Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2011 Toyota 4runner — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2019 to Dec 2020
The most reported issue is air bags problems (109 complaints). 4 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fire.
Open Safety Recalls (10)
NHTSA Campaign: 19V005000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V741000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V425000
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V577000
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured September 3, 2009, to December 1, 2014. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers that may contact people and possibly burn them while they are standing behind the vehicle.
Risk: Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install a re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is more recessed behind the bumper, free of charge. The recall began September 15, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16D.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V340000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).
NHTSA Campaign: 15V515000
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured March 29, 2010, to July 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers that may contact people and possibly burn them while they are standing behind the vehicle.
Risk: Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install a re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is more recessed behind the bumper, free of charge. The recall began on September 22, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for the recall is SET15D.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V743000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V396000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V014000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V123000
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 162)
Unknown Or Other →3 issues
Your car's paint is peeling in multiple areas including the roof, door, and front driver side panel, which is exposing the metal underneath to rust. Since you live near the ocean, the salty air is likely making the rust problem worse. The rust in these areas could potentially affect your car's structural integrity and safety. Addressing this will likely require professional repainting or rust repair of the affected panels.
Parts you may need:
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Your 4Runner's rear frame and undercarriage are showing excessive rust and corrosion that started around 2014 and has gotten worse over time. Since your truck was already recalled for corroded leaf springs, the owner is concerned the frame itself may also be at risk of corrosion-related failure, similar to issues seen in some Tacoma models. Addressing this would likely involve inspecting the frame for structural integrity and applying rust treatment or protective coatings to prevent further deterioration.
Parts you may need:
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Your 4Runner is showing rust along the lower seam of the passenger door and on the rear liftgate, even though you keep it garaged and wash it regularly. This premature rusting is unusual for a vehicle with only 88,000 miles. The fix will likely involve rust removal and repainting the affected areas, possibly including inspection of the door seals to prevent future moisture intrusion.
Parts you may need:
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Structure →3 issues
Your 4Runner's gas tank strap came loose and was hanging underneath the vehicle at 40 MPH. You've also noticed severe rust in multiple areas including the liftgate (with holes), hatch release, skid plate, and front passenger door — rust has corroded completely through the door's interior metal. The dealer and manufacturer attributed this to climate conditions and did not repair the vehicle.
Parts you may need:
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Your 4Runner's paint is peeling from multiple panels, even though Toyota sent a recall notice about this issue when the paint was still in good condition. Toyota has told you the recall campaign has ended and they won't help, but customer service has confirmed many owners are experiencing the same peeling problem after the recall period expired. Since your vehicle's value will be significantly reduced by the paint damage, you're requesting Toyota repaint it given their awareness of the widespread issue. Addressing this would likely require professional paint stripping and repainting of affected panels.
Parts you may need:
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Your 4Runner's Blizzard Pearl paint is peeling off in large areas, exposing the undercoat beneath. Toyota acknowledged this as a known defect and issued a Customer Support Program to fix it, but you didn't receive the notification and missed the deadline. The exposed paint can lead to rust or corrosion and affects your vehicle's resale value. Fixing this will likely involve repainting affected areas or a complete repaint of the vehicle.
Parts you may need:
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Seats →2 issues
Your heated seat is overheating uncontrollably and producing a strong burning electrical smell, making it uncomfortably hot to sit in even though the power switch is off. The seat cools down only when you turn off the ignition, but starts overheating again when you restart the engine. The extreme heat has caused red marks and stinging on your skin in areas where the seat was hottest. The issue likely involves a faulty heating element or electrical circuit in the seat that needs to be inspected and replaced.
Parts you may need:
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Your seat heater turned on by itself and continued heating even after you switched it off, producing a strong burning smell. The seat became uncomfortably hot and the problem persisted the next day until your husband pulled the fuse. This likely involves a faulty seat heater element or its wiring that needs inspection and replacement.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System →2 issues
Your horn doesn't work when the steering wheel is in certain positions, which could be dangerous if you need to warn other drivers. This appears to be caused by a faulty clock spring inside the steering wheel—a known issue with some Toyotas including the 4Runner. The replacement part is expensive, but fixing it involves replacing the clock spring component in your steering column.
Parts you may need:
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Your driver's side tail light keeps going out while you're driving, and this problem has been happening since 2015. Even though you've replaced the bulbs and had the tail light assembly replaced twice, the light continues to short out. The issue likely involves a wiring problem or electrical connection issue that needs to be diagnosed and repaired at the source.
Parts you may need:
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Service Brakes →1 issue
Your 4Runner's ABS braking system has failed, and you're experiencing reduced braking power to the rear wheels. The dealer identified a discontinued part—possibly the proportioning valve or a related component—as the cause, with repair costs around $2,000 plus labor. This is a serious safety issue that should be addressed immediately before driving the vehicle.
Parts you may need:
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Fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
The wiring connectors on your fuel pump have burned and melted inside the fuel pump assembly. This is a serious concern because damaged fuel system wiring could potentially create a fire hazard. The fuel pump wiring harness will need to be inspected and replaced to restore safe operation.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,suspension,structure →1 issue
Your 4Runner's frame is showing significant rust damage, and you're experiencing excessive shaking in the steering wheel and vehicle body that gets worse as you drive faster. The shaking feels like the suspension is failing or the wheels might come loose, making the vehicle feel unsafe to drive. This issue has been present since you bought the car and has progressively worsened. A mechanic will need to inspect the frame for rust damage and examine the suspension components to identify what's causing the shaking.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension,electronic Stability Control (esc),engine →1 issue
Your 4Runner has severe suspension and steering issues that started shortly after purchase—the car shakes, doesn't turn properly, and the steering wheel bounces while driving. Multiple repair attempts (tire replacement, alignment, balance, and brake work) only provided temporary relief before the problems returned and worsened. Toyota's inspection revealed the vehicle had significantly higher mileage than disclosed (194,000 miles vs. the 84,000 miles shown when sold) and identified potential safety concerns related to the suspension imbalance. Fixing this likely requires a thorough suspension inspection and possible replacement of worn suspension components.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension,unknown Or Other,service Brakes →1 issue
Your vehicle's frame and brake line connections are experiencing rust and corrosion. This is a serious concern because brake line corrosion can compromise the integrity of your braking system and the frame's structural integrity. You should have a qualified mechanic inspect the frame and brake lines for rust damage as soon as possible. Addressing this may involve replacing corroded brake lines, applying rust treatment, or in severe cases, frame repair or reinforcement.
Parts you may need:
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Visibility/wiper →1 issue
Your sunroof glass spontaneously shattered and broke apart while you were entering the vehicle in your driveway. You heard a loud pop and watched glass pieces hit the sun shade inside. The glass appeared to have burst outward from the vehicle with no external cause like hail or falling objects. The sunroof glass may need to be replaced entirely.
Parts you may need:
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Seat Belts →1 issue
Your seat belt retractor stopped working and became locked in the extended position when you restarted the vehicle. The seat belt would not retract back into its housing at all. The replacement part costs around $278.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →1 issue
Water is entering your transmission through a faulty neutral safety switch, which is causing the transmission input shaft to malfunction. You may experience a delay when the transmission tries to engage, and then it suddenly jumps into gear while the vehicle is stationary. This issue requires replacing or repairing the neutral safety switch and potentially servicing the transmission to remove water and prevent further damage.
Parts you may need:
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Air Bags,unknown Or Other,engine →1 issue
Your horn isn't working, likely due to a problem with the clock spring (the coiled connector under the steering wheel that allows the horn to function). You're also experiencing loud vibrations when you accelerate. The horn issue may require replacing the clock spring assembly, and the vibration should be diagnosed by a mechanic to identify the cause.
Parts you may need:
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Air Bags →1 issue
You've received multiple recall notices about your 4Runner's airbags, but when you took it to the Toyota dealership, they said there's no problem. You've noticed your vehicle identification number appears in the recall database you checked, but doesn't show up in Toyota's official database, leaving you uncertain about whether your car actually needs service. You may want to contact Toyota directly or visit another dealership to clarify whether a recall actually applies to your specific vehicle.
Parts you may need:
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