2012 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE THROWN FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE MATERIAL BEING USED TO MANUFACTURE THE STRUTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461209 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON LEVEL GROUND, VEHICLE BEGAN TO CREEP FORWARD WITH FOOT STILL PRESSED FIRMLY ON BRAKE. UNLESS BRAKE IS PRESSED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE TENDS TO CREEP FORWARD WHILE STOPPED AND IN GEAR. PAID MORE ATTENTION TO BRAKES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS AND ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START ROLLING WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE IF BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE DEFINED WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE (>95 DEGREES). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND TEC…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468254 at NHTSA ↗

APPLIED BRAKES FIRMLY AT YELLOW LIGHT AND VEHICLE NOSE DIVED, BRAKES LOCKED AND VEHICLE STATED TO SKID. LET UP ON PEDAL AND APPLIED BRAKES AGAIN AND VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT FURTHER DRAMA. DID NOT FEEL THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM PULSE THE PEDAL OR HEAR THE SYSTEM GROWL. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED UNDER SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED FROM YELLOW TO RED. LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION ALWAYS REQUIRED TO AVOID VEHICLE NOSE DIVING. LIGHT APPLICATION OF BRAKES DOESN'T SLOW IT VERY WELL. BRAKES SEEM TO BE VERY TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468291 at NHTSA ↗

THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT GET ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE 22MPG HIGHWAY MILES PER GALLON AS POSTED ON THE WINDOW STICKER. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THE COMPUTER IS FAULTY AND DOES NOT CALCULATE THE MILEAGE PROPERLY AND THAT IS THE WAY THEY ALL ARE. BUT, I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS FOR EVERY TANK OF GAS PURCHASED SINCE NEW. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN GETTING 17.8 MILES TO THE GALLON ON THE HIGHWAY ON AVERAGE. I'VE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE BUT GET THE SAME ANSWER. I CAN'T DEPEND ON THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER READ OUT AS TO THE FUEL MILEAGE, THEY T…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513483 at NHTSA ↗

I CAME HOME LAST NIGHT AT ABOUT 9:30 PM AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. THIS MORNING AT 7:30 AM I WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND HEARD A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM NEAR THE REAR WHEELS OF THE CAR. MY BEST GUESS WAS THE FUEL PUMP WAS STILL RUNNING (I HAD A DIFFERENT PROBLEM WITH A FUEL PUMP NOT RUNNING WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON WITH A 2000 JAGUAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO). I TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND OFF WITHOUT CRANKING THE ENGINE, THE BUZZING CONTINUED. I STARTED THE 4RUNNER, RAN IT FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS, AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. BUZZING STO…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532819 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA FROM CFL TOYOTA. THE VIN IS [XXX]AT THE FIRST MAINTENANCE, I REPORTED INSTANCES OF "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION." THE CFL TOYOTA MECHANIC AND, LATER THE TOYOTA OF ORLANDO CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT THE EVENT IS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT FOR TOYOTAS, THE ENGINE IS USED TO "GEAR DOWN" AND ASSIST IN BRAKING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ABOUT 6 TIMES IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK. ON 1-MAY-2014, AT THE SANDLAKE ROAD ENTRANCE TO LOWES HARDWARE NEAR JOHN YOUNG PARKWAY IN ORLA…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,686 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588392 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PRESENT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO GRADUALLY BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608566 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS FIRST ONE WAITING AT THE LIGHT, TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON BUTLER/AIRPORT RD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I WAS ABOUT HALFWAY TO THREE-QUARTERS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, I NOTICED A MINI COOPER APPROACHING RAPIDLY, HEADING NORTHBOUND ON SHUTE RD. I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO HIT ME, SO I ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE LEFT TO AVOID A HIGH IMPACT COLLISION. I DIDN'T HEAR HER BRAKES UNTIL THE POINT OF IMPACT, SHE T-BONED MY 4RUNNER HITTING ME IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE WHEEL WELL. MY 4RUNNER THAN TIPPED AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 16,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619067 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-03-23 (March 23, 2012)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 4RUNNER AND SIENNA VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH NON-ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REMOTE ENGINE STARTERS. A MALFUNCTION IN THE AUDIOVOX ELECTRONICS BRAND REMOTE ENGINE STARTER MODULE CAN PREVENT NORMAL COMMUNICATION OF THE VEHICLE’S CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK (CAN).

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, ANTILOCK BRAKING AND STABILITY CONTROL MAY BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. DRIVERS SHOULD RECEIVE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS WARNING THEM OF A MALFUNCTION.

Remedy: GULF STATES TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REMOTE ENGINE STARTER WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JUNE 4, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-444-1074.

Reported: 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2015-08-13 (August 13, 2015)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured March 29, 2010, to July 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers that may contact people and possibly burn them while they are standing behind the vehicle.

Consequence: Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install a re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is more recessed behind the bumper, free of charge. The recall began on September 22, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for the recall is SET15D.

Reported: 2016-08-03 (August 3, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured September 3, 2009, to December 1, 2014. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers that may contact people and possibly burn them while they are standing behind the vehicle.

Consequence: Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install a re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is more recessed behind the bumper, free of charge. The recall began September 15, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16D.

Reported: 2017-01-09 (January 9, 2017)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).

Reported: 2017-07-03 (July 3, 2017)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.

Reported: 2019-10-17 (October 17, 2019)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.