2005 Toyota 4 RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
1,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 33.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 3; Seats: 3; Suspension: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (10). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 4 |
2005: 11; 2006: 4
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10105838 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)
NEW 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 4X4 STARTED TO SHOW SEAT RATTLES AFTER 500 MILES. TALKED TO DEALER AND TWO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS HAS DEEMED THE SEAT RATTLE AN "INHERENT TOYOTA" PROBLEM. NO SERVICE CAN BE DONE UNTIL TOYOTA ISSUES TSBS. SINCE ALL NEW 4RUNNERS COME FROM JAPAN WITH THE RATTLE, SERVICE DEPT. DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX. BUT MORE IMPROTANTLY, THEY WILL NOT FIX B/C ALL OTHER 4RUNNERS IN THE DEALERSHIP LOT COME WITH RATTLES. NOW, 1600 MILES AND TWO MOTHS OLD, THE DRIVER SEAT RATTLES MORE THAN EVER. THIS PROBLEM WAS "INHER…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109906 · 2005-02-05 (February 5, 2005)
STEERING VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - 2 DEALERSHIPS UNABLE TO BALANCE WHEELS - POSSIBLE TIRE/WHEEL DEFECT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115560 · 2005-03-09 (March 9, 2005)
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH IN HER 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER A BOOK SLID INTO THE SHIFTER KNOB AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO REVERSE. *NM ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A RAMP LIKE HILL AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE, AND BEFORE THE CONSUMER COULD APPLY THE GAS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A RATCHETING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE DRIFTED BACKWARDS. *SC THE CONSUMER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE SAME NOISE WAS HEARD, THE MECHANIC ALSO HEARD THE NOISE BUT STATED IT WAS NORMAL AND WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127376 · 2005-07-04 (July 4, 2005)
WHILE WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT, MY FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SURGES FROM A NORMAL IDLE SPEED OF 500 RPM UP TO 750-800RPM WITH NO WARNING. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BUT AT RANDOM TIMES. (REMEMBER THE AUDI 500) DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127623 · 2005-07-06 (July 6, 2005)
DT: ON 7-4-2005. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AT A 8 LANE STOP BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEY FAILED. NO PRESSURE WAS FELT IN THE PEDAL, AND THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AND NO NOISE. THERE WAS ALMOST AN ACCIDENT. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THERE WERE NO BRAKES ALL THE WAY HOME. OWNER DROVE VERY SLOWLY, AND USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. THEN THE DEALER CALLED OWNER AND REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. OWNER CALLED TOYOTA, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BEFORE. OWNER DID WANT…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129002 · 2005-07-17 (July 17, 2005)
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT AND THERE IS A HORRIBLE SULFUR SMELL THAT IS EMITTED INTO THE CABIN WHILE REACHING RPM'S OF APPROXIMATELY 3000 - 5000.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130520 · 2005-07-28 (July 28, 2005)
DRIVER'S SEAT ON BRAND NEW 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER MOVES AND RATTLES WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY ON ONE OCCASION AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AFTER DEALER EXAMINED PROBLEM AGAIN THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WERE TOLD THIS SEAT PROBLEM IS A KNOWN "DESIGN DEFECT" THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TOYOTA TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. HAVING A DRIVER'S SEAT THAT MOVES ALONG IT'S MOUNTING RAILS WHILE DRIVING IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132245 · 2005-09-16 (September 16, 2005)
DT: THE FIRST TIME THE OWNER DROVE THE CAR HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THE WEIGHT OF THE DRIVER CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO SHIFT. THERE WAS NOT A LOOSE FEELING BUT THERE A MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT. THE SEAT FELT UNSTABLE AND INSECURE. THE OWNER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT COULD COME OFF WAS THE TRACK. HE OWNER FIRST CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TIGHTENED THE BOLTS. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED ON THE WAY HOME. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT MANUFACTURER. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED, AND TOYOTA SAID THEY WER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132245 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.