Home · 2017 · Toyota

2017 Toyota 4RUNNER

Solid pick — the complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

35 owner complaints · 5 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaints are overwhelmingly minor — almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)100
Severity (30%)89
Recall load (20%)74
Trend (10%)69

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20172026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2017 Toyota 4RUNNER, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k mi

Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (9) · Electrical system (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Brakes

26%

9 complaints

Failed brake master cylinder, this is still a rather new vehicle and the mechanics said this is unlikely in a new low mileage vehicle. I did research and this has only…

Electrical system

14%

5 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

For the 2nd time in 5 weeks, the main wiring harness and knock sensor have been eaten and destroyed by rodents. This has caused thousands of dollars worth of damage, a…

Airbags

9%

3 complaints

ON 7/22/2019, OUR 4RUNNER REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY. SPEED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 55MPG AFTER HARD BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. N…

Fuel system

6%

2 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

2017 Toyota 4 runner SR5 While driving on the highway the vehicle stopped apparently the fuel pump stopped working and could not get going anymore. I had a mechanic co…

Recalls (5)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Equipment · 18V753000

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota 4Runner vehicles that SET modified to be equipped with a TRD wheel package. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on the certification label may be incorrect, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: SET will notify owners and mail them corrected certification labels, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET18A.

Equipment · 17V831000

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

Structure · 17V763000

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Toyota 4Runner vehicles equipped with an accessory Billet Grille Overlay installed by SET or provided by SET and installed by SET dealers. The U-nut that secures the overlay grille may fracture, allowing the Billet Grille Overlay to detach from the vehicle.

Risk: If the Billet Grille Overlay detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the securing U-nuts with upgraded hardware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 26, 2018. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17C.

Tires · 17V295000

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.

Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

Equipment · 17V291000

Gulf States Toyota, Inc (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2016-2017 4Runner vehicles equipped with the TFORCE accessory package. The fasteners for the aftermarket roof rack may have been improperly tightened.

Risk: If the roof rack fasteners loosen, the roof rack may detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the roof rack fasteners, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Gulf States' number for this recall is 17R1.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Toyota 4RUNNER beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2017? See how every 4RUNNER model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Toyota 4RUNNER against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2017 Toyota 4RUNNER as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.