Toyota 4RUNNER transmission problems
170 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
4,772 owner complaints analyzed
45 distinct recall campaigns
121,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 3,114 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
170 of 4,772 complaints match this topic (3.6%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10000871 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
1990 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER INTERMITTANTLY JUMPS IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR OR HIGHER WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING, CAUSING INCREASE IN GAS MILEAGE AND HIGH RPMS ON THE ENGINE. IN 2001 I WENT TO TOYOTA FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SO I SHOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. AT THAT POINT I SHOULD HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I LOCATED TSBS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND ONE THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE (TSB ATRATB351 DATED JAN 96). THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503108 · 1996-04-04 (April 4, 1996)
TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTING FAILED DUE TO GEARS STICKING. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721731 · 2000-04-20 (April 20, 2000)
THIS VEHICLE BEHAVES IN A VERY "LEMON" LIKE WAY. NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. MAIN PROBLEM IS VEHICLE JUMPING IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS. (A CONSTANT PROBLEM.) TOYOTA SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH I KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER OWNER LOCALLY WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. AT ONE TIME, A WIRING HARNESS WAS BLAMED AND A FIX WAS MADE THAT CURED THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. VEHICLE CONSTANTLY LEAKS OIL, EVEN THOUGH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP "FIXED" T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 898138 · 2001-10-24 (October 24, 2001)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED BUT TURNED ON, HAD JUST SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. HIT 2 PARKED VEHICLES. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 898138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748850 · 2001-07-20 (July 20, 2001)
VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO OVERDRIVE WITHOUT ENTERING ANY OF THE OTHER GEARS. VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIFTED MANUALLY THROUGH THE GEARS. PROBLEM WAS THAT THERE WAS A COLD SOLDER JOINT ON ALL THREE SOLENOIDS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THESE SOLENOIDS ARE USED TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE GEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND WOULD OCCUR AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIME LIKE PASSING A VEHICLE, ENTERING A MAJOR INTERSTATE, OR STARTING FROM A STOP. COST OF THE PARTS ALONE AMOUNTED TO OVER $500.00 FOR PARTS THAT SHOULD COST NO MORE THA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748850 at NHTSA ↗