Home · 2014 Toyota 4RUNNER · Complaints

What 76 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota 4RUNNER

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 (76)Crash / fire / injury (7)Electrical system (24)Fuel system (10)Airbags (8)Body & structure (8)Steering (7)Brakes (5)Engine (5)Suspension (3)Visibility & wipers (3)Wheels (2)

Newest first · 76 complaints · page 1 of 4

Apr 7, 2026Body & structure

White Paint Peeling From Metal Body Panels

NHTSA ODI 11729684

Mar 10, 2026Tires

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota 4Runner. The contact purchased four Bridgestone tires in 2022, Tire Line: Alenza AS Ultra, Tire Size: 245/60/R20, DOT Number: 1RBTEAAU1. The contact stated that all four tires had developed cracks on the sidewalls and by the tire beads. The tires were replacement tires. The tire dealer was contacted and advised the contact that it was normal wear on the tires. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The tire failure mileage was approximately 20,000. The vehicle failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11723397

Jun 30, 2025AirbagsCrash

I had a collision and rear ended a truck. My front left bumper was completely damaged. My chest hit the steering wheel. My airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11670137

Jun 7, 2025

paint is peeling on my 2014 Toyota 4runner . Toyota recalled for white paint but nothing for blue . i already paid so much for the car but not paying extra for the paint . Toyota should fix it .

NHTSA ODI 11665538

Apr 29, 2025AirbagsCrashFire1 injury

Vehicle was involved in an accident where the driver side airbag did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11657608

Dec 6, 2024Engine

My exhaust pipe rusted apart after the muffler causing the hot exhaust to expel upward and melt a rubber grommet on the floor. Then it proceeded to shoot into cargo area, melting the carpet backing and Styrofoam pad and insulation under the cargo area carpeting. This happened on an 11 hour road trip with the cargo area full of vacation stuff. I'm concerned about this being a potential fire and carbon monoxide issue.

NHTSA ODI 11629264

Sep 5, 2023

The handsfree calling/talking is unusable neither party can hear the other due to it echoing and has very distortion. So I'm unable to use my handsfree talking while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11542714

Sep 5, 2023Fuel system

I notice my gas wasn't lasting long. One day I was pumping gas and noticed that underneath my 4-runner gas was pouring out from the top of my fuel tank. Took it to the dealership and they repaired the charcoal canister, canister assembly and purge valve assembly. Cost me $953.48 with parts and labor. Very dangerous due to it could have started a fire while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11542712

Sep 5, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

Stumbling/Studering and hesitation when accelerating took it to dealership and they performed a tune-up and complete fuel system service when to pick it up and still doing the same thing. Dealership rechecked it and said Torque converter was faulty. Had to replace transmission.

NHTSA ODI 11542722

Sep 5, 2023

Left rear Brake Caliper Failure, Both Front Struts and both rear shocks were worn out per dealership. Had to replace all above.

NHTSA ODI 11542728

Jul 31, 2023Steering

Intermediate steering shaft u joint Steering is difficult. Vehicle only has 80000 miles Just out of warranty as of 5/23

NHTSA ODI 11535423

Jul 12, 2023Visibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. There were no injuries sustained. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,941.

NHTSA ODI 11531831

Jan 14, 2023Electrical systemEngine

My gear shift became difficult to shift. As I was driving it, when I physically shifted to the Drive position, the display didn't confirm "D", but I could drive. As I was driving, the car shifted to Neutral without me shifting, but did not show "N" on the display. My car stopped accelerating and revved higher. This occurred as I was driving on the road around 45 mph. I could not tell on the display that I was not in Drive. I pulled over safely luckily. I Continued to try to get it to drive to get it to a dealership to look at. They reported it was PRNDL switch issue. TECH FOUND INTERNAL CORROSION IN TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR CREATING A PHYSICAL RESISTANCE IN SENSOR WHICH PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM PROPERLY INDICATING GEAR. TECH REPLACED TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR, ADJUSTED SENSORWITH TECHSTREAM DATA LIST, AND PERFORMED HEALTH CHECK This is not the first they have seen either. This would appear to be a common safety issue to drivers. I also had a difficult time confirming the car was in the Park "P" position. I believe this issue could have potentially affected the vehicle's ability to engage in park and stay in park, much like the issue with getting into Drive and staying in Drive.

NHTSA ODI 11501788

Dec 15, 2022

Three of the four locks do not work on a consistent basis. My car got broken into because the locks don't work. I just replaced three of the four locks for around $1,200.00. Neither the key fob nor the actual key would open the doors on the vehicle. This is an extreme safety issue in case of emergency, and it really makes me mad. It is a well-known defect which is commented on countless vehicle websites. There were no warning messages, the locks just stopped working.

NHTSA ODI 11497648

May 20, 2022Electrical system

The horn stopped functioning. This is a safety hazard because i am not able to alert other drivers. The vehicle has only been inspected by the Toyota Dealer. No codes and no lights were displayed.Fearing for my family's safety, I paid for the repairs.

NHTSA ODI 11465513

Mar 1, 2022Visibility & wipers

Windshield cracking

NHTSA ODI 11454605

Feb 20, 2022Fuel system

Fuel level sensor in gas tank not working properly

NHTSA ODI 11453120

Oct 9, 2021Steering

The steering became almost unresponsive and I could not turn the steering wheel while driving. I brought it to a repair shop and they said the intermediate steering shaft and u-joints were rotted out and rusted to where it seized up. The vehicle only has 55k miles on it and I don’t live by the ocean. The parts were repaired by a shop and steering feels like new again. Had this seized up on the highway or at high speeds it could have been very bad. There were no warning lamps or issues with steering before

NHTSA ODI 11436144

Jul 26, 2021

Having major problems with door lock actuators. just replaced front passenger side for 950 dollars at Toyota dealer and was told the other 3 doors may start failing as well. I did not realize at first that the door was not locking which would make it so easy for someone to break into my car.It is a 2014 Toyota 4runner. Sure enough the front driver side door is not locking. I need to spend another 950 dollars to get it fixed. What is wrong with these actuators? Now the replacement actuator I had put on the passenger side is giving me problems with the door opening and closing. What next?? Toyota should definitely have a recall on these actuators. It appears that I am not the only one having problems. This is a security issue.

NHTSA ODI 11426420

Jun 4, 2021Fuel system

Car would have trouble starting. Once i got it to start it would stall when stopped

NHTSA ODI 11419689

May 12, 2021SteeringBrakes

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE / STEERING WHEEL SHAKES "VIOLENTLY". ALMOST TO THE POINT THAT IT IS HARD TO HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL. AND IF I'M DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STOP. I HAVE HAD TO SWERVE AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE MY BRAKES COULD NOT STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME. IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS ISSUE I HAVE HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AT 71K MILES, 83K MILES, 100K MILES WITH THE LAST TIME BEING WITH GENUINE TOYOTA ROTORS. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE GREAT FOR ABOUT 10K MILES AND THAN GO BACK TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING. EVEN WITH THE LAST SET OF GENUINE TOYOTA ROTORS, THE VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED AFTER ABOUT 15K - 18K MILES. LUCKILY WITH COVID I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY MUCH, BUT EVEN AT CITY SPEEDS IT STILL REALLY SHAKES. SO HERE I AM STILL LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11416317

Mar 9, 2021Electrical system

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS FAILED ON EVERY DOOR IN MY CAR. I'VE HAD THEM FIXED BUT NOW THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11400058

Feb 24, 2021BrakesEngine

THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP AND THE BRAKES ARE SPONGY, IVE DRIVEN A FEW 4RUNNERS AND THEY ARE ALL LIKE THAT AND ITS DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE TICKING SOUND WHEN IDLING AND SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO BLOW UP

NHTSA ODI 11397767

Jan 18, 2021Electrical system

SOMETIMES BACK-UP CAMERAS DOESN'T TURN ON WHILE SHIFTED IN REVERSE. I HAVE TO SHUT ENGINE AND LIFT REAR GATE AND CLOSE THEN IT WORKS AGAIN SOMETIMES. WHEN I AM BUSY I JUST HAVE TO BACK UP WITHOUT THE CAMERA. THAT COULD LEAVE DRIVERS AT INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH WHEN THEY BACK UP WITHOUT CHECKING THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

NHTSA ODI 11388757

Nov 24, 2020Body & structure1 injury

GREATLY REDUCED SAFETY IN FRONTAL IMPACT DURING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO CORRODED FRAME COMPONENTS CAUSED BY FACTORY INSTALLED FOAM PIECES THAT RETAIN RAIN WATER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTICED, PERSONALLY BY ME, ON MULTIPLE TOYOTA 4RUNNERS OF MODEL YEARS 2014-2016 SO FAR. THE CORROSION DAMAGE ON MY VEHICLE MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AND NOT ADEQUATE TO BE TOWED FROM THE FRONT HOOKS INCASE OF AN EMERGENCY. I TRIED TO BRING THIS CONCERN TO A LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT WAS OF NO HELP. IMAGES ARE ATTACHED BELOW THAT SHOW HOW THE FACTORY FOAM PIECES SURROUNDING THE RADIATOR AND ITS "SHROUD" HAVE CAUSED A HIGHLY CONCERNING AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE VEHICLE'S BUMPER AND FRAME SUPPORT MEMBERS. THESE FOAM PIECES GET WET FROM DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND RETAIN THE WATER. THIS OVERTIME CAUSED THE RUST SHOWN BELOW. THE NEWER MODEL VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE A RUBBER FLAP RATHER THAN FOAM WHICH WOULD PREVENT WATER DAMAGE ON THE FRAME MEMBERS. MAHALOS ## VIN PASSED ## TOYOTA 2014 ##

NHTSA ODI 11376235

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Working with the data? Download all 76 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 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 2014 Toyota 4RUNNER verdict →