MyCarTSB

2007 Toyota 4runner Brakes Problems

23 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data

23
Complaints
Jan 2007Nov 2020
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (23)

criticalSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2021

While driving at 25 mph, your brake pedal sank all the way to the floor with no resistance. You had to use the parking brake to bring the vehicle to a stop during a right turn. An inspection revealed brake fluid leaking from the bleeder valve and caliper.

NHTSA #: 11414315
criticalSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Nov 2020

After your battery died and was replaced, your 4Runner lost all braking power and made a continuous loud beeping sound from the dashboard. The ABS fuse blew immediately after replacement, and a mechanic confirmed the brake module had failed. This is a critical safety issue since your brakes were completely non-functional while driving.

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NHTSA #: 11376935
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2018

WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A BUMPY UNLEVEL STREET AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PADDLE TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES GIVE OUT AND THEN CATCH AGAIN, I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AND MIGHT EVEN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS ANOTHER CAR TO MY FRONT, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME QUITE A FEW TIMES. THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS TO BE CHECKED ON A BUMPY PAVED ROAD, BRAKES WILL CATCH AND RELEASE AND CATCH AND RELEASE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM ON A BUMPY PAVED ROAD.

NHTSA #: 11103735
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2018

COMPLETE AND PERMANENT DAMAGE OF ABS AND BRAKE MODULE IAN'S RESULTS IN NO BRAKES WHILE RUNNING THE CAR.

NHTSA #: 11100666
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2017

ACTUATOR/ACCUMULATOR/MASTERCYLINDER SQUEAK/SQUEAL

NHTSA #: 10953976
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jul 2015

THE BRAKING SYSTEM VIBRATES AND SQUEALS WHEN DRIVING AND BRAKING... TOLD THE ABS/MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $3082.25. STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 128000 MILES ON VEHICLE. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT THERE IS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION/REPAIR NEEDED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE

NHTSA #: 10733746
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2015

THE DASHBOARD ALARM SOUNDED AND THE ABS, VSC, BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. FULLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAILED MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA #: 10724018
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Sep 2014

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY ON I-95, THE VEHICLE ABS ASSEMBLY BEGAN CYCLING REPEATEDLY. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES WHILE THE ABS WAS CYCLING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GRIND AND SLIPPAGE OCCURRED IN THE PEDAL PRESSURE. NO WARNING LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10629970
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER ABS ECU ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA #: 10536578
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jul 2013

MACHINES BREAK BUT WHEN PARTS REPRESENT A RISK OF FATALITY, THEY SHOULD BE MORE CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED. I GOT LUCKY WHEN THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY WENT OUT IN MY 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND RUNNING IN MY GARAGE FOR 5 MINUTES WHILE I UNLOADED IT. HAD I NOT MADE THE DECISION TO LET THE CAR RUN WHILE I UNLOADED IT, A DECISION THAT I FIRST QUESTIONED, IT MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD'VE GONE OUT THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY STEEPLY SLOPED DRIVEWAY. A DROP OF ABOUT 10-15 FEET IS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP ANYTHING FROM ROLLING DOWN THAT DROP BESIDES THE MULTITUDE OF HARDWOODS THERE. I COULD'VE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE OR TRAVERSING THE HILLS AND SLOPES THAT WE DEAL WITH DAILY. A PARKING BRAKE WILL ONLY DO SO MUCH. MY 4RUNNER IS WELL-MAINTAINED. IN FACT, IT HAD RECEIVED IT'S REGULAR MAINTENANCE ONLY 5 DAYS PRIOR TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY'S FAILURE. THERE WAS NO WARNING;NO NOISE, NO FEELING, NO WEIRD BEHAVIOR-JUST BUZZERS AND WARNING LIGHTS AFTER THE FACT. THE CAR ALMOST ROLLED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AS WELL AS THE HOUSE. IT TOOK ALL OF MY MIGHT TO STOP IT AT 1-3 MPH. I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN BUT CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OTHER UNSUSPECTING 4RUNNER OWNER AND ANYONE AROUND THAT 4RUNNER IF THE SAME HAPPENS. I'VE BEEN HAPPY WITH MY 4RUNNER AND FELT SAFE IN IT UNTIL JULY 21. IT IS MY THIRD 4RUNNER IN A ROW. THEY ARE FANTASTIC SUV'S. I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DEALERSHIP, ESPECIALLY MY SERVICE TECH, WHO I FEEL LOOKS OUT FOR ME AND MY 4RUNNER. BUT AFTER RESEARCHING BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLIES IN 4RUNNERS, I SEE MULTIPLE CRASHES AND SCARY STORIES INVOLVING THIS PART. I SEE IT IS UNRELATED TO MILEAGE OR MAINTENANCE OR VEHICLE AGE. IT'S HAPPENED AT 2MONTHS OLD, 2 YEARS OLD, 200K MILES. THE RISK OF FATALITY IS TOO HIGH TO LET THIS ISSUE REMAIN UNATTENDED TO. *TR

NHTSA #: 10532984
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Nov 2012

I COME TO A STOP AND MY VEHICLE PULLS, LIKE SOMEBODY HIT MY VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. ITS CONSTANT , IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I DID TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE, THEY ADVISED TOYOTA HAD NOT COME OUT WITH A RECALL YET FOR THAT PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVETRAIN . I REALLY DO NOT WANT THIS VEHICLE ANY MORE IF IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO DO THIS.. WHAT MAKES ME MAD IS THAT I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JULY....... WHAT CAN BE DONE . *TR

NHTSA #: 10485461
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE ABS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HYDRO-BOOSTER BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND HE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA #: 10472907
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: May 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ONCE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. SHE HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 10460193
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Aug 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A BEEPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AREA AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 09/28/11*LJ

NHTSA #: 10421159
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Apr 2011

2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 55,000 MILES. HYDROBOOT ASSEMBLY (ABS BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY) ABRUPTLY WENT OUT ON MARCH 22 WITH MY 18 YR DRIVING. HE COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY GET THE CAR TO STOP USING ALL OF HIS STRENGTH AND FORCE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THIS IS A "FREAK" OCCURRENCE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A HIGHWAY OR MY 15 YR WITH LEARNERS PERMIT DRIVING, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SAYS "OUT OF WARRANTY" AND "SORRY". *TR

NHTSA #: 10394037
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Sep 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE; AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURBSIDE AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A THIRD DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,481. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 10353615
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SEATS
Filed: Apr 2010

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) VEHICLE IS A TOYOTA 2007 4RUNNER SR5. VIN [XXX]. THE PLASTIC COVER (TOYOTA PART NO.72124 35010) THAT FITS OVER THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HOLD DOWN BOLTS BROKE OFF AND SLID UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE USED UNTIL I REMOVED THE LOSS PART. *TR

NHTSA #: 10328131
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Feb 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND BEGAN SLOWING DOWN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. HE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD MULTIPLE TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED 5 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,000. UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN UPDATED 06/04/10

NHTSA #: 10314711
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 2010

I DRIVE A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 AND BELIEVE IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH BRAKES AS THE TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE ON A BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKES DO NOT PROPERLY WORK WHEN I HAVE TO STOP GOING MORE THAN APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR MAKES A BEEPING NOISE THEN THE CAR'S BRAKES FAIL, THEN THEY OVERCORRECT BY BECOMING EXTRA SENSITIVE ONCE OFF THE BUMPY SECTION OF ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS - I WAS JUST NOT SURE IT WARRANTED A COMPLAINT - I WAS NOT SURE IF THAT WAS NORMAL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR ON BUMPY ROADS AS IT IS NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10307705
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 2010

TL* THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE WHEN SHE WOULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ISSUE AT LEAST 6 TIMES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE REP STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TRADED THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES (WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE) WERE APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA #: 10304648
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Filed: Feb 2010

NO BRAKES: BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT VEHICLE STOPPING. UPON MY PERSONAL INSPECTION AT TIME OF INCIDENT, I FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR TO BE FULL AND NO BRAKE FLUID LEAKS,ANYWHERE, WERE FOUND. THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE STATED THAT CAUSE WAS A DEFECTIVE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING QUALITY ISSUE AS I HAVE NOT HEARD OF A MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONING WITHIN A TWO YEAR TIME FRAME. *TR

NHTSA #: 10304871
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2008

PURCHASED PRE-OWNED 4 RUNNER ?CERTIFIED? FROM RUSSEL TOYOTA 12/07 WITH APPROX 21K MILES. COMPLAINED OF UNUSUAL BRAKE PERFORMANCE IMMEDIATELY BUT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS ?PERFORMING TO FACTORY SPECS? BRAKE PERFORMANCE ISSUES INCLUDING AGGRESSIVE STOPPING, STIFF PEDAL, LOSS OF PRESSURE, AND RANDOM ?ANTI-SKID SYSTEM? RESPONSES NEARLY CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS. ON 3/14, APPROX 23K MILES, COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, NO PRESSURE, ACCIDENT AVOIDED AND COASTED VEHICLE TO A STOP, PRESSURE DID NOT RETURN. 4RUNNER TOWED TO DEALER, MASTER CYLINDER WAS ?INTERNALLY LEAKING? AND REPLACED. SYMPTOMS CONTINUE AND VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED TO RE-PRODUCE THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AT THE DEALER AND THEREFORE THE DEALER KEEPS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND TOYOTA UNWILLING TO HELP AND REFERRED US TO NCDS DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM OR TOLD US WE CAN FILE A SUIT. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. BREAKS CONTINUE TO FAIL/MALFUNCTION APPROXIMATELY 1 TIME PER WEEK. DEALER ALWAYS SAYS NO PROBLEMS FOUND. *TR

NHTSA #: 10229915
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jan 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE APPROXIMATELY AN INCH APART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR HE ALSO INADVERTENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK UPDATED 1/31/2007 - *NM

NHTSA #: 10178047

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