2008 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES (POLARIZED) THE VEHICLE'S RADIO AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL DISPLAYS CANNOT BE READ. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE OFF OR LOWER THEIR PRESCRIPTION OR REGULAR SUNGLASSES IN ORDER TO READ THE DISPLAYS. DOING THIS WHILE DRIVING SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS ADDITIONAL DISTRACTED TIME IS USED TO READ THE DISPLAYS. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS IT'S A DESIGN ISSUE, NOTHING THEY CAN DO; THE NATIONAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10226280 at NHTSA ↗

NEW, FROM 15,000- 25, 000 MILES, 2008 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER, JERKING WHEN ACCELERATED ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS AS IF THE SHIFT GEAR OR TRANSMISSION IS NOT PROPERLY WORKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER THE 15, 000 MILE SERVICE. FIRST DEALERSHIP WORKERS STATED NOTHING WRONG. CURRENT DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CHECKED FOR CAUSE NOR HAVE THEY OFFERED A SOLUTION. CAR REMAINS AT DEALERSHIP. SECOND ISSUE, MOST RECENT INCIDENT, SAME VEHICLE AT 25, 000 MILES WHEN ACCELERATED ON THE FREEWAY, JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY, WORST THAN BEFORE, ACCELERATED TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250228 at NHTSA ↗

EVERY TIME I TAKE A TIGHT LEFT U TURN, WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, A METAL TO METAL THUMPING SOUND OCCURS. MY TOYOTA SERVICE MAN SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THAT TOYOTA NO LONGER PROVIDES A RUBBER PIECE BETWEEN THE TWO OFFENDING METAL PARTS LIKE IT DID IN THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONS OF 4 RUNNERS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253427 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DAYTIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND HIM A $300 VOUCHER FOR THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT HE ONLY WANTS THE ISSUE REPAIRED SO THAT HE CAN SEE THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,500. UPDATED 03/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258098 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT. WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS GO INTO DRIVE. YOU PRESS THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NORMAL". THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS IF WE ARE BACKING UP ONTO A ROAD OR ANYWHERE BY THAT MEANS AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THE EXTRA TIME PUTTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE IT WASTE VALUABLE TIME. THIS ISSUE DOES…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266345 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A CLUNKING SOUND AS I AM ABOUT TO TAKE OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I CAN TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE WHEN I AM ALMOST STOPPED, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT SURGES FORWARD. I HAVE TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE PRETTY HARD TO KEEP IT FROM DOING THIS. THEN WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO PROCEED, THERE IS A "CLUNK" FROM THE BACK END. I TOOK IT TO MY TOTALLY DEALERSHIP TODAY BECAUSE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (I'VE HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND IT HAS DONE IT EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT). THE DEALERSHIP CALL…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,637 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276009 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WHEN YOU REMOVE THE FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BEFORE YOU STEP ON THE GAS, AT TIMES THE CAR MAKES A THUMPING SOUND WHICH YOU CAN FEEL. POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM AND CANT RECREATE THE THUMPING. IT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277224 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH SUCH FORCE THAT SHE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT THEY DESTROYED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO PICK IT UP. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280119 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2011-02-24 (February 24, 2011)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: THE REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN EARLY APRIL 2011. THE REMEDY WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Reported: 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Reported: 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.