2016 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
79 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 79 complaints (21.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 17.7% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 13.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Suspension | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
Electrical System: 17; Unknown Or Other: 16; Air Bags: 10; Suspension: 9; Structure:Body: 8; Engine: 6; Power Train: 5; Service Brakes: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 37 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 | 6 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2016: 6; 2017: 11; 2018: 9; 2019: 10; 2020: 11; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 7; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 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 10881885 · 2016-06-30 (June 30, 2016)
TOYOTA USES ENGINE WIRING THAT HAS A SOY BASED COATING. THIS ENCOURAGES RODENTS TO CHEW ON THEM. WE WERE CAMPED (PARKED) AND WHEN WE TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR IT SHUDDERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER INDICATORS. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON FIVE CYLINDERS. WE MANAGED TO GET IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO TOLD US OF BITE MARKS AND DROPPINGS. IN RESEARCHING THIS ON LINE WE FOUND REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN TOYOTAS AND HONDAS. WE COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE DESERT IN 110 DEGREE HEAT IF THE DAMAGE WAS ENOUGH TO DISABLE THE EN…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10881885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10892686 · 2016-08-02 (August 2, 2016)
THE DAY AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS 4RUNNER IN OCTOBER 2015 THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STOPPED WORKING AND WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT RODENTS HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE WIRE HOUSING CONNECTED TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. INITIALLY THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WARRANTY THE ISSUE BUT AFTER FURTHER AGGRESSIVE DISCUSSION BY ME IT WAS COVERED. APPARENTLY TOYOTA USES A SOY BASED SPRAY OR COATING ON THE WIRING THAT ATTRACTS RODENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE BUT THE 4WD WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND 4WD DID NOT ENGAGE. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM A NEIGHBOR WITH A…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10892686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10910880 · 2016-09-30 (September 30, 2016)
2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I HAVE NOTICED A LACK OF RESPONSE TO THROTTLE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. BY THIS I MEAN NO INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM'S PROPORTIONAL TO THROTTLE POSITION. I HAVE SHRUGGED IT OFF AS MY IMAGINATION. NOW I HAVE HAD TWO OCCASIONS WHERE AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN ON A STEEP INCLINE WHERE WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STEPPED ON GAS THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST 1/4 THROTTLE APPLIED. NOT A GOOD SITUATION IF THERE IS A VEHICLE BEHIND YOU.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,867 miles reported. Look up ODI 10910880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956888 · 2017-02-25 (February 25, 2017)
THIS VEHICLE IS JUNK. HAS NO POWER, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, CONSTANT TICKING, ALL OVER THE ROAD, CRUISE CONTROL SPEEDS UP UNCONTROLLABLY, SITS LOPSIDED, EXTREMELY LOUD, BRAKES AND STEERING LOCK UP.,LACKS HEAT, POOR VISIBILITY . ALL THESE AND MORE OCCURR WHILE STARTING AND DRIVING VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002394 · 2017-06-29 (June 29, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT FOUND SEVER RUST UNDERNEATH THE SEATS, THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE SEAT BELT LATCHES. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LATCH DUE TO THE SEVERE RUST ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. IN ADDITION, UNDERNEATH THE SEAT CUSHION OF THE THIRD ROW SEATS, THE ENTIRE SEATING FRAMEBOARD WAS RUSTED SEVERELY. THE RUST HAD AN UNPLEASANT ODOR. READOR-DYKES TOYOTA OF PLAINVIEW, TEXAS WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10969624 · 2017-03-30 (March 30, 2017)
I STARTED THE 4RUNNER AND NOTICED THAT A FEW OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON (ABS, BRAKE, & A FEW OTHERS I CAN'T REMEMBER). I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT ANYWAY TO RUN SOME ERRANDS (SHORT DISTANCE), AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY EITHER (NOT GOING INTO ECO MODE AND STRUGGLING TO REACH 40 MPH). I DECIDED TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED A SQUIRREL NESTED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE FIREWALL. THE SQUIRREL ALSO USED THE INSULATION FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ALONG THE FIREWALL TO MAKE ITS…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10969624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11078476 · 2018-03-10 (March 10, 2018)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A MODERATE SLOPE. ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. DESPITE BEING IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT MY MAILBOX AT THE CURB. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE MATTER TO TOYOTA. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED "WE DID NOT FIND EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR SHIFT SELECTOR [SIC] CAUSED THIS INCIDENT." THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING THERE FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET. I DID NOT BUMP THE SHIFT LEVER OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD HAVE CAUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11055111 · 2017-12-17 (December 17, 2017)
RODENTS CHEWED UP WIRING HARNESS FOR FUEL INJECTOR. VEHICLE PARKED IN ENCODED GARAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156727 · 2018-12-07 (December 7, 2018)
MASSIVE FUEL LEAK FROM THE SOY-BASED FUEL LINES. ALLEGEDLY AN ANIMAL CHEWED THRU THEM WHICH WAS ATTRACTED BY THE SOY-BASED PRODUCT (RATHER THAN THE PETROLEUM BASED LINES OF THE PAST) I HAVE GREAT FEAR THAT THE INCIDENT WILL REPEAT ITSELF. FUEL LINES SPRAYED OUT ABOUT 8-10 GALLONS OF FUEL DURING 30 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455594 · 2022-03-07 (March 7, 2022)
Fuel pump failed , vehicle stalled driving 70 down highway.. I have read there is a Recall in place for 2014, 2015, 2017,2018 4 runners. Why not 2016?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455594 at NHTSA ↗