MyCarTSB

2010 Toyota 4runner Steering Problems

5 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

5
Complaints
1
Crashes
Jan 2014Dec 2023
Date Range

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

Owner Complaints (5)

criticalSTEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2023

Your gas gauge and fuel range display are giving inaccurate readings, showing more fuel than you actually have. You've run out of gas three times in two months even though the dashboard indicated a quarter tank remaining with 25-85 miles of range left, and no low fuel warning light appeared. This creates a dangerous situation where you lose engine power and steering control on the highway with little warning. The fix likely involves replacing the fuel sending unit, which communicates fuel level to your dashboard.

NHTSA #: 11558871
mediumSTEERING,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Nov 2017

SINCE I BOUGHT THIS TOYOTA 4RUNNER I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES NOT WORKING RIGHT THE FRONT END SHIMMIES AT CERTAIN SPEEDS.. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER CALLED TRI COUNTY TOYOTA IN LIMERICK PA. THEY TOLD ME IT'S ROAD CHARACTERISTICS.. BROUGHT IT BACK 3 OR 4 TIMES.. NEVER FIXED THIS ANNOYING PROBLEM.. THEY EVEN GOT A SO CALLED EXPERT TECH FROM TOYOTA TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS .. NEVER FIXED..I HAD BOUGHT NEW CUSTOM WHEELS AND TIRES.. THE GUY WHO PUT MY NEW WHEELS ON SAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG.. SHOWED ME THE BRAKES 1 PAD WAS GOOD THE OTHER WAS VERY THIN.. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER EXPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES.. WAITING IN THE SHOW ROOM.. [XXX] BRINGS ME IN TO SHOW ME MY BRAKES.. AND HE SAD THERE IS NO PROBLEM.. I TOLD HIM I SAW THESE SAME PADS 1 WAS THICK THE OTHER WAS VERY THIN.. WHEN HE SHOWED ME THEY WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES.. BUT SAID THE SAME THING NOTHING WRONG WITH THE.. THIS TIME I WAS VERY IRRITATED AND TOLD HIM ARE YOU TRYING TO INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE..LIKE I SAID THE GUY WHO PUT MY NEW WHEELS ON SAID I'M PRETTY SURE YOUR CALIPERS ARE BAD .. .. IN THE MEAN TIME I HAD GOTTEN VERY PHYSICALLY SICK.. FOR A YEAR.. SO I GAVE UP I WAS SO SICK.. NOW MY GUARANTEE WAS UP.. BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN.. THEY PUT NEW ROTORS AND BRAKES.. AND STILL,MY 4RUNNER..SHAKES WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY. AND STILL SHIMMIES AT CERTAIN SPEEDS.... AS OF TODAY NOVEMBER 15TH 2017 THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.. I REALLY NEED HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE.. BECAUSE ALL I GOT WAS THE RUN AROUND.. .. BOUGHT 7 CARS AND TRUCKS OVER THE YEARS.. .. THIS PROBLEM IS BAD FROM DAY 1.. I HAVE 61,600 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE.. NOTHING HAS CHANGED... PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE.. BECAUSE THEY WON'T AT TRI COUNTY TOYOTA.. HOPE I HEAR BACK FROM SOMEONE..THANK YOU SINCERELY [XXX] I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON 3-1-2010.. THANKS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 11046420
mediumSTEERING,SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
CrashFiled: Jun 2014

MY WIFE WAS AT A RED LIGHT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE WHEN SHE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER AND TIRE AREA . NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED THERE IS OVER 8,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGES THE OTHER DRIVER WAS MOVING 35+ MPH AT IMPACT SO NOW ALONG WITH THE WHIPLASH AND SHOULDER BRUISES AND SEAT BELTS CUTS THERE MENTAL DAMAGE SHE FEEL THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WHEN REPAIRED IN CLOSING I FEEL AT THE SPEED OF TRAVEL ON IMPACT THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10597794
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jun 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA #: 10597571
mediumSTEERING,STRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2014

THIS 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS BEING DRIVEN LESS THAN 30MPH WHEN A KNOCK WAS HEARD COINCIDING WITH SLOPPY HANDLING. TAIL PIPE WAS RIPPED FROM MUFFLER. 4W DRIVE HAD BEEN IN USE FOR A FEW DAYS DUE TO SNOW, THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS PUT BACK INTO 2WD. BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MY MECHANIC THINKING STEERING/SUSPENSION PROBLEM, WRONG! WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND COULDN'T BE FIXED. MY MECHANIC REMEMBERED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A FEW TACOMA PICKUPS AND SUGGESTED LOOKING FOR RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. THERE AREN'T ANY. HOWEVER, IF YOU DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ENTERING "TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME ROT" YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT WHAT SHOWS UP. OWNERS WHO HAVE WELL MAINTAINED THEIR 4RUNNERS AND TACOMAS FROM THIS ERA ARE BRINGING THEIR TRUCKS IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND ARE FINDING OUT THAT THEY'RE LUCKY THAT THEY WEREN'T KILLED OR INJURED BECAUSE OF FRAME FAILURE. OTHER OWNERS HAVEN'T BEEN AS LUCKY. JUST GO TO ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM AND LOOK UP "2000 4RUNNER FRAME COMPLAINTS" AND THERE ARE 36 HITS. THAT'S JUST ONE MODEL YEAR AND ONE WEB SITE.THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT'S NOT OBVIOUS UNTIL THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM. THE FRAME ROTS FROM THE INSIDE. MOST INTERESTING WAS THE MECHANIC WHO HAD HIS FINGERS GO THROUGH THE FRAME WHILE TRYING PULL HIMSELF UNDER TO LOOK AT SOMETHING. IT SEEMS, AFTER READING COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, THAT TOYOTA FEELS THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. IT SHOULD CONCERN THEM THAT THEY MADE 4RUNNERS THAT, WHILE STILL LOOKING GREAT AFTER MANY YEARS ON THE ROAD, ARE SUBJECT TO UNEXPECTED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. MY SON AND MY 2 YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTERS WERE IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10561743

Other 2010 Toyota 4runner Issues