2017 Toyota 4runner — Known Issues & Recalls

Your car was stolen in Brentwood. This is a security issue rather than a mechanical problem with the vehicle itself.

Your navigation screen shut off and tried to reconnect to your phone multiple times while driving at 40-45 mph, then your entire vehicle lost all electrical power mid-turn, causing you to lose power steering with no warning lights or ability to use hazard lights. Shortly after coasting to the shoulder, you noticed a burnt plastic smell, followed by heavy smoking from under the hood that escalated to flames engulfing the front of the vehicle within minutes. The fire department responded and determined the fire originated in the engine block area.

Your sunroof glass suddenly shattered while you were driving on the highway at 60 degrees, making a loud noise like a gunshot. The glass broke outward into pieces, which was frightening for you and your child. This appears to be a known issue with this model year, and the repair will likely involve removing and replacing the entire sunroof glass panel.

You hear a whirring sound coming from the passenger side under the hood when the vehicle is moving. The sound occurred once, then happened again after you parked the vehicle and turned off the engine. This could indicate an issue with a belt-driven component that's still spinning down after shutdown.

Your air conditioning blower motor has stopped working, which means your AC system won't blow air into the cabin. This prevents you from cooling or heating your vehicle effectively. The blower motor will likely need to be replaced to restore normal air conditioning operation.

Your brake master cylinder failed, which controls your braking system. This is unusual for a newer vehicle with low mileage, and the mechanic indicated it shouldn't typically happen this early. The repair will likely involve replacing the brake master cylinder and possibly bleeding the brake system to restore proper braking function.

While driving on the freeway, your brake pedal became soft and sank nearly to the floor when you needed to brake suddenly. Your ABS (antilock brake system) didn't engage as expected, and you barely managed to stop without hitting another vehicle. Since then, you've noticed the brake pedal feels soft until you pump it several times. A dealer diagnosed a failed ABS actuator assembly that needs replacement at a cost of about $3,800 including labor.

While turning into a parking lot, your brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor with no braking effect. After releasing and reapplying the pedal, you were able to stop. Your brake fluid level is normal with no visible leaks, but the problem recurs and dealerships can't reproduce it. This issue has been reported by other 4Runner owners on forums, and suspicion points to the antilock brake system (ABS) electrical components.

When you apply the brakes hard at speeds of 35 mph or higher, one wheel on the left side locks up, causing your vehicle to swerve violently and become difficult to control. The owner tested this repeatedly on a grassy field and confirmed that one left-side wheel skids while braking hard, though the problem sometimes improves after multiple brake applications in succession. Two Toyota dealers told the owner the brakes are working as designed, but the owner believes this is dangerously unsafe. The fix may require inspection and potential replacement of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) components or wheel brake cylinders on the affected side.

Your 4Runner was involved in a rear-end collision at approximately 55 mph after braking from 65 mph on the freeway. Despite the severe front-end damage, none of the airbags deployed during the crash. The airbag system may have failed to detect the impact or activate properly.

Rodents have chewed through your vehicle's main wiring harness and knock sensor twice in five weeks, causing thousands of dollars in damage. The wiring appears to be soy-based, which may be attractive to rodents. You cannot safely park this vehicle outside without risking additional rodent damage to the electrical harnesses.

While driving on the highway, your 4Runner's engine suddenly shut off because the fuel pump stopped working. You couldn't restart the vehicle and had to have it towed home. A mechanic confirmed the fuel pump needs to be replaced, which requires professional garage service.

Your gas pedal may feel sluggish when you press it, and occasionally it may not respond at all (dead pedal). This delay in throttle response creates a safety concern when you need to accelerate into traffic, and in some cases your vehicle may stall, potentially putting you in a dangerous situation. There's a known technical service bulletin (TSB T-SB-0166-10) related to this issue. The fix will likely involve inspecting and possibly replacing or reprogramming the throttle control system components.

Your front struts are leaking, which is causing your vehicle to handle inconsistently while driving. You shouldn't need to replace struts this soon on a vehicle driven under normal conditions, and this appears to be a known issue affecting multiple 4-Runners. Fixing this will involve replacing the damaged front struts.

Your car's door locks have failed repeatedly since you bought it in 2017, requiring replacement about 10 times over the years. Currently, 3 of your 4 door locks aren't working, and the 4th is starting to fail. Your main safety concern is that the locks either won't engage properly or may lock you out completely if the key won't turn to unlock the door. Fixing this will likely require replacing the faulty door lock actuators or mechanisms.

Your truck vibrates or shakes when you drive faster than 50 mph. Your front tires show cupping damage (a wavy wear pattern), and you've already had maintenance performed, including tire alignment and rotation. The dealership hasn't found an issue, but the problem persists.

After hitting a deer at 50 mph on the passenger side, all 8 airbags deployed in your 4Runner. While you're grateful the airbags helped protect you and your daughter, you sustained serious lacerations on your legs and left arm, and your daughter was cut on her right arm — injuries that seemed severe given the relatively minor nature of hitting a deer. The passenger-side airbag under the steering wheel caused particularly deep cuts. This concern raises questions about airbag deployment force and design in low-speed collisions.

Your 4Runner's turn signal sound is too quiet to hear clearly over normal conversation or radio volume, especially for drivers with hearing loss. Unlike competitors' vehicles, the turn signal alert doesn't have adjustable volume control. The fix would likely involve adding an adjustable turn signal volume setting to the vehicle's audio system controls.

About a year after buying your 4Runner, you noticed bubbling on the hood and roof that looks like the clear coat is peeling or failing. You've taken good care of the vehicle—washing it regularly, keeping it garaged, and preventing debris from sitting on it—but the problem has gotten worse over the past year. The dealership noted your concern but didn't offer a warranty repair. The fix would likely involve removing and repainting the affected panels with new clear coat.

Your steering wheel covering is peeling off on its own without any external cause like lotion or sunscreen. This peeling reduces your grip on the wheel and continues to get worse over time, affecting how the steering wheel feels and functions. The fix would likely involve replacing the steering wheel or re-covering it with a new material.