2012 Toyota 4RUNNER

96 complaints on file, page 1 of 5.

1. Filed Mar 13, 2026Failure Mar 13, 2026Monument, COSteering

   Consistent steering wheel shake between 60-65 mph. This is a very well known issue on the 2010-2024 4Runners and it drives me and many others crazy, and feels unsafe to drive with. Will happen almost anytime I’m on the highway. My vehicle only has 48k miles. This needs to be addressed.

   NHTSA complaint 11724239
2. Filed Jul 13, 2022Failure Jul 12, 2022Milford, OHEngine

   Vehicle radiator light came on, shortly thereafter (5-10 min) vehicle overheated. Waited for vehicle to cool down, then drove home. The following day drove the vehicle to dealership. After an inspection the dealer stated the heads are cracked and needed to be replaced. When I asked how this could happen to a car that is regularly serviced with only 90k miles his response was "the original heads were made of weaker metal, the replacement ones are upgraded. We haven't had any come-backs on the ones we've replaced". I then asked, well how many vehicles has this impacted? Sounds like this should be covered under a recall? His response "We've had quite a few in the past month or so, seems to be happening when vehicles get to the 70-80k range." Sounds to me like Mazda knew the heads were made from inferior products which is why they upgraded the part on newer models.

   NHTSA complaint 11473715
3. Filed Jun 3, 2022Failure Apr 18, 201887,000 milesHouston, TXFuel system, Fuel pump

   The contact owns a 2012 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The Police Department called and arranged for the vehicle to be towed to an authorized dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump had disintegrated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11467348
4. Filed Sep 30, 2021Failure Jun 13, 2021Griffith, INFuel system, Fuel pump

   I was driving on the expressway, at about 70 to 75 miles. Suddenly the vehicle just slowed down to 40 miles per hour. I almost got hit from the back by a truck. But, then it suddenly picked back up. this has happened several times but the shop nor the dealer could tell me what was wrong. I finally took it to another shop and they said it was the fuel pump. So I start researching to see if there were recalls on the fuel pump and yes their are. But not for my vehicle year. They are for 2013 to 2020. What can I do about that? This started about 3 to 4 months ago.

   NHTSA complaint 11435033
5. Filed May 4, 2021Failure May 4, 2021Livingston Manor, NYAir bags

   2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TAKATA FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE A RECALL NOTICE MAILED TO A CURRENT ADDRESS. *JS

   NHTSA complaint 11414833
6. Filed Dec 15, 2020Failure Dec 14, 202085,000 milesEdgewater, COElectrical system, Unknown or other

   THE BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. WHILE NOT MOVING AND THEN SHIFITING INTO REVERSE, THE SCREEN DOES NOT CHANGE OR CHANGES TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE CAMERA. IT USUALLY STOPS WORKING AFTER SEVERAL STOPS AND SHIFTS INTO REVERSE. SOMETIMES IT GOES 2 OR 3 DAYS WITHOUT DISPLAYING AND THEN STARTS WORKING AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.

   NHTSA complaint 11383575
7. Filed May 9, 2020Failure May 1, 2012170,000 milesHammond, INUnknown or other

   MY VEHICLE FRAME AND GAS TANK PROTECTOR SHIELD IS RUSTING ABNORMALLY WAY FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 11323999
8. Filed Mar 25, 2020Failure Jan 24, 2020100,000 milesBenton, LAFuel/propulsion system

   LEAVING THE SONIC DRIVE IN PARKING LOT MY VECHILE DIED AS I WAS TURNING ON THE STREET. IT SHOWED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD A 1/4 TANK OF GAS BUT THE TANK WAS EMPTY

   NHTSA complaint 11319249
9. Filed Mar 23, 2020Failure Jan 9, 2017APO, AEAir bags

   I AM THE OWNER OF A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHICH HAS A CURRENT AIR BAG RECALL. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE BEFORE OUR MILITARY PCS TRANSFER OVERSEAS. THEY BECAME AVAILABLE AFTER MY MOVE OVERSEAS, BUT TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST IN REPLACING MY AIRBAGS. I AM NOT GETTING READY TO TRANSFER BACK TO THE U.S. AND THIS MIGHT AFFECT MY SHIPMENT OF POV. ANY ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. -LCDR [XXX], USCG (LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

   NHTSA complaint 11319004
10. Filed Feb 11, 2020Failure Jan 30, 2020118,000 milesHappy Valley, ORAir bagsCrash2 injured

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 51 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISON, HE SWERVED, LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SLIDING INTO A TREE IN THE SNOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT 18 MPH PER THE ELECTRONIC DATA RECORDER (EDR). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER DISLOCATED HIS LEFT SHOULDER AS WELL AS LEG INJURIES DUE TO HITTING THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE AND THE PASSENGER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION SEVERAL DAYS LATER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER AN AIR BAGS RECALL AT TOYOTA OF PORTLAND (55 NE BROADWAY ST, PORTLAND, OR 97232) IN 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AS THE EDR INFORMATION WAS RETRIEVED BY THEM AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11308584
11. Filed Feb 3, 2020Failure Jan 30, 2020118,000 milesPortland, ORAir bagsCrash2 injured

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, WHILE IT WAS RAINING, WITH A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE ONCOMING LANE, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROADWAY NOT TO PREVENT A CRASH WITH THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE TIRE HIT A PATCH OF SNOW, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEFT HAND, SHOULDER, AND WHIPLASH INJURIES WHILE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED SHOULDER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FLOOR SPACE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD SHIFTED FORWARD SIX TO EIGHT INCHES INJURING THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT LEG. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT COLLISION CENTER AND LATER TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11306773
12. Filed Oct 8, 2019Failure Sep 18, 201997,500 milesWimauma, FLElectronic stability control (esc), Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlCrash2 injured

    APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM ON 9/18/19, MY SON WHILE COMING HOME FROM WORK, HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT WITH HIM AT THE TIME. WHEN HE SHOWED UP AT HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT, HE EXPLAINED HOW HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. HE ARTICULATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, IT WAS AS IF HE VEHICLE SPED UP. REMEMBERING YEARS BACK DURING A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH SOME OTHER TOYOTA'S. THE VERDICT WAS THE PLACE MATS INTERFERED WITH THE PEDALS. WHEN I RELEASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE TOW LOT, I CHECKED AND THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AS THE FLOOR MAT WAS SECURE. I HAVE DRIVEN TOYOTA VEHICLES SINCE THE EARLY NINETY'S AND HAVE OWNED FIVE. CHECKING FOR RECALLS AS A RESULT OF THIS I FOUND MULTIPLE INCIDENTS ON RECORD. THE PANIC BRAKING SYSTEM SURPRISED ME THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED IT. LOW SPEEDS (25MPH OR LESS) I THOUGHT A TRUE ASSET BUT BECAUSE OF THE QUICK STOPPING, HIGHER SPEEDS WORRIED ME. NEVER NEEDED THE PANIC BRAKE BUT ONCE. SOME HOW, I BELIEVE THE COMMUNICATION (AI) WITH THE PANIC, ANTI-LOCK, BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THE WAY IT COMMUNICATES SPEED AND CONDITIONS IS THE CULPRIT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN POSSESSION OF THE 4RUNNER AND I STILL HAVE THE TITLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME TO ADVISE HOW TO PROCEED. THEY SEEM ANXIOUS TO GET THE TITLE BUT I AM ANIMATE TO KNOW IF CONDITIONS OR VEHICLE DEFECTS PLAYED A PART IN THE ACCIDENT. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY AVOIDED THE ISSUE.

    NHTSA complaint 11268551
13. Filed Mar 22, 2019Failure Mar 20, 2019Colorado Springs, COAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V005000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LARRY H. MILLER COLORADO SPRINGS (15 E MOTOR WAY, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905, (719) 623-4850) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

    NHTSA complaint 11190951
14. Filed Feb 13, 2018Failure Mar 9, 2017Odessa, FLAir bags

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SUN TOYOTA (3001 US-19, HOLIDAY, FL 34691, (727) 310-3070) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

    NHTSA complaint 11072493
15. Filed Dec 15, 2017Failure Jul 30, 2017Caguas, PRAir bags

    "TAKATA RECALL" I CONTACTED THE AUTO DEALER WHO SOLD THE VEHICLE, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE AIR BAG ISSUE. THAT WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. AS OF TODAT (DEC 15, 2017) THE DEALER TAKES NO ACTION TO FIX IT.

    NHTSA complaint 11054959
16. Filed Dec 14, 2017Failure Sep 8, 2017Little Rock, ARSteering, Unknown or other

    THE WIRING IN MY STEERING COLUMN CONNECTED TO THE HORN IN THE CLOCK SPRING HAS CAUSED MY HORN TO NOT WORK . I GOT MY CAR DIAGNOSED AND THEY SAID THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT COST $1020.31 TO GET FIXED. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING I CAUSED OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED .I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE OUT ON THE ROAD. IT'S ILLEGAL TO NOT HAVE A HORN AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX IT . APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME OLDER MODEL 4RUNNERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL UNSAFE KNOWING I CANNOT USE MY HORN AND THAT IT MAY CAUSE MY AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY . CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

    NHTSA complaint 11054793
17. Filed Dec 13, 2017Failure Dec 12, 2017Albuquerque, NMAir bags

    TAKATA RECALL WITH NO INCIDENTS

    NHTSA complaint 11054547
18. Filed Nov 16, 2017Failure Jan 17, 2017Livermore, CAAir bags

    TAKATA RECALL

    NHTSA complaint 11046886
19. Filed Nov 14, 2017Failure Feb 9, 2017Jacksonville, FLAir bags

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN FEBRUARY OF 2017. THE DEALER (ERNIE PALMER TOYOTA, 1290 CASSAT AVE, JACKSONVILLE, FL, 32205) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

    NHTSA complaint 11045947
20. Filed Nov 13, 2017Failure Jan 9, 2017Honolulu, HIAir bags

    TAKATA RECALL

    NHTSA complaint 11045844