2020 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
9,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 33 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 21.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.0% |
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 | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Steering: 4; Suspension: 3; Back Over Prevention: 2; Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera: 2; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 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 (10). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2020: 10; 2021: 7; 2022: 4; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 11320695 · 2020-04-09 (April 9, 2020)
EVERY TIME I PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT MAKES A HISSING SOUND. THERE IS A ELECTRONIC NOISE AFTER THE HISSING SOUND. THIS IS ANNOYING AND IT MAKES ME FEEL NAUSEOUS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11320695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11362080 · 2020-09-30 (September 30, 2020)
BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE PEDAL GOES WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING ANY BRAKES. AT IDLE THE BRAKES SEEM TO FUNCTION FINE, AFTER DRIVING AT ABOUT 10MPH THE BRAKES GO BACK TO NOT WORKING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE BRAKES ARE "NORMAL" AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT HOME EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL HAVING THE ISSUE. TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY EITHER, IT GETS STUCK AT 4000-5000 RPM SOMETIMES AND THEN SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE BRAKING ISSUE OCCURRED EVEN WORSE GOING DOWN A HILL AT 55MPH RIGHT BEFORE IT WENT IN FOR SERVI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11355697 · 2020-09-17 (September 17, 2020)
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRIVING 58-62MPH ON HIGHWAY
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 11355697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11423369 · 2021-07-03 (July 3, 2021)
Steering wheel shakes at highway speeds (58-64mph). Steering wheel has shaken as much as 1.5 inches back and forth, causing vehicle to shake while driving at high speeds. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer and has been in 6 times to try to fix it with no change. The problem started the second week we owned it. It gets progressively worse. Tires can be balanced and it comes right back a few days later. Toyota corporate states that it is a known issue and “is a characteristic of the vehicle” cause by “harmonics.” Tires have been road fo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11423369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11405873 · 2021-03-31 (March 31, 2021)
I BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER BRAND NEW LAST YEAR. TO CHANGE THE DIFFERENTIAL FROM H4F TO H4L, I STOP THE CAR AND CHANGE THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL POSITION. ONCE IN NEUTRAL POSITION, I CHANGE THE DIFFERENTIAL KNOB H4F TO H4L. THEN I START DRIVING AGAIN. MY EXPECTATION IS THE WHEN SHIFTING THE DIFFERENTIAL FROM H4F TO H4L, THE DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL CHANGE FROM YELLOW TO GREEN JUST LIKE MY PREVIOUS 4RUNNER. BUT THIS MODEL DOES NOT CHANGE FROM YELLOW TO GREEN TO IDENTIFY SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF GEAR FROM HIGH TO LOWER GEAR. THE DASHBOARD COLOR STAYS YEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523940 · 2023-05-26 (May 26, 2023)
I have attempted to use the SOS button 4 times in different days and in different locations, only connecting once and the rep. claimed she couldn't hear me that only time I "connected." The system causes premature battery drain (even while the car is off, it draws power) and doesn't work in its intended way as a safety/rescue tool. This is an expensive feature that fails to work while locked in with an inferior cellular service provider through an exclusive contract between Toyota and AT&T.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11760224 · 2026-08-28 (August 28, 2026)
The door actuator have been replaced a minimum of eight times. Huge safety risk involved since we never know if the vehicle is going to lock. Toyota continues to replace them but not addressing the underlying issue. Not sure if this is all related but the blower motor has been replaced 3- 4 times and the battery has been replaced 4 times
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11760224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11382741 · 2020-12-09 (December 9, 2020)
ON DECEMBER 8 , 2020, THE ABOVE REFERENCED VEHICLES ENGINE STALLED THREE TIMES WHILE IN DRIVING MODE. ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SPEED LESS THAN 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER EACH STALL, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AND/OR HAVING FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. THE FUEL LEVEL OF THE VEHICLE WAS HALF FULL. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OCTOBER 21, 2020. TODATE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED 5 ENGINE STALLS.THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 28.700 MILES. THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11382741 at NHTSA ↗