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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

36 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

72,450 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 36 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior616.7%
Transmission and shifting411.1%
Engine operation38.3%
Fuel system concerns38.3%
Steering behavior25.6%
Electrical and battery issues12.8%

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.

Unknown Or Other
10
Air Bags
9
Service Brakes
5
Electrical System
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Engine
3
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette
2
Structure:Body
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other10
Air Bags9
Service Brakes5
Electrical System4
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Engine3
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette2
Structure:Body2

Unknown Or Other: 10; Air Bags: 9; Service Brakes: 5; Electrical System: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Engine: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette: 2; Structure:Body: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 16 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.

2016
2
2017
6
2018
7
2019
6
2020
6
2021
2
2022
1
2023
2
2024
1
2025
2
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20162
20176
20187
20196
20206
20212
20221
20232
20241
20252
20261

2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 6; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10901948 · 2016-08-27 (August 27, 2016)

THE PISTON(S) THAT HOLD THE HATCH UP HAVE FAILED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. SINCE THE HATCH CAN NOT STAY UP, I CAN NOT TELL WHETHER IT IS ONE OR BOTH. LUCKILY, THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE HATCH WAS BEING LIFTED AND NOT AFTERWARDS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE HATCH. AFTER THE FAILURE, I HAVE RAISED THE HATCH AND THE LET IT SHUT WITH ITS OWN WEIGHT. IF SOMEONE WAS PUTTING SOMETHING INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT A SERIOUS INJURY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. MY SON, WHO HAS A 2012 MODEL, INDICATED THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10901948 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10914976 · 2016-10-09 (October 9, 2016)

LUG NUT STUDS BROKE WHEN TIGHTENING ON DIVER REAR SIDE AND ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT 100 FT LBS. THEY JUST STRETCHED, AND BROKE. VEHICLE WAS ON JACK STANDS.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,747 miles reported. Look up ODI 10914976 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10956608 · 2017-02-23 (February 23, 2017)

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, UPON BREAKING, HAVING SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURS WHEN I AM BRAKING FOR A STOP ON CITY STREETS, STOPPING IN TRAFFIC, STOPPING IN A DRIVEWAY. I SUGGEST THE CAUSE IS THE PROXIMITY OF THE BREAK PEDAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, THE LEVEL OF THE PEDAL IS BELOW THAT OF THE ACCELERATOR LEVEL. SO, I FIND MY FOOT AT TIMES HAS A SLIGHT OVERLAP, CAUSING MY FOOT TO APPLY BOT…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956608 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11013682 · 2017-08-08 (August 8, 2017)

I HAVE A 2013 4 RUNNER SR5, THAT JUST TURNED 80K, DRIVEN BY AN OLDER WOMAN. WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LANE THE BRAKE, ABS AND VSC TRACK LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH AN BEEPING ALARM THAT WOULD NOT STOP. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED BACK ON AND STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. WHEN I MOVED I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. I HAD TO ROLL THE TRUCK INTO PARKING SPOT AND HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE HYDROBOOST FOR THE BRAKES AND ABS. PART WAS ABOUT $3000 AND $620 TO DO THE INSTALL. EVERYON…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013682 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11020556 · 2017-08-30 (August 30, 2017)

1) THE GUY WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL IS RIGHT. MY FOOT GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I'M TRYING TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND GO FOR THE BRAKES. I GUESS I'M STILL USED TO MY '99 4RUNNER. HE ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES SO FAR THAT HE SOMETIMES ALSO HITS THE GAS. HE'S RIGHT ON THAT TOO. THE DEALER SAYS FOR SOME REASON AFTER A WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST GOES REALLY SOFT, PRETTY DRAMATICALLY, IN MY CASE FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY. I HAVE ABOUT 27000 MILES. DEALER SAYS ONLY R…

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020556 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11031720 · 2017-10-04 (October 4, 2017)

PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I5 THROUGH NEVADA. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE 100 DEGREES F. ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ NORMAL. STOPPED FOR GAS. ON RESTARTING ENGINE THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM DID NOT RECHARGE THE HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR. BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL BUT PEDAL POSITION WAS HALFWAY TO FLOOR AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE BRAKES. ALMOST COLLIDED WITH KERB BECAUSE OF THE SURPRISE. NO LOCAL SERVICE AVAILABLE SO CONTINUED TO DRIVE. NEXT MORNING AT 70 DEGREES F TEMPERATURE THE SYSTEM HAD R…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031720 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11039509 · 2017-10-25 (October 25, 2017)

THIS INVOLVES THE BACK UP CAMERA. IT SEEMS TO WORK WHEN IT WANTS TOO. MOST OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE LIFT GATE IT WILL WORK FOR A SHORT TIME PERIOD.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11039509 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11057259 · 2017-12-28 (December 28, 2017)

ONE OF THE WHEELS HAS A CRACK IN IT. IT IS A STRANGE LOOKING CRACK WHICH I FOUND WHEN WASHING THE CAR. THE WHEEL IS NOT DAMAGED, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY SCUFFING OR DINGS AND DENTS IN IT. THE CRACK IS ABOUT 1 1/8" LONG THEN TURNS 90 DEGREES AND ABOUT 1/2" LONG AT THAT END.

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11057259 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

15V515000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V577000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V425000 · Equipment | Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V024000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." 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 explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity 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 the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V005000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V741000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗