RoadVitals

2023 Toyota 4Runner

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
30
Latest May 21, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 12, 2023
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Toyota 4Runner, most frequently naming the driver assistance, tires & wheels and exterior lighting categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 95 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance518.5%
  • Tires & wheels311.1%
  • Exterior lighting311.1%
  • Powertrain (other)27.4%
  • Seat belts27.4%
  • Steering27.4%
  • Suspension27.4%
  • Airbags27.4%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Oct 12, 2023
13 units potentially affected
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC will mail a new modified label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2023. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET23A.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLCManufacturer number SET23AView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed May 21, 2026

New, strange noise started in Dec'25 (41K miles; 2yrs 9 months). No warning lights. Diagnosed as failed brake accumulator (first at an independent shop, later at the dealer). Apparently the accumulator is part of the full master cylinder assembly which must be replaced. Toyota has quoted $3,200 to complete this repair and is telling me it must be out of pocket.

NHTSA ID
11739260
Incident
Dec 28, 2025
Steering
Filed Mar 3, 2026

I was driving the vehicle and suddenly the steering wheel started to getting hard to turn it and the dash board doesn’t show any failure I went right away to dealership close by they inspected the vehicle they states there is a power steering failure but the car never showed any failure on dashboard or safety system

NHTSA ID
11721837
Incident
Feb 23, 2026
Visibility
Filed Feb 6, 2026

Windshield cracked approximately 2” from the bottom all the way across while using the defroster to clear ice from it. I was still parked at the time. I am unsure how long it will stay water tight or become worse. One concern is the crash avoidance and the automatic high beam sensor are both attached to the windshield and don’t want them to fail. I also don’t want the entire piece of glass to shatter and land in my lap while driving. The dealer refused honoring the repair under warranty. They only use one particular repair shop (which I suspect they own) and even quoted me a price for replacing the ruined glass. In addition to paying for that I would need to pay the dealer to recalibrate the crash avoidance and headlight sensor. I have yet to report the damage to my insurance. As of yet there are no warning lights showing.

NHTSA ID
11716332
Incident
Jan 31, 2026
Seat belts
Filed Feb 4, 2026
Crash reportedFire reported4 injuries reported

The contact owned a 2023 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while her father was driving under 30 MPH on a side road, the driver swerved to miss a deer. The vehicle drove off a hill, rolled over and landed on its top, and all the seat belts simultaneously unbuckled, causing all the passengers to hit their heads against the roof simultaneously. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal fuel odor. The contact stated that she was unable to exit the vehicle. The contact's brother assisted the contact in exiting the vehicle, and all passengers were able to exit the vehicle. The vehicle then caught on fire. The fire department arrived at the scene, but it was unknown whether the fire was extinguished by the fire department. The origin of the fire was unknown. A police report was filed. It was unknown whether the air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss. The contact sustained neck and back pain, bruises and headaches. The contact stated that the headaches could be due to an impact on the brain cyst in the back of the contact's head. The contact's son sustained neck pain, back pain and bruises. The contact's brother and father sustained unknown injuries. All the passengers went to the hospital the following day and were still receiving medical assistance. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ID
11715551
Incident
Dec 28, 2023
Mileage
10,000 mi
Filed Jan 30, 2026

the rear manual tailgate has opened 3 times while the vehicle was at highway speeds and the doors would be locked. the latest incident happened on 1-30-26, at highway speed (70mph) the tailgate opened completely without warning. the indicator on the dash did light up and an alarm did sound. I had been on the road approximately 10 miles without incident before that. this was the third time this happened, although the first two the door did not completely open, only became unlatched but stayed shut. all three times were mornings that were extremely cold. (below -1 F) each time i made sure there was no ice or snow or other object in the way of securely closing the tailgate. even if there were, the door would not be closed from the onset and the dash warning should have indicated the door was not completely latched.

NHTSA ID
11714444
Incident
Jan 30, 2026
Filed Aug 25, 2025

Started driving on the freeway when we heard something on the roof of the car and when I opened the moonroof cover from inside the car I could see that the entire moonroof had shattered. All the glass was flying off the car and onto the freeway.

NHTSA ID
11682974
Incident
Aug 25, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 13, 2025

After adjusting the vehicle lock sound level in the settings, it completely disabled my key fobs and the panic function on the key fob. Had to take to dealer to fix. Dealer had never seen the issue before. Been reported online many many times. Dealers and Toyota refuse to acknowledge a known issue.

NHTSA ID
11680482
Incident
Aug 13, 2025
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 22, 2025

Component: Tire – Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 P265/70R17 Vehicle: 2023 Toyota 4Runner (approx. 25,000 miles) After a standard tire rotation, I began experiencing severe steering wheel vibration (flutter) at highway speeds (55–65+ mph) and during braking. The issue started immediately after rotation and has not gone away, even after returning the tires to their original positions. The dealer replaced rotors and pads, but the vibration remained. There are no warning lights, and no visible tire damage. This condition has been reproduced by the dealer. Upon researching, I found that Toyota issued Tech Tip T-TT-0602-20 for this exact issue — citing steering vibration caused by Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 tires on 4Runner models. I also found similar complaints from other owners on forums and the NHTSA database. The issue appears to be related to internal tire defects (e.g., belt separation or out-of-round tires) which are not externally visible. This problem affects safety due to potential loss of steering stability at high speeds, and could worsen over time. Tires have not been replaced yet, but I plan to pursue road force balancing and a manufacturer warranty inspection. I'm glad that I was able to find this problem early before it cause tire explosion. Tire Size: P265/70R17 Tire Brand/Model: Dunlop Grandtrek AT20

NHTSA ID
11668391
Incident
Jun 21, 2025

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

T-SB-0106-22 Rev2

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.

T-TT-0788-25 Rev1

SERVICE BRAKES

Customers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the following: • The Parking Brake Pedal feels loose or requires full depression for proper engagement. • When not fully depressed, effectiveness on steep surfaces may be reduced, allowing the vehicle to roll with transmission in Neutral. • When not fully depressed, effectiveness on steep surfaces may be reduced, allowing the vehicle to roll slightly with transmission in Park.

T-SB-0001-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.

T-SB-0055-24 Rev2

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.

T-TT-0788-25

SERVICE BRAKES

Customers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the following: • The PKB Pedal feels loose or requires full depression for proper engagement. • Ineffective on steep surfaces, allowing the vehicle to roll with transmission in Neutral. • Ineffective on steep surfaces, allowing the vehicle to roll slightly with transmission in Park. [Transmission Dependency]

T-SB-0058-23 Rev1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Toyota 4Runner by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026710
2025541049.7
2024810
2023Viewing301051.7
2022393058.8
2021341051.1
2020311044.0
2019644058.1
2018585056.9
2017365163.7
2016788165.4
2015869159.1
2014777159.4
2013366157.3
2012968158.8
201116310157.4
201014512156.6
2009226160.0
2008965158.6
20071545153.2
20063805260.0
20054245256.6
20046782253.0
20036953253.5
20022243155.7
20011853049.9
20004832049.0
19993302051.2
19982504052.1
19972614055.1
19961615054.3
19951724159.2
1994644263.2
1993513259.9
1992533260.1
1991432455.7
1990782465.1
1989611
1988910
1987500
1986800
1985200
1984200

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.