2019 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
13,075 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 64 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 10 | 15.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 7.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.3% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.7% |
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 | 12 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
Unknown Or Other: 12; Steering: 10; Electrical System: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Engine: 6; Suspension: 6; Air Bags: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 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: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 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 (20). 38 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2019: 5; 2020: 13; 2021: 20; 2022: 5; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 8; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 11354264 · 2020-09-10 (September 10, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO TURN LEFT ON GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS FAILED TO YIELD AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER AREA DOOR AND THE FRONT BUMPER PUSHED THE CONTACTS FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND BUMPER OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OTHER DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO FLEE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND CAUSED THE CONTACTS FACE TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422880 · 2021-06-30 (June 30, 2021)
Component: Possible steering rack issue Safety concern: Vehicle steering wheel shakes at speed between 60-62mph. A lot of new 4Runner affected by this issue. Problem is confirmed by Toyota Dealership
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444372 · 2021-12-20 (December 20, 2021)
My 2019 Toyota 4Runner was inhabited by a rat that chewed the wiring harness in at least 3 different areas. The damage occurred between 8pm and 7am. The vehicle started with lights on the dash illuminated. The car was out into drive and was jerking. Reverse had the same result. After inspecting under the hood of the car wires were seen chewed partially and a few completely severed. A rat was seen under the manifold cover. I used an air hose to evict it and had the car towed to dealership. The bill was just under $1000 to repair. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11444372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11451408 · 2022-02-10 (February 10, 2022)
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving at 45 MPH, he noticed that the vehicle was shuddering. The contact veered to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated and the vehicle continued to shudder while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that rodents were consuming the food-based wires that were…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11451408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11311121 · 2020-02-24 (February 24, 2020)
MY ISSUE IS PRIMARILY WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE AND HOW THEY ARE HANDLING THE FUEL PUMP RECALL. A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES HAS A RECALL FOR A RANDOM FUEL PUMP FAILURE, AND TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A 'REMEDY' AVAILABLE NOR DO THEY HAVE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE REMEDY MAY BE AVAILABLE. THEY ARE REQUIRING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO ASSUME THE RISK OF THE STALL OR CAR WRECK WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE CHEAPEST WAY TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS IN 700,000 VEHICLES. I AM NO VEHICLE ENGINEER, BUT IF THE FUEL PUMP IS THE ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11311657 · 2020-02-26 (February 26, 2020)
I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR TWO MINUTES ON A CITY ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THEN THE CAR STARTED ON ITS OWN AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THEN THE CAR STALLED AGAIN AND I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR RESTARTED AND STALLED ON ITS OWN A FEW MORE TIMES AFTER THAT. IT ALSO MADE A LOUD BEEPING SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE A CAR ALARM BUT WE DON'T HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11405610 · 2021-03-30 (March 30, 2021)
GENERAL BRAKE USE. WHEN PRESSING TO THE BRAKES THE PEDAL HAS TO BE PRESSED ON ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR BEGINS TO STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11405610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439485 · 2021-11-05 (November 5, 2021)
Anytime you go above 60mph the car and steering wheel shake pretty violently. If you take your foot off the gas it goes away temporarily. The same happens at times when braking, the car and steering wheel will shake. Tires have been balanced, rotated, and replaced with no improvement. This seems to be a well known and wide spread problem with Toyota offering no real solution. The vehicle seems hard to control and could be dangerous at speeds above 60. I am around 50,000 miles on my 4Runner and the problem seems to have started when my tire…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289551 · 2019-12-17 (December 17, 2019)
THIS BRAND NEW 4RUNNER MAKES LOUD GROANING SOUND FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL NOW, EVERY TIME WHEN TRANSFERRING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO REVERSE ON A HILL ROAD, NO MATTER AN ALLEY OR A PARKING WAY. PEOPLE WHO HEARD OF IT SAID IT SHOULD BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND IT'S BAD. BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING INSIDE IS BEING BROKEN AND NOT SURE WHEN IT'S TOTALLY DEAD SUDDENLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL. I DON'T KNOW CAR. I DIDN'T LET ANY MECHANIC TOUCH IT YET BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FOR A THIRD PARTY LEGALLY TO CHECK IT AND THEIR REPORT …
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11299358 · 2020-01-14 (January 14, 2020)
THIS SR5 WAS B RAND NEW PURCHASED IN MARCH 2019. IT HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING I DRIVE IT UP A HILL TO MY BARN OVER LAWN USING 4WD HIGH. I'VE HEARD THIS GRINDING NOISE TWO TO THREE TIME WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE WHEN THE TRUCK IS STATIONARY AND ON A HILL. I HAVEN'T CHECKED IF THIS OCCURS IN EACH OF THE TRANSMISSION MODES. I BELIEVE I HAVE HEARD IT BOTH IN 2WD AND 4WD HIGH BUT HAVE NOT CHECKED YET IF IT HAPPENS ALSO IN 4WD LOW. THIS IS ALARMING AND FOR NOW, I AVOID PUTTING IT IN DRIVE BY DRIFTING BACK TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 906 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11404231 · 2021-03-22 (March 22, 2021)
I BOUGHT A NEW 2019 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR5 PREMIUM JUNE 2019, I RECEIVED BY MAIL A RECALL NOTICE RE: FUEL PUMP IN FEB 2020, THEN NOTIFIED AGAIN IT WAS NOT A RECALL BETWEEN MARCH-MAY 2020. THEN, IN OCT 2020 TOYOTA ISSUED THE SAME RECALL RE: FUEL PUMP BUT I WASN'T NOTIFIED UNTIL JAN/FEB 2021 BY MAIL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN FEB, THEY CALLED TOYOTA WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS FOR A REMEDY. WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE IT WAS DISCLOSED RE: THE IMPELLARS & WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE MFG PHASE. ANYHOW THE DEALER COU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11404231 at NHTSA ↗