Toyota 4Runner Electrical Problems

I drive for a living and yesterday I was driving while this happened 3 separate times. I was going 70 mph on the highway when my radio, usb ports blower motor and dash cluster power went out. I was terrified that my car would shut off while driving. Upon checking the car over, I noticed the battery mount was broken/missing pieces. The upper portion had become lose due to the broken parts and had stuck itself to my positive battery terminal. Lots of sparks when I tried to remove it. I finally got it broke loose using a piece of wood instead of my hands. Very scary.

NHTSA ID

11644480

Incident

Feb 23, 2025

Picked up a Gal to go out on a date. Turned the vehicle on and got about 1 mile down the road when I started to smell , like a hot , burning electrical smoke . My Date , sitting in the passenger seat says Her seat is get warm , then says , it's getting really hot ! I looked at the seat warmer switch and noticed and said , weird , the switch isn't even on . Then the smoke became very apparent as we got onto the Freeway and we were compelled to pull over as the electrical components or wiring were on the verge of catching fire , where the Electic Seat switch is located .

NHTSA ID

11573843

Incident

Feb 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that rodents had chewed through the soy-based wiring. The electrical wiring was replaced out of pocket; however, the failure had recurred twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 29,922.

NHTSA ID

11514753

Incident

May 29, 2020

Mileage

29,922 mi

Toyota has a major safety issue (that they know about) relating to door lock actuators on their 4runners. Both of mine (passenger and driver side) failed within the first 55,000 miles, and there are a LOT of others who have had the same problem. The forums are littered with people reporting. However, Toyota has discouraged people from reporting the problem to them by charging an exorbitant amount for repair of such an inexpensive item (about $800 per side). When that becomes known to owners, people will just repair the items themselves. This is obviously unethical. Door lock actuators pose an obvious safety issue, both if the door remains unlocked when it is supposed to be locked, and when the door remains locked when it is supposed to be unlocked. In the latter case, following an accident where a passenger is incapacitated and the door lock cannot be reached by hand (and there's no external key slot), the only way to unlock the door is via the electronic fob. If the door lock actuator is broken, then that incapacitated passenger will be trapped in the vehicle. For the former case - and this has personally happened to me - when the door was supposed to be locked, I had an individual actually open my passenger side door and enter into my vehicle. (He was under the influence of something, and fortunately nothing happened other than a very tense situation). But the safety issue remains. I expect that the post-accident scenario is more relevant to the NHTSA's interests, however, since a KNOWN design defect could very easily lead to the death of an individual trapped in a vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11428880

Incident

Jul 20, 2019

Rear view camera cuts out and screen goes black. Similar to the RAV4 complaints.

NHTSA ID

11423890

Incident

Jun 30, 2021

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS GOING OUT. THIS IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR MODEL. SEVERAL REVIEWS I HAVE READ STATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS. I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER ISSUE VS A OWNER/USER ISSUE. TOYOTA REALLY NEEDS TO CONSIDER A RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A CHEAP FIX.

NHTSA ID

11421709

Incident

Jun 4, 2021

DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK ACTUATORS ARE GOING OUT. DRIVER'S SIDE AND NOW FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PREVALENT ISSUE ON LINE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. REPLACING ONE COSTS $550.

NHTSA ID

11386603

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

DRIVER DOOR ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK, PREVENTING THE REMOTE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID

11351795

Incident

Aug 3, 2020

Mileage

99,000 mi

THE SUV DOES NOT LOCK WHEN I USE THE REMOTE OR WHEN I TRY TO LOCK IT MANUALLY. I REPLACED THE ACTUATOR IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHICH WAS THE DOOR THAT STAYS UNLOCKED HOWEVER TO NO AVAIL. I AM OUT A LOT OF MONEY HOWEVER I NOW BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING CALLED BCM. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY GETTING THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THIS FEELS UNFAIR TO ME THAT THE LOCKING SYSTEM IS BROKE AND I RISK THE VEHICLE BEING STOLEN AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324596

Incident

May 14, 2020

Mileage

53,000 mi

RODENT CHEWED MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS

NHTSA ID

11179959

Incident

Feb 13, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE WIRING INSIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS CHEWED THROUGH BY RODENTS. I DRIVE THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY AND IT WAS SERVICED TWO DAYS BEFORE. AFTER PERFORMING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA AND OTHER COMPANIES USE SOY BASED PRODUCTS TO MAKE WIRING. THIS APPARENTLY ATTRACTS RODENTS AS IT IS BASICALLY FOOD FOR THEM.THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME IN A MARKED PARKING SPOT. I HAVE PARKED OTHER (OLDER) VEHICLES IN FRONT OF MY HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY TOYOTA FOR ONE YEAR AND THE WIRING WAS DESTROYED BY RODENTS TO THE TUNE OF NEEDING A NEW WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA ID

11149822

Incident

Nov 3, 2018

Mileage

34,000 mi

RODENTS CHEWED UP WIRING HARNESS FOR FUEL INJECTOR. VEHICLE PARKED IN ENCODED GARAGE.

NHTSA ID

11055111

Incident

Dec 6, 2017

Mileage

7,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING WAS SOY BASED AND WAS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. AT 12,000 AND 30,000 MILES, THE WIRES WERE PREMATURELY DAMAGED BY RODENTS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN SUGGESTING THAT THE CONTACT REPLACE THE WIRES TWICE. THE DEALER (DURANGO TOYOTA, 1200 CARBON JCT, DURANGO, CO 81301, (970) 385-4822) INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11010960

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

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 THE WIRE FULLY COMES APART DISRUPTING ANY AND ALL SAFETY FEATURES

NHTSA ID

10993402

Incident

Jan 18, 2017

Mileage

12,000 mi

I STARTED THE 4RUNNER AND NOTICED THAT A FEW OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON (ABS, BRAKE, & A FEW OTHERS I CAN'T REMEMBER). I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT ANYWAY TO RUN SOME ERRANDS (SHORT DISTANCE), AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY EITHER (NOT GOING INTO ECO MODE AND STRUGGLING TO REACH 40 MPH). I DECIDED TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED A SQUIRREL NESTED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE FIREWALL. THE SQUIRREL ALSO USED THE INSULATION FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ALONG THE FIREWALL TO MAKE ITS NEST. I TOOK THE 4RUNNER TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE ELECTRIC RUNS WAS CHEWED ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH SOME DAMAGE ON THE MAIN HARNESS. I LET THEM KEEP THE 4RUNNER OVER NIGHT TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE DAMAGE. THE INITIAL ESTIMATE WAS FOR $5,716.30. I DECIDED TO LET THEM KEEP THE 4RUNNER UNTIL THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRIC HARNESS WOULD TAKE 3 TO 5 DAYS TO BE SHIPPED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEN I WAS NOTIFIED (6 DAYS LATER) THAT THE ELECTRIC HARNESS WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND WOULD TAKE ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE THEY RECEIVE IT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL SAYING THAT ALL THE PARTS WERE IN, BUT NOW THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE OR RAISE THE BODY TO INSTALL THE FIREWALL INSULATION. SO AN ADDITIONAL $2,219.66 FOR THAT PORTION OF IT. SURE MY INSURE PICKED UP THE TAB LESS MY DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I DROPPED THE 4RUNNER OFF MARCH 7, 2017 AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT SHOULD BE READY AROUND APRIL 5TH. HOPEFULLY NOTHING ELSE IS FOUND. I PURCHASED THE 4RUNNER BRAND NEW ON FEBRUARY 4, 2017 (DRIVEWAY KEPT). I TRADED IN A 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT I HAD FOR 11 YEARS THAT SAT OUTSIDE FOR THIS HEADACHE. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE TACOMA. THE 4 RUNNER ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS INCONVENIENCE HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

10969624

Incident

Mar 7, 2017

Mileage

500 mi

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 BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS FIGHTING THEM ON THE REPAIR AND I AM STUCK WITHOUT THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO REPAIR IT MYSELF. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING AND REPLACING THE WIRES THAT THEY USED SINCE IT IS ENCOURAGING THE DAMAGE! THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY CARPORT. I LIVE IN THE NICER PART OF A LARGE TOWN.

NHTSA ID

10935876

Incident

Nov 29, 2016

Mileage

13,500 mi

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 DISCUSSION BY ME IT WAS COVERED. APPARENTLY TOYOTA USES A SOY BASED SPRAY OR COATING ON THE WIRING THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE BUT THE 4WD WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND 4WD DID NOT ENGAGE. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM A NEIGHBOR WITH A 2015 4RUNNER THAT A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED TO THEM BUT IT AFFECTED THEIR WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10892686

Incident

Oct 3, 2015

Mileage

100 mi

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 TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO TOLD US OF BITE MARKS AND DROPPINGS. IN RESEARCHING THIS ON LINE WE FOUND REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN TOYOTAS AND HONDAS. WE COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE DESERT IN 110 DEGREE HEAT IF THE DAMAGE WAS ENOUGH TO DISABLE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ID

10881885

Incident

Jun 25, 2016

Mileage

10,000 mi