What 57 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota 4RUNNER

The dealership Direct Motor, located in Manassas, Virginia, sold me this car in poor condition. On Sunday the 22nd, I picked up the car around 10 PM. They didn't show me any information about the car. When I picked it up, I saw that the front bumper and rear door were damaged, and the airbag lights were on, which is dangerous. I returned the car first thing Monday morning and asked them to exchange it. They refused. I asked for my money back, which is $3,000, and they refused again. Then I went back on Wednesday and filled out a form explaining why I returned the car. They said they would return my money, but now they're not responding. They're trying to scam me.

NHTSA ODI 11727554

Two transfer case seals failed at 64,000 miles. Caused excessive oil to leak out of transfer case and onto the exhaust. Safety was put as risk by potential full failure of transfer case which can cause loss of power at speed or leaking oil on exhaust causing a fire. Problem was verified by Armstrong Automotive and repaired. No warning lights were present. Problem found after smelling burning oil and noticing smoking coming from underneath vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11603235

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON BELTWAY AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, BRAKING, AND STEERING CAPABILITIES. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. PHONE ATTACHED VIA CIGARETTE OUTLET WAS ZAPPED. MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY CUSTOMER HAS ENDURED DUE TO THIS TOTAL VEHICLE MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI 11404761

2018 4RUNNER TRD OFF ROAD PREMIUM. 24733MILES (AT THE TIME THIS REVIEW IS WRITTEN) STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT ACCELERATE BUT WITH OUT DOING IT. (VERY FEW NOT THAT PRONOUCE) TOOK IT TO DEALER ON APRIL 2020 AROUND (14900MILES). THEY DID A RECALL CHECK AND SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING AND THAY MY TRUCK WAS FINE. MARCH 2021 IT HAPPEN AGAIN BUT NOW IT WAS DOING IT VERY STRONGLY. TRUCK STARTED TO STALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED TO APPEAR 4WD INDICATOR FLASHES RAPIDLY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE CHECK ENGINE MULTI-TERRAIN FLASHES CONTINUESLY TRAC OFF LIGHT ECO LIGHT TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL CHECK THE PROBLEM. CALL THEM TO SEE IF THEY HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WERE WORKING ON IT DOING THE RECALL SERVICE (AGAIN). NEXT DAY THEY CALL ME AND SAID THEY DID THE RECALL (WHICH THERE IS NOT REMEDY AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME 3-8-21) AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT I NEED TO PAY TO GET IT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY FOUND METAL DEBRIS ON IT. WENT THERE RIGHT AWAY THEY EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT THEY SAID IT LOOKS TO BE THE PROBLEM. FAST FORWARD THEY CALL ME AGAIN AND SAID PROBLEM WAS DIFFERENT (GETTING OTHER PARTY INVOLVED). THE 3RD PARTY WENT IN TO CHECK THE PROBLEM THEY SAID IT WAS TO BE TOLD A VERY DIFFERENT HISTORY SAYING THEY FOUND GEAR OIL INSIDE TRANSMISSION AND THEY WERE SURE (NOT BECAUSE ANY TESTING) BUT BECAUSE IT LOOKS AND SMELLS LIKE IT (WHEN THE OIL THEY SHOWED ME AT FIRS WAS BURNED OIL) VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY TOLD ME BEFORE AND NOW THE TRUCK TRANSFER CASE WAS ON THE PROBLEM AS WELL. ALL I KNOW IS TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM AND NOW A PRACTICLY NEW TRUCK HAS TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI 11402837

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A POPPING NOISE OCCURRED THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING AN ABNORMAL SOUND THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMAL. THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRED HAAS TOYOTA WORLD (20400, I-45, SPRING, TX 77373) TWICE, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

NHTSA ODI 11385434