Toyota 4Runner - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Toyota 4Runner owners have reported a total of 6,952 problems for their cars built in the 31 model years listed in the chart below. The chart shows the number of problems reported across all service years for each given model year of the Toyota 4Runner. The 2004 Toyota 4Runner cars have the most problems reported (896 problems).

Table 1. Total number of problems by model year for Toyota 4Runner

🔍 Common problems of Toyota 4Runner

The following chart shows the 30 most common problems for Toyota 4Runner cars. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's structure (1,636 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's suspension (896 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Toyota 4Runner

📉 Compare Reliability Across Model Years Using PPMY Index

It would not be fair to compare the Toyota 4Runner of an older model year to newer model years since older vehicles have been in service longer and thus are expected to have more problems. In order to compare the reliability across 4Runner model years, we use the PPMY index which is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year. A smaller PPMY index indicates greater reliability of the given model year cars.

    PPMY = P / S / Y * 1000,

where P = total problems reported during the life of a Toyota 4Runner model year; S = total units sold of the model year; Y = years since the debut of the model year (the age of the vehicle).

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Use PPMY Index to Compare Reliability Across 4Runner Model Years

4Runner
Model Year
Problems Sales [1] Vehicle
Age
PPMY Index
  2022 50132,7954    
0.09
  2021 52146,5525    
0.07
  2020 40106,8446    
0.06
  2019 83138,8347    
0.09
  2018 74143,7948    
0.06
  2017 4785,4179    
0.06
  2016 100155,33110    
0.06
  2015 11591,72711    
0.11
  2014 8665,97212    
0.11
  2013 6952,55413    
0.10
  2012 10941,57014    
0.19
  2011 18356,94215    
0.21
  2010 17041,82816    
0.25
  2009 328,48717    
0.22
  2008 13566,39518    
0.11
  2007 20092,72219    
0.11
  2006 511104,77220    
0.24
  2005 553106,81021    
0.25
  2004 896122,03422    
0.33
  2003 894101,31723    
0.38
  2002 29285,12624    
0.14
  2001 23183,05225    
0.11
  2000 627132,24826    
0.18

📊 Number of Problems Reported During the First Year

Another way to measure the reliability across the model years of the Toyota 4Runner is to use the total number of problems reported during the vehicle's first year in service, as shown in the Table 4.

Table 4. Number of problems in vehicle's; first service year

Model YearProblems Reported
  2026 4Runner
6
  2025 4Runner
38
  2024 4Runner
3
  2023 4Runner
16
  2022 4Runner
16
  2021 4Runner
24
  2020 4Runner
19
  2019 4Runner
13
  2018 4Runner
12
  2017 4Runner
9
  2016 4Runner
11
  2015 4Runner
13
  2014 4Runner
7
  2013 4Runner
9
  2012 4Runner
7
  2011 4Runner
14
  2010 4Runner
27
  2009 4Runner
9
  2008 4Runner
8
  2007 4Runner
15
  2006 4Runner
47
  2005 4Runner
29
  2004 4Runner
55
  2003 4Runner
125
  2002 4Runner
14
  2001 4Runner
9
  2000 4Runner
26
  1999 4Runner
18
  1998 4Runner
17
  1997 4Runner
12
  1996 4Runner
25


4Runner Service Bulletins
4Runner Safety Recalls
4Runner Defect Investigations
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