2017 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
12,890 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 36 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 30.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.6% |
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 | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 14; Service Brakes: 9; Electrical System: 5; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering: 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 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2017: 7; 2018: 10; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 11043597 · 2017-11-05 (November 5, 2017)
BRAKE FAILURE. APPROACHING 4 WAY STOP. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD-FELT A POP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO SLOW TO STOP. FORTUNATELY ONLY GOING 30MPH........STILL ROLLED INTO CENTER OF 4 WAY INTERSECTION. THANK GOD NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 11043597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11046656 · 2017-11-16 (November 16, 2017)
RE: COMPLAINT 11043597. EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. NO WARNING LIGHT. BRAKES WERE RESET? AFTER VEHICLE ARRIVED AT DEALER. ECU DID NOT DOWNLOAD ANY WARNING CODES. BASED ON THIS, TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR/REPLACE CORRESPONDING BRAKE COMPONENTS AND WANT ME TO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE LOSS WITH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NO BRAKES. USED PARKING BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO STOP CAR. CHECKING THE NET, THERE ARE OTHER 5TH GENERATION 4RUNNERS WITH SIMILAR BRAKE FAILURES AND SIMILAR NO ACTION FROM TOYOTA
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11046656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956997 · 2017-02-26 (February 26, 2017)
AFTER LESS THAN 20 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP OF A NEW 2017 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND LESS THAN 600 MILES, THE CAR FAILED TO IDLE, SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT STAYED LIT. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTOR WIRE HAD BEEN CHEWED BY A RODENT. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $516 AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS DUE TO THE FACT WE LIVE IN SEATTLE AND MY PREVIOUS CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE EXACT SAME AREA FOR 9 YEARS WITHOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10970966 · 2017-04-06 (April 6, 2017)
MY CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I GOT IN TO RUN ERRANDS AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND MY TRAC OFF LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH, I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE TRUCK STAYED OVERNIGHT SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSE BUT SHE WAS PRETTY SURE THAT IT WAS RODENTS CHEWING ON THE WIRES BECAUSE IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND AND I DID SOME CHECKING WHILE IT WAS IN SERVICE AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY USE A SOY BASE ON THE WIRING AND THAT RODENTS LOVE IT AND IT'S PRETTY COMM…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,599 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11267825 · 2019-10-11 (October 11, 2019)
PEELING STEERING WHEEL ON IT'S OWN. NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. NO RINGS, SUNSCREEN, LOTION OR CLEANERS USED. CAUSES LOSS OF GRIP OF WHEEL AND CONTINUED DETERIORATION ALTERS STEEERING WHEEL. THERE IS A CHANGE.ORG PETITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11267825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315748 · 2020-03-03 (March 3, 2020)
I WAS DRIVING MY 4 RUNNER DOWN THE THREE LANE CITY ROAD DOING ABOUT 40-45 MPS WHEN MY NAVIGATION SCREEN SHUT OFF AND TRIED TO RECONNECT TO MY PHONE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN A MATTER OF 5-7 MINUTES. SINCE I WAS DRIVING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH EITHER MY PHONE OR MY NAVIGATION SYSTEM. IT ACTED AS IT IF WAS JUST TRYING TO RECONNECT TO MY PHONE WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY TURNING OFF AND REBOOTING AS IF I WAS JUST STARTING THE CAR .THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON TO A VERY BUSY FOUR LANE ROAD WHEN IN MID TURN, IT F…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051617 · 2017-11-30 (November 30, 2017)
CAR STALLED ON THE FREE WAY WHILE DRIVING . THE DASH BOARD HAD A WARNING TO CHECK ENGINE AT DEALER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TANSKY SAWMILL, DUBLIN OH). THEY RESET THE CAR AND IT WAS RETURNED TO US. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSTICS DETECTED TWO ERROR CODES REPORTED A) P0A0F, B) P3190 CURRENTLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY
Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11649210 · 2025-03-19 (March 19, 2025)
Throttle has a lag when depressing gas pedal (occasionally a dead petal symptom) research indicates a TSB T-SB-0166-10 exist that relates to this issue. Lack of Toyota dealer assistance with this issue when contacted (Toyota of Round Rock Texas 78664) This issues is a safety concern when operating vehicle due to lack of throttle response when accelerating into traffic. When issue occurs, vehicle "stalls" and creates a dangerous situation that eventually will result is an accident.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11649210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11663273 · 2025-05-27 (May 27, 2025)
2017 Toyota 4 runner SR5 While driving on the highway the vehicle stopped apparently the fuel pump stopped working and could not get going anymore. I had a mechanic come to the house with a PC and test it. He told me that’s a change that will need to take place in a garage. Luckily I was able to stop on the side and paid someone to bring car home
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11663273 at NHTSA ↗