Home · 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid · Complaints

What 96 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (96)Crash / fire / injury (7)Airbags (70)Brakes (7)Electrical system (6)Engine (5)Fuel system (5)Steering (5)Body & structure (2)Speed control (2)Suspension (2)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (1)

6 of 96 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Dec 15, 2020Electrical system

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 ODI 11383575

Feb 10, 2017SuspensionElectrical systemEngine

I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY BELTWAY 08 WHEN TEHRAN TRASMISION OF MY CAR RUN OUT LAST SATURDAY 02/04/2018

NHTSA ODI 10953790

Apr 17, 2016Electrical systemBody & structure

SQUIRRELS KEEP EATING MY ELECTRICAL WIRING AND THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY ACCESS THE ENGINE BAY THROUGH THE OPENINGS IN THE WHEEL WELLS AFTER JUMPING ON TOP OF THE TIRES. THE RESULTS HAVE DISABLED MY ABS, 4WD, LIMITED SLIP, ETC. I'VE TRIED RODENT REPELLENT, FOX URINE, AND PARKING IN THE GARAGE. NOTHING HELPS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STOP USING SOY BASED WIRING, AND THEY NEED TO CLOSE THE HOLES IN THE WHEEL WELLS.

NHTSA ODI 10859964

Jan 5, 2015SteeringElectrical system

AFTER OIL CHANGE THE ECO LIGHT IS NOT ON, KEEP OFF THE OIL USED WAS 5W30. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10670291

Oct 15, 2014Electrical systemEngineFuel system

TOYOTA USES NEW GREEN (ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY) WIRING THAT IS TASTY TO RODENTS AND OTHER PEST- THEY ARE AWARE THAT IT CAN ATTRACT ANIMALS TO EAT THE WIRING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ON THEIR VEHICLES AND REFUSE TO COVER THE DAMAGES INCURRED ON THE WARRANTY - THEY REFER THE CUSTOMERS TO SEEK MONETARY AIDE FROM THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY - IN MY CASE IT WAS $3000.00 IN DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE FOR A RAT EATING THE WIRES /ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR IT - BUT HOW CAN I BE ASSURED IT WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN. ?? TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10644989

Jul 31, 2013Fuel systemElectrical system

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 STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10532819

Working with the data? Download all 96 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid verdict →