Toyota 4Runner Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Toyota 4Runner model year (1990–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Toyota 4Runner Years to Avoid
1 recall · 485 complaints
17 reported injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY
Problem score: 522
1 recall · 477 complaints
10 reported injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY
Problem score: 500
1 recall · 310 complaints
28 reported injuries
2 reported deaths
Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY
Problem score: 379
Best Toyota 4Runner Years to Buy
0 recalls · 6 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 6
0 recalls · 11 complaints
Main area: SERVICE BRAKES
Problem score: 15
2 recalls · 14 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 20
Found the right year? Verify that specific 4Runner with a free VIN report.
Toyota 4Runner — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 6 | — | — | 6 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 44 | 6 | — | 59 | Good |
| 2024 | 0 | 11 | 2 | — | 15 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 0 | 26 | 1 | — | 28 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 1 | 28 | 1 | — | 33 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 0 | 24 | 3 | — | 30 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 0 | 23 | 6 | — | 35 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 2 | 40 | 2 | — | 50 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 2 | 29 | — | — | 35 | Excellent |
| 2017 | 2 | 14 | — | — | 20 | Excellent |
| 2016 | 4 | 61 | 12 | — | 97 | Good |
| 2015 | 6 | 75 | 10 | — | 113 | Good |
| 2014 | 5 | 53 | 3 | — | 74 | Good |
| 2013 | 4 | 24 | — | — | 36 | Excellent |
| 2012 | 5 | 52 | 5 | — | 77 | Good |
| 2011 | 8 | 87 | 3 | — | 117 | Good |
| 2010 | 9 | 95 | 5 | — | 132 | Good |
| 2009 | 6 | 22 | 1 | — | 42 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 5 | 67 | 6 | — | 94 | Good |
| 2007 | 4 | 108 | 4 | — | 128 | Good |
| 2006 | 3 | 238 | 23 | — | 293 | Caution |
| 2005 | 3 | 261 | 8 | — | 286 | Caution |
| 2004 | 1 | 485 | 17 | — | 522 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 1 | 477 | 10 | — | 500 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 2 | 149 | 9 | — | 173 | Good |
| 2001 | 2 | 119 | 5 | — | 135 | Good |
| 2000 | 1 | 310 | 28 | 2 | 379 | Avoid |
| 1999 | 1 | 246 | 16 | — | 281 | Caution |
| 1998 | 2 | 144 | 16 | 1 | 187 | Caution |
| 1997 | 2 | 192 | 29 | 5 | 281 | Caution |
| 1996 | 2 | 93 | 7 | 2 | 123 | Good |
| 1995 | 2 | 99 | 7 | — | 119 | Good |
| 1994 | 2 | 29 | 4 | — | 43 | Excellent |
| 1993 | 2 | 16 | — | — | 22 | Excellent |
| 1992 | 2 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 64 | Good |
| 1991 | 1 | 23 | 1 | — | 28 | Excellent |
| 1990 | 1 | 52 | 5 | — | 65 | Good |
All 37 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Toyota 4Runner Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent 4Runner models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 6 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2017Mid-decade 4Runner units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder 4Runner models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year 4Runner should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2004 Toyota 4Runner if possible. It has 1 recall, 485 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 522 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year 4Runner to buy?+
The 2026 Toyota 4Runner is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 6. It has only 0 recalls and 6 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which 4Runner has the fewest problems?+
The 2026, 2024, 2017 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Toyota 4Runner Research
Check a Specific Toyota 4Runner VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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