Exterior Lighting Problems of Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4runner (5th and 6th generations) lacks a dedicated 'approach lighting' function, creating a critical personal safety and trip-and-fall hazard during nighttime entry. Users are forced to navigate the vehicle's perimeter in total darkness, increasing the risk of injury from unseen obstacles or security threats. I am requesting an investigation into this lighting logic omission and a remedy via a software update to the lighting control module to ensure owner safety for all generations of the 4runner platform.

As the vehicle was traveling on a highway at 35 mph the vehicle shut off electronically three times and powered itself back on after 15 seconds or so of continuous cruising on the highway. Unable to accelerate or control the vehicle while the electronic component shut off in the vehicle. Three days later, a series of warning lights and check engine lights turned on, which has occurred 6 other times, and has been brought to local Toyota dealer multiple times (over six times) and no fix has been conducted to repair the vehicle other than resetting the vehicles ecu. When all of the warning lights turn on, the vehicle loses 2nd gear and juts itself forward and becomes extremely difficult to control to the point where I have almost gotten into life threatening accidents over 4 times. Toyota has acknowledged that they do not know what is wrong with the vehicle and is unsure how to fix it. This is a safety concern that is not getting enough attention and needs to be rectified before someone or myself ends up killing ourselves.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Similar to numerous newer ('12+) vehicles, the instrument cluster gauge needles light up even when the headlights are not on. Therefore when driving the vehicle, the driver isn't aware that the headlights are not on at night (and there are no drl/daytime running lights to warn oncoming drivers), which means that the vehicle is driving at night without any lights on. People are going to be killed this way; both the driver and innocent motorists driving near this vehicle. I nearly got in a head-on collision last night because the vehicle headlights weren't on after sundown (but I listed crash, fire, fatalities to get your attention, as I submitted this same issue about 8years ago for a similar incident with a Nissan leaf that narrowly missed running me over as it was driving without any headlights on/led gauge cluster was bright enough to see the drivers face, and nothing has changed in the auto industry for safety on this widespread issue). How can the automotive industry and NHTSA have let this happen? instrument cluster gauges should not have any backlighting unless the headlight switch is physically activated by the driver. This issue is even worse with the new led/virtual gauge cluster screens.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

My brand new 2023 Toyota 4runner has terrible head lights. I see I am not the first person to post this very same complaint either. These headlights need to be recalled and replaced by Toyota. I will do my best to describe this, but when driving in the dark there is large shadow cast on the left side of the throw of the lights. It is far in front of the car, just before the light tapers off into darkness. But it's not just that the headlights are uneven, I have light that surrounds the dark spot. So it's like I'm constantly chasing an animal. The 4runner has a soft suspension, so every small bump in the road makes the shadow dance and it is incredibly distracting. It's all I look at. When I turn it looks like something is running across the road. This is a dangerous design. I live in illinois and I drive to and from work in the dark 5 months out of the year. Everybody on the internet says it's for the safety of oncoming drivers. The shadow is nowhere near where somebody would be sitting in an oncoming driver seat. This problem is all over the internet. Why has nothing been done about it? the Toyota dealer told me it's be design, and so did the service manager. Toyota corporate referred me to the customer relations lead back at the dealer, who sent me back to corporate, who sent me to a senior advisor at corporate, who told me they have to respect what the dealer says. Round and round we go. I inquired if my dealer can take apart my headlights and remove the piece that casts the shadow out on the road. I bet you know the answer to that one. Never once have I seen this in any vehicle driven by myself, family or friends. Anybody I have had in the car has mentioned how distracting it is. These lights need an immediate recall and replacement. Thank you.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

The headlight pattern of the low beam lights has a large dark area at the 10 to 11 o'clock position that appears in the oncoming traffic lane when driving at night. This dark area is very distracting while driving at night. The area is approximately 1 to 2 meters in diameter when seen on the driving surface. It appears the headlights to not meet the photometric requirements for headlights. This pattern was first noticed when the vehicle was delivered by the dealer. I have contacted multiple dealers with no remedy. The dealer states that "pattern is by design. ".

When using the low beams, there is a distinctive shadow or blotch that is evident on the driver's side only in the 2023 4 runner limited. I understand from others that it is due to the led anti glare technology mandated to be used by the government. This shadow or blotch is not visible when using the high beams. When using the low beams the shadow is always in the periphery or in front of the driver. . . . But it is there at all times. As a driver, my eyes are drawn to it, taking my eyes off of the traffic or road ahead. On several occasions I have thought that it was an animal or something. I have had passengers in my vehicle who immediately noticed the same thing and thought that it was a terrible design and would pose a safety hazard. This shadow is not visible on the passenger side. I have notified Toyota USA and have visited the dealership several times. I have had the headlamp replaced with no resolution, so I went back to have the headlight adjusted up and it is still there. I have been told by Toyota USA and dealership that this is a 'characteristic' of the vehicle and has been designed this way and they will not do anything to resolve this issue. I have done quite a bit of research and understand other Toyota owners are experiencing the same thing. . Read more...

The vehicle headlights have failed on multiple occasions. The cause of the failures was ingress of water into the sealed headlamp assembly. The problem was reported to Toyota. Toyota took no action regarding the reports. The entire headlight assembly was replaced three (3) times at our expense. The problem persists. Attached is a photograph of the second (replaced) clearly showing water inside the headlight assembly. The current (most recent replacement) has also experienced water ingress and is available for inspection. The subject vehicle was inspected by three different body shops (two if which are authorized Toyota shops). It was confirmed by all three shops that there is no vehicle design feature that could cause water ingress in the headlamp assembly. This is a serious safety issue and has been brought to Toyota's attention with no response.

See all problems of the 2006 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

When carrying cargo, the cutoff of the led low beam headlamps is shifted upward blinding on coming traffic and dazzling other drivers. This requires the driver to manually adjust the angle of headlight projection under the hood of the vehicle, as there is not automatic system to do so, or even a manual system inside the vehicle. As a result, it’s likely few drivers will do this. Also, it is not possible to manually adjust the headlamps every time the weight in the vehicle shifts. Leds are particularly bright and affect oncoming traffic. If they are not perfectly aligned at least 50% of the oncoming cars flash their lights at me, many leaving their brights on, probably assuming I am doing the same. Therefore, it’s not just that my vehicle is blinding them, but there is also an element of road rage that comes into play with both drivers becoming dazzled. As such, basic visibility safety at night, should require led headlamps to all have a self-leveling feature to account for the headlight cutoff angle changing when carrying cargo.

It is a common complaint on the 4runner forums, the low beam head lights don't generate enough light to see at night. One video I saw measured the out put at less then 250lumns. The average halogen bulb put out 700lumns of light. I am constantly having to use high beams to see down the road. Consumers are forced to purchase and install after market head lights. It posses a safety risk not only to the drive but to anything on the road. I had my 2016 4runner a month before the need to drive at night arose, and I was shocked at how poor the illumination was.

See all problems of the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

I've put a down payment of 1200 at premier auto sales . In victoria TX I left feel positive about the vehicle . The sales man told me as soon as they get a mechanic to look at it . It didn't have an inspection either . So I took it to p&h all they did was right in a paper an sent it back with me to the car lot after I picked it up from it being dead the battery terninals where horrible the check engine light came on the oil light after a brand knew oil change kept smoking so took it back so they could look at it to find out they just cleared the codes . Picked it out he following Monday well the vehicle smelt like it was burning had to use my emergency brake to stop . Called them and the sales lady in the front said it wasn't their problem still within the 30 day period so took it to the brake place down the road from them my brakes were so back they had to change everything he said I could have caused a wreck because of them being so wore down . I called to make arrangement with them and they were just being ugly about the situation over all . I've tried to be nice and do the right think this was unsafe for me as well as my children .

See all problems of the 2004 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

The headlamps on the Toyota 4runner have a defect in the uv coating (see TSB-0081-12). The accelerated deterioration of the headlamp clarity causes a significant decline in the light output of the headlamps. The deterioration of the light output is a safety issue.

See all problems of the 2011 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Dashboard gauges, escpecially speedometer and fuel gauge, are difficult or impossible to read in daytime. Situation is made worse when wearing sunglasses. Problem is that gauges are recessed too deep and letters are not contrasted enough with dash plate (ie light gray on dark gray). Toyota acknowledges problem as they have issued a TSB which essentially keeps dash lights on all the time. Turning on dashboard lights does not solve problem as lighting is an amber color. Solution is two stage lighting. Bright white in daytime and amber or blue in night.

See all problems of the 2003 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Previously submitted as : 10060723 ,ammending dealer,purchase date and incident date: dashboard gauges, escpecially speedometer and fuel gauge, are difficult or impossible to read in daytime. Situation is made worse when wearing sunglasses. Problem is that gauges are recessed too deep and letters are not contrasted enough with dash plate (ie light gray on dark gray). Toyota acknowledges problem as they have issued a TSB which essentially keeps dash lights on all the time. Turning on dashboard lights does not solve problem as lighting is an amber color. Solution is two stage lighting. Bright white in daytime and amber or blue in night.

Interior lighting used to illuminate air control panel only works some of the time. My brother-in-law owns a 1996 4-runner and his air control lighting is completely inoperable.

See all problems of the 1997 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.