2020 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
9,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 33 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 21.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Steering: 4; Suspension: 3; Back Over Prevention: 2; Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2020: 10; 2021: 7; 2022: 4; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 11318897 · 2020-03-21 (March 21, 2020)
THE 4RUNNER STRUCK A VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE 4RUNNER WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR AND STRUCK THE OTHER VEHICLE, A NISSAN ALTIMA SIDE ON WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PROPEL THAT VEHICLE TWO LANES INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON THE 4RUNNER BUT DID DEPLOY ON THE ALTIMA. THE ROADS WERE DRIVE AND VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR. INJURIES TO THE 4RUNNER DRIVER INCLUDED: HEAD FROM CONTACT WITH GRAB BAR ABOVE DRIVERS DOOR, NECK, BACK, WRISTS, FINGERS AND ARMS. ALTIMA DRIVER HAD TO BE REMOVED BY PARAMEDICS AND RUSHED TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319617 · 2020-03-28 (March 28, 2020)
WHILE I AM DRIVING, I SMELL SOMETHING LIKE EXHAUST OR SULFUR INSIDE CAR. I COULD ONLY SMELL IT WHEN THE CAR IS GOING OVER 70 MILES, RPM IS OVER 2500 (HARD ACCELERATION) , AND WHEN ALL THE WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AND RECIRCULATE CABIN AIR IS ON.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11319617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320695 · 2020-04-09 (April 9, 2020)
EVERY TIME I PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT MAKES A HISSING SOUND. THERE IS A ELECTRONIC NOISE AFTER THE HISSING SOUND. THIS IS ANNOYING AND IT MAKES ME FEEL NAUSEOUS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11320695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352452 · 2020-09-01 (September 1, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND RUST POWDER WAS PRESENT FALLING FROM THE FRAME AFTER REMOVING THE REAR SEAT COVERS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER TOWN AND COUNTRY TOYOTA LOCATED AT 9101 SOUTH BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28273, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. *LN *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11355697 · 2020-09-17 (September 17, 2020)
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRIVING 58-62MPH ON HIGHWAY
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 11355697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11362080 · 2020-09-30 (September 30, 2020)
BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE PEDAL GOES WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING ANY BRAKES. AT IDLE THE BRAKES SEEM TO FUNCTION FINE, AFTER DRIVING AT ABOUT 10MPH THE BRAKES GO BACK TO NOT WORKING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE BRAKES ARE "NORMAL" AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT HOME EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL HAVING THE ISSUE. TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY EITHER, IT GETS STUCK AT 4000-5000 RPM SOMETIMES AND THEN SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE BRAKING ISSUE OCCURRED EVEN WORSE GOING DOWN A HILL AT 55MPH RIGHT BEFORE IT WENT IN FOR SERVI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374875 · 2020-11-16 (November 16, 2020)
WHILE SLOWLY SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKING. AS SOON AS PEDAL IS BROUGHT BACK UP AND PUMPED ONCE OR TWICE, BRAKES REGAINED FUNCTION. NO WARNING OR SAFETY LIGHTS WENT OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH 2 DIFFERENT DRIVERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11377866 · 2020-12-04 (December 4, 2020)
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG ON THIS CAR IS DEACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WHENEVER THE FRONT PASENGER WEIGHS LESS THAN 100 LBS. WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS FEATURE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR. MY WIFE, WHO IS 65 YEARS OLD, WEIGHS ABOUT 95 LBS AND WHENEVER SHE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, A WARNING LIGHT APPEARS INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TOYOTA AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY PROTECT SMALLER CHILDREN WHO MAY RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS S…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,730 miles reported. Look up ODI 11377866 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V480000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2022-07-06 (July 6, 2022)
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.
NHTSA campaign record ↗