2017 Toyota 4Runner Owner 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 WAS CLOSED.

1/1/2018

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 PIECES INCLUDING SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS. THE GLASS WENT ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY CAR INCLUDING BOTH FRONT AND BACK SEATS AND FLOORBOARDS. THE ENTIRE WINDOW EXPLODED SO THAT THERE WAS NO WINDOW LEFT IN THE OPENING. I BELIEVE IT WAS FAULTY GLASS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SUNROOFS EXPLODING, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS ISSUE IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE SUNROOF. I DID SAVE THE RECEIPT FROM HAVING THE GLASS REPLACED, BUT I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCAN AND ATTACH IT.

3/15/2018

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. THANK GOD NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

11/5/2017

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 COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS WITH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NO BRAKES. USED PARKING BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO STOP CAR. CHECKING THE NET, THERE ARE OTHER 5TH GENERATION 4RUNNERS WITH SIMILAR BRAKE FAILURES AND SIMILAR NO ACTION FROM TOYOTA

11/16/2017

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 BY A RODENT. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $516 AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS DUE TO THE FACT WE LIVE IN SEATTLE AND MY PREVIOUS CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE EXACT SAME AREA FOR 9 YEARS WITHOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A STORY OF A RARELY DRIVEN CAR PARKED IN A RURAL BARN. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DUE TO THE SOY BASED WIRE INSULATION THAN SEEMS TO ATTACT RODENTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT ALL SAFETY AND ENGINE FUNCTIONS.

2/26/2017

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 SHE WAS PRETTY SURE THAT IT WAS RODENTS CHEWING ON THE WIRES BECAUSE IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND AND I DID SOME CHECKING WHILE IT WAS IN SERVICE AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY USE A SOY BASE ON THE WIRING AND THAT RODENTS LOVE IT AND IT'S PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX WAS $535 AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE SAME PLACE SINCE 2000 AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES THRU OUT THAT TIME AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE BEFORE WITH RODENTS.

4/6/2017

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 VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED BURNS ON THE LEFT ARM DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,800.

11/9/2017

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.

7/23/2019

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, B) P3190 CURRENTLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY

11/30/2017

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 operating vehicle due to lack of throttle response when accelerating into traffic. When issue occurs, vehicle "stalls" and creates a dangerous situation that eventually will result is an accident.

3/19/2025

PEELING STEERING WHEEL ON IT'S OWN. NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. NO RINGS, SUNSCREEN, LOTION OR CLEANERS USED. CAUSES LOSS OF GRIP OF WHEEL AND CONTINUED DETERIORATION ALTERS STEEERING WHEEL. THERE IS A CHANGE.ORG PETITION.

10/11/2019

Front struts are leaking which are causing the vehicle to drive inconsistently. The struts should not have to be replaced this soon when the vehicle is being used on normal condition roads. After researching, it appears this is a manufacturer, Toyota, issue, that is known, and Toyota should be issuing a recall for replacement due to the number of incidences that are known on the 4-Runner.

12/18/2024

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER OWNING MY MAGNETIC GRAY 4RUNNER I STARTED NOTICING FLAWS ON MY HOOD AND ROOF OF THE VEHICLE ALMOST LIKE THE CLEAR COAT WAS BUBBLING UP. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO THE DEALERSHIP DURING A ROUTINE VISIT AND THE SUPERVISOR SAID IT WILL BE NOTED IN THE VEHICLES RECORD. I ROUTINELY WASH MY VEHICLE AND DO NOT LET ANYTHING SIT ON MY VEHICLE SUCH AS SAP OR BIRD DROPPINGS AND THE VEHICLE IS IN A GARAGE. IT IS NOW A YEAR LATER AND I AM NOTICING MORE SPOTS. KNOWING NOW THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD ISSUES BEFORE WITH DEFECTIVE CLEAR COAT ON THEIR VEHICLES I AM WONDERING IF THEIR IS ANYTHING I CAN DO OTHER THAN TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAINTED.

3/25/2020

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 HAPPY THAT WE WERE SAFE, BUT THE SERIOUS CUTS ON MY BODY SEEMED QUITE SEVERE FOR THE HIT WHICH WAS ON PASSENGER SIDE AND BY A DEER.

6/21/2020

TRUCK SHIMMY'S WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER 50MPH. FRONT TIRES ARE DAMAGED FROM CUPPING. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS TIRE ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. DEALERSHIP KEEPS SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT.

7/28/2020

Text sent to Toyota. Copy to NHTSA. Hello, my name is [XXX]. I am writing to both Toyota and NHTSA with what I perceive as a safety problem. I have owned three Toyotas including a 2017 4runner. I have been pleased with them except for one characteristic they all shared. The turn signal sound volume is just too low. My son's F-150 and my wife's Audi A4 both have very clear and distinct turn signal sounds that I can clearly hear over normal conversation or the radio playing. The Toyota does not. Why? In a nation with aging baby-boomers, whose hearing is diminishing, it would seem obvious that an adjustable turn signal volume control (with a minimum level) would be a much valued enhancement to any vehicle. When you consider that many of the electronic features of modern cars are never used, it strikes me as odd that no vehicle manufacturer has addressed this obvious problem. I have sent a copy of this text to the National Highway Safety Commission and several Toyota competitors in the hopes that someone will realize the potential for a very useful vehicle enhancement. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

4/19/2022

TRUCK SHIMMY'S WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER 50MPH. FRONT TIRES ARE DAMAGED FROM CUPPING. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS TIRE ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. DEALERSHIP KEEPS SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT.

7/28/2020

Front struts are leaking which are causing the vehicle to drive inconsistently. The struts should not have to be replaced this soon when the vehicle is being used on normal condition roads. After researching, it appears this is a manufacturer, Toyota, issue, that is known, and Toyota should be issuing a recall for replacement due to the number of incidences that are known on the 4-Runner.

12/18/2024

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 operating vehicle due to lack of throttle response when accelerating into traffic. When issue occurs, vehicle "stalls" and creates a dangerous situation that eventually will result is an accident.

3/19/2025

2017 Toyota 4 runner SR5 While driving on the highway the vehicle stopped apparently the fuel pump stopped working and could not get going anymore. I had a mechanic come to the house with a PC and test it. He told me that’s a change that will need to take place in a garage. Luckily I was able to stop on the side and paid someone to bring car home

5/27/2025

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED AND MADE AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AVONDALE TOYOTA (10005 WEST PAPAGO FWY, AVONDALE, AZ 85323, (844) 610-894) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME//SUPPORT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANDERSON TOYOTA (6510 SHOWPLACE AVE, LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ 86404, (928) 764-2886), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ADJUST THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1806083099, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. *TT UPDATED 9/25/18

6/14/2018

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 HAPPY THAT WE WERE SAFE, BUT THE SERIOUS CUTS ON MY BODY SEEMED QUITE SEVERE FOR THE HIT WHICH WAS ON PASSENGER SIDE AND BY A DEER.

6/21/2020

TRUCK SHIMMY'S WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER 50MPH. FRONT TIRES ARE DAMAGED FROM CUPPING. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS TIRE ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION. DEALERSHIP KEEPS SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT.

7/28/2020

I have owned my vehicle since 2017 and since then I have had to change the locks over 10 times. this has been ongoing since purchasing my car. Some were originally covered with the warranty but since it expired, i have paid dealerships out of pocket. I have a lock give out almost yearly. Right now my car has 3 of the 4 door locks not working and the 4th just started acting up as well. I have checked for recalls because it doesn't make sense that they would go out yearly and the dealerships have even told me there should be recalls because my year 4runner always has lock issues. my safety concern is my locks either have to stay unlocked or i risk locking my car completely and it not opening because the key will not unlock it. I have tried contacting Toyota and they have stated they cannot help so I am wanting to reach out to see if there is anything that can be done or if you can point me in the right direction on who i can reach out to . thank you

7/10/2024

Front struts are leaking which are causing the vehicle to drive inconsistently. The struts should not have to be replaced this soon when the vehicle is being used on normal condition roads. After researching, it appears this is a manufacturer, Toyota, issue, that is known, and Toyota should be issuing a recall for replacement due to the number of incidences that are known on the 4-Runner.

12/18/2024