2008 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
96 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 96 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 30.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 13.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 16 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Engine | 7 |
Power Train: 16; Structure:Body: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Unknown Or Other: 12; Suspension: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Service Brakes: 10; Engine: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 7
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 9; 2010: 19; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 8; 2014: 3; 2015: 5; 2016: 5; 2017: 9; 2018: 8; 2019: 7; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10250228 · 2008-12-01 (December 1, 2008)
NEW, FROM 15,000- 25, 000 MILES, 2008 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER, JERKING WHEN ACCELERATED ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS AS IF THE SHIFT GEAR OR TRANSMISSION IS NOT PROPERLY WORKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER THE 15, 000 MILE SERVICE. FIRST DEALERSHIP WORKERS STATED NOTHING WRONG. CURRENT DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CHECKED FOR CAUSE NOR HAVE THEY OFFERED A SOLUTION. CAR REMAINS AT DEALERSHIP. SECOND ISSUE, MOST RECENT INCIDENT, SAME VEHICLE AT 25, 000 MILES WHEN ACCELERATED ON THE FREEWAY, JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY, WORST THAN BEFORE, ACCELERATED TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276009 · 2009-07-07 (July 7, 2009)
MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A CLUNKING SOUND AS I AM ABOUT TO TAKE OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I CAN TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE WHEN I AM ALMOST STOPPED, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT SURGES FORWARD. I HAVE TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE PRETTY HARD TO KEEP IT FROM DOING THIS. THEN WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO PROCEED, THERE IS A "CLUNK" FROM THE BACK END. I TOOK IT TO MY TOTALLY DEALERSHIP TODAY BECAUSE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (I'VE HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND IT HAS DONE IT EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT). THE DEALERSHIP CALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,637 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277224 · 2009-07-17 (July 17, 2009)
WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WHEN YOU REMOVE THE FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BEFORE YOU STEP ON THE GAS, AT TIMES THE CAR MAKES A THUMPING SOUND WHICH YOU CAN FEEL. POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM AND CANT RECREATE THE THUMPING. IT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10383872 · 2011-02-20 (February 20, 2011)
A STEERING VIBRATION OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 MPH TO 80 MPH. A NEW SET OF TIRES WHERE INSTALLED AND BALANCED PROPERLY AT DISCOUNT TIRE BUT THE STEERING VIBRATION WOULD NOT GO AWAY. THEN I HAD THE STORE CHANGE THE TIRES AND INSTALL ANOTHER SET OF FOUR THINKING BAD TIRES WHERE INSTALLED. THE TIRES ARE DUNLOP GRANDTREK AT 20 WHAT TOYOTA ORIGINALLY PUTS ON THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE STEERING VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED A MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I EVEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BALANCE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559212 · 2014-01-09 (January 9, 2014)
WON'T ENGAGE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE 4 WHEEL DRIVE.THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT KEPT FLASHING ALONG WITH THE WHEEL STABILIZER INDICATOR. DRIVING IN SNOW, STEERING BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. VEHICLE HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH DEALER SEEMS TO REFUSE TO HONOR. STATEN ISLAND TOYOTA SERVICE CLAIMS SOMEONE EMPTIED FLUID FROM TRANSFER CASE..NO ONE HAS DONE WORK ON CAR AND NO OIL LEAKAGE EVER EVIDENT IN MY DRIVEWAY..CAR WAS IN DRIVEWAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE MOVING THAT EVENING. RARELY DRIVEN IN 4H POSITION FOR GAS PURPOSES, AND 99.9% OF THE TIME THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536395 · 2013-08-20 (August 20, 2013)
AFTER HAVING TIMING BELT REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER BOB TYLER OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA; WHILE DRIVING BELT CAME APART LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER, CONTROL, AND MAKING EMERGENCY STOP. TOYOTA FEELS THAT FAILURE IS NORMAL IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10649497 · 2014-10-23 (October 23, 2014)
DURING A MAINTENANCE VISIT TO EAST COAST TOYOTA OF CARLSTADT, NJ AN "UPDATE" TO THE ECU COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED. AFTER THIS "UPDATE" I NOTICED THE ENGINE STALLING, THEN RECOVERING AND AUTO THEN SURGING FORWARD. THIS WAS EXPLAINED BY TOYOTA AS "SMART TECHNOLOGY" TO MODIFY ENG/ECT SYSTEM. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A DANGEROUS "FIX": EXAMPLE --WHEN TRYING TO ENTER A TRAFFIC LANE FROM A DEAD STOP, WITH FOOT ON BREAK IF YOU ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE CUTS OUT- SENDING YOU INTO TRAFFIC WITH A LAG INSTEAD OF A POWER BOOST. I ATTEMPTED TO H…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10649497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316962 · 2010-03-05 (March 5, 2010)
STARTED MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY TO AROUND 7-8000 RPM AND SHUDDERED TERRIBLY. IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN TRIED IT AGAIN. DID SAME THING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AND SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTER. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL TOYOTA TECHNICAL TO REPORT ISSUE. NEVER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. THIS INCIDENT ONLY REINFORCES THE BELIEF THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUES OTHER THAN THE "RECALL FIX". I BELIEVE THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,422 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034032 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
TOYOTA ISSUED A SHORT TERM WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, EXPIRING MARCH 2018, FOR A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. I BELIEVE THAT THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS OPPOSED TO A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. THE DEFECT IS IN THE REAR WINDOW SEAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; USE OF THE DEFROSTER CAN CAUSE THE WINDOW TO BLOW OUT. MY CAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT BODY DEFECT ADJACENT TO THE REAR WINDOW SEAL, AND THE SEAL IS DAMAGED, INDICATING THAT THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I SPOKE WITH CORPORATE TOYOTA; THEIR STANCE IS THAT T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11034032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114355 · 2018-07-29 (July 29, 2018)
MY FRAME BRACKETS THAT HOLD MY SUSPENSION AND OTHER PARTS LIKE MY FUEL TANK AND DRIVELINE ARE RUSTING OFF AND MY MECHANIC SAYS DON'T BOTHER BECAUSE IT'LL COST MORE THAN THE TRUCK IS WORTH. IT NEEDS A FULL FRAME CHANGE!! IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT WHEN THE LAST PART BROKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED INSTEAD OF THE 20 MPH ON A REGULAR ROAD WE WOULDN'T BE CHATTING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED ALONG WITH MY PASSENGER AND I HAD JUST GOT OUT OF A 3 DAY STAY AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL SO I WAS DEFINITELY GOING SLOWER THAN NORMAL. IT WAS MY COMPLETE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114355 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11257775 · 2019-09-24 (September 24, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THE TOP CONTROL ARM POST WAS MELTED. ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT A MOUNTING PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE THE CONTROL ARM COULD DETACH AND STRIKE THE FUEL TANK. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11257775 at NHTSA ↗