2019 Toyota 4runner — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving at 60 MPH with a trailer, both of your trailer's rear tires blew out, causing the trailer to tilt and crash into a cement barrier. Your vehicle was hit by the trailer, and your husband and daughter were injured — your husband hit his head on the dashboard and your daughter was burned by the seat belt. The airbags did not deploy during the crash. Toyota's representative said the airbags worked as designed based on the angle of impact, but you believe they should have deployed to protect your family. Addressing this issue would require Toyota to review the airbag sensor calibration and deployment thresholds for side-impact crashes.

Your airbag warning light is staying on because an airbag sensor has failed, which means your airbags may not deploy if you're in a crash. Your 2019 4Runner has nearly 96,000 miles and has been well-maintained with no accident history, so this appears to be a premature failure under normal use. The dealership quoted $6,224.43 to fix it since your vehicle is out of warranty. Fixing this will likely require replacing the faulty airbag sensor module.

Your 4Runner was in a crash where it hit a guard rail on the interstate and sustained significant front-end damage, resulting in a total loss. The airbags did not deploy despite the severity of the damage. You're concerned about why the airbags failed to activate given the extent of the impact.

Your passenger air bag light is turning off intermittently even when someone is sitting in the passenger seat, which is a safety concern in case of an accident. The Toyota dealer examined your vehicle but couldn't reproduce the problem, though they found no diagnostic codes or warning lights. The issue appears to be related to the passenger seat occupancy sensor or air bag control module not consistently detecting when the seat is occupied.

Your sunroof spontaneously shattered while you were driving with no impact or collision involved. The loud explosion caused you to jerk the steering wheel and nearly crash into a ditch. Glass debris covered you and the interior of your car, and you experienced ringing in your ears from the noise.

Your 4Runner rolled backward out of the driveway while parked, even though the transmission was in Park and the engine was off. This caused a crash. The Park gear or parking brake may not be holding the vehicle securely on an incline.

Your 4Runner's backup camera display freezes or goes blank when you shift into reverse, making it difficult to see behind your vehicle. This increases the risk of accidents when backing up. While Toyota has recalled this issue for 2020 and newer 4Runners, your 2019 model isn't included in that recall. Fixing the backup camera will likely require replacing the camera unit or its wiring harness.

Your steering wheel became uncontrollable while you were driving, causing your car to lose control and crash. Toyota inspected the vehicle but didn't find evidence of a defect. The issue may involve steering column components, tie rods, or the power steering system that would need professional diagnosis to identify the root cause.

Your 2019 4Runner's undercarriage and frame have developed extensive rust despite never being exposed to salt roads or flooding, which a Toyota dealership confirmed is not normal wear and tear for a 5-year-old vehicle with 65,000 miles. Both an independent repair shop and the Toyota dealership have identified this rust as a potential safety issue. Toyota has refused to acknowledge the problem or provide repair assistance, stating you must pay out of pocket for any fixes. Addressing this issue will likely require professional rust removal, protective coating application, and inspection of frame structural integrity.

Your steering wheel vibrates or shakes (shimmy) even though your tires are in good condition. This issue started early in your vehicle's life and creates a safety concern. The problem likely stems from a steering or suspension component rather than tire wear, and may require balancing, alignment, or replacement of steering parts.

Your steering wheel shakes noticeably when you're driving at speeds between 60-70 mph. This vibration can make steering feel less responsive and potentially unsafe at highway speeds. The issue likely involves wheel balance, alignment, or suspension components that need inspection and correction.

Your front passenger seat belt isn't retracting properly after you buckle it, leaving it loose around the passenger. This means the seat belt won't hold the passenger securely in a crash, creating a safety risk. The seat belt retractor mechanism likely needs to be inspected or replaced to restore proper function.

Your transmission stopped working while you were accelerating into traffic at 84,000 miles. The vehicle wouldn't respond or shift into gear, leaving you unable to proceed safely. This type of failure typically requires either a transmission rebuild or complete replacement.

Your car's ABS (anti-lock brake) warning light is coming on and causing your brakes to suddenly slam on hard while driving, whether you're going 10 mph or 55 mph. The problem happens randomly—sometimes your car drives fine for two weeks, then it happens again without warning. Toyota's diagnostic equipment isn't finding any error codes, so they haven't been able to pinpoint the cause yet.

Your instrument cluster display went blank while driving and while reversing, making it difficult to see your gauges and speed. At the same time, your radio volume changed on its own and the radio turned off by itself. These electrical glitches suggest a problem with your vehicle's electrical system that may require diagnosis and repair of the instrument cluster or related wiring.

Your vehicle's air conditioning system is leaking water inside the car through the AC drip line, even after being cleared multiple times. The water pools on the passenger side floorboard, soaking it completely, which can lead to rust, electrical problems, and mold growth. The fix likely involves inspecting and clearing the AC condensation drain line, and possibly replacing it if it's clogged or damaged.

Your 4Runner's undercarriage has rusted, including the shock absorber brackets, which caused the vehicle to jerk unexpectedly while turning at around 31,500 miles. This nearly caused a crash before you regained control. The dealer found that the shock absorber, carrier differential, gasket, gasket plug, and bearing all need replacement due to rust damage. Fixing this will require replacing multiple suspension and differential components that have corroded.

Your suspension is making clunking or creaking noises when you drive over bumps or dips in the road, even at low speeds. When you inspected underneath, you noticed your springs and shock absorbers appear worn and corroded earlier than they should be at 48,000 miles. Toyota has acknowledged this issue with a technical service bulletin, suggesting it may be a known problem. You'll likely need to have the shock absorbers and/or springs replaced to restore smooth, quiet suspension performance.

While driving at 50-55 MPH and trying to pass another vehicle, your 4Runner didn't respond when you pressed the gas pedal — it took about 15 seconds for the engine to react. Your dealer diagnosed a faulty fuel pump and replaced it, but the problem kept happening more and more often afterward. The fuel pump may need replacement or further inspection to resolve the delayed acceleration issue.

Your backup camera displays a black screen intermittently when you shift into reverse, though it sometimes works normally. This problem occurs inconsistently, making it difficult for dealers to diagnose and repair. The issue may be caused by damaged or pinched wiring to the camera inside the rear hatch or where the wiring passes through the rubber boot connecting the hatch to the body. A repair would likely involve inspecting and replacing the camera wiring harness if damaged.