2013 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
72,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 36 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 10; Air Bags: 9; Service Brakes: 5; Electrical System: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Engine: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette: 2; Structure:Body: 2
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 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 6; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10956608 · 2017-02-23 (February 23, 2017)
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, UPON BREAKING, HAVING SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURS WHEN I AM BRAKING FOR A STOP ON CITY STREETS, STOPPING IN TRAFFIC, STOPPING IN A DRIVEWAY. I SUGGEST THE CAUSE IS THE PROXIMITY OF THE BREAK PEDAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, THE LEVEL OF THE PEDAL IS BELOW THAT OF THE ACCELERATOR LEVEL. SO, I FIND MY FOOT AT TIMES HAS A SLIGHT OVERLAP, CAUSING MY FOOT TO APPLY BOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11013682 · 2017-08-08 (August 8, 2017)
I HAVE A 2013 4 RUNNER SR5, THAT JUST TURNED 80K, DRIVEN BY AN OLDER WOMAN. WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LANE THE BRAKE, ABS AND VSC TRACK LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH AN BEEPING ALARM THAT WOULD NOT STOP. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED BACK ON AND STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. WHEN I MOVED I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. I HAD TO ROLL THE TRUCK INTO PARKING SPOT AND HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE HYDROBOOST FOR THE BRAKES AND ABS. PART WAS ABOUT $3000 AND $620 TO DO THE INSTALL. EVERYON…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11176328 · 2019-02-11 (February 11, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACK OFF 4 LOW INDICATORS APPEARED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ERRONEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT INDICATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE NEUTRAL OR DRIVE POSITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAHAM AUTO MALL (1515 WEST 4TH ST, MANSFIELD, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND N…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,837 miles reported. Look up ODI 11176328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11299375 · 2020-01-14 (January 14, 2020)
MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT WOULD ONLY CONTINUE RUNNING FOR 5 TO 60 SECONDS. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTED AND DROVE TO MY DESTINATION (HOME). THE PROBLEM PERSISTED FOR 3 DAYS, WITH ONLY ONE SUCCESSFUL SHORT DRIVE AMIDST SEVERAL STALLS AND RESTARTS. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE STARTED, BUT DID NOT RUN FOR LONG BEFORE DYING. I TOWED IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 9 DAYS AGO AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUE... THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED ITSELF, A…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316073 · 2020-03-04 (March 4, 2020)
THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS MOST RECENTLY ON 2/15/2020. EACH TIME THE GAS GAUGE WAS SHOWING APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER TANK OF GAS. IN NONE OF THE CASES WAS THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11408130 · 2021-04-14 (April 14, 2021)
OUR FUEL PUMP AND A GASKET WENT OUT AT SAME TIME. NO WARNING IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, LUNGED FORWARD 5 FEET AND THEN DIED. GOING TO COST $1,000 TO FIX. IT LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA HAS RECALLS ON FUEL PUMPS BUT IT DOESN'T COVER OUR YEAR YET.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183419 · 2019-03-01 (March 1, 2019)
MY HORN IS NOT WORKING AS A RESULT OF A SPIRAL WIRE IN THE STEERING WHEEL IS SHORTED OUT. WITHIN THE SAME WIRE SET IS THE WIRE THAT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG. THUS, I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG IS WORKING OR NOT. TWO SAFETY FEATURES OF THE CAR POTENTIALLY DO NOT WORK, THE HORN, FOR SURE, AND MAYBE THE AIRBAG. THE ISSUE I HAVE
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11655165 · 2025-04-17 (April 17, 2025)
I was traveling on [XXX] returning home and felt the steering wheel pulling strongly to the right so I immediately pulled off to the side of the road and noted the right front passenger tire was deflated. This tire is a 245/60 R20 107HSL BSW Procontrol Cooper tire. The tire at the top portion was bulging out in several areas. Within a couple minutes a truck with 3 men stopped to help and they removed the flat tire and put on the spare. I drove back to Lubbock and took the tire to Discount tire where we had bought them July of 2024. We were tol…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11655165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11507971 · 2023-02-18 (February 18, 2023)
1) The failed component is the door locks. Or more precisely, the motor for the electrical operation of the door locks. When failed, the door remains locked even when pulling on the interior handle to open the door or when trying to unlock the door using the interior latch. You are essentially locked inside your car. I believe the door should always unlock when the handle is pulled, and the interior lock lever should always unlock the door as well. Both of these function "normally" when the actuator is not failed. The failure first appeared i…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507971 at NHTSA ↗