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2021 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
34 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Steering problems dominate (35% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#52 of 453Among the 2021 models with a matured record, the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid ranks #52, scoring higher than 88% of them. See the 2021 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 25%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Steering (12) · Suspension (10)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Steering
35%12 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“I just had the tires road force balanced on a haweka with lug-centric balance, and the steering wheel persists shaking from 55-65 mph. From what I have seen is this is…”
Suspension
29%10 complaints
“TRD PRO MODEL Clunk at low speeds. FOX shocks on TRD PRO make clunking sound at low speeds. Toyota replaced 3 shocks under warranty. The 3rd one they charged me labor …”
Brakes
18%6 complaints · typically near 22k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“Today while I was driving home from work, in a snow storm, suddenly a low braking power notification and ABS malfunction popped up on my console with loud beeping and …”
Wheels
12%4 complaints
“Steering wheel shimmy and shake from around 55-63mph. Intermittently happens but is very well documented across forums. This affects 4runners that are brand new, and t…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 34 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 4 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
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 · 22V480000
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Toyota before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report steering problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any steering symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report suspension problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any suspension symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
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 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER HYBRID beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every 4RUNNER Hybrid model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid 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.