2001 Toyota 4 RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
42,445 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 31 complaints (12.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 16.1% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 16.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
2001: 3; 2002: 6; 2003: 9; 2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009752 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009752 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015514 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *MR THE ENGINE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED AFTER MAKING A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH AND LAST ABOUT 4-10 SECONDS. NEITHER DEALER COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104686 · 2004-12-29 (December 29, 2004)
VERY STRONG VIBRATION/SHAKING FELT WHEN BRAKING HARD OR DOWNHILL. ROTORS AND BRAKES ARE GOOD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156330 · 2006-04-27 (April 27, 2006)
WHILE MAKING A LANE CHANGE(FROM LANE 3 TO LANE 4), I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF MY 2001 4RUNNER ON THE FREEWAY, AND ENDED UP HYDROPLANING ACROSS THE FREEWAY TOWARDS THE CENTER DIVIDER. I WAS SOME HOW ABLE TO STOP MY CAR MOSTLY IN LANE 1 AND PARTIALLY IN LANE 2 BUT BEFORE I COULD ATTEMPT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT MY CAR I WAS THEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DUE TO THIS IMPACT, MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ROADS WERE WET DUE TO RAIN AND VISIBILITY WAS LOW DUE TO EVENING. I FEEL THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO A BALL JOINT/STEERING FAILURE BECAUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133095 · 2005-08-16 (August 16, 2005)
DROVE TO STORE, PARKED CAR, SHOPPED , GOT IN CAR PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND KEY WOULD NOT TURN , TRIED TURNING WHEEL WAS STRANDED FOR 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES PULLING AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL . NEXT DAY SAME THING HAPPENED AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE. CALLED TOYOTA OF RUNNEMEDE NJ WAS TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE AND THEY GET ABOUT 7 CALLS A DAY FROM STRANDED CUSTOMERS. AND TO TURN THE WHEEL, JIGGLE THE KEY AND THE LOCKED STEERING WHEEL SHOULD DISENGAGE. THIS HAS NOT HELPED AT ALL. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED NEW IN 2001 AND THIS HAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,889 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002717 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT TIMES
Owner-reported narrative. 14 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067742 · 2004-04-23 (April 23, 2004)
TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES SLIPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED FROM DAY ONE AND I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067742 at NHTSA ↗