Short answer
Among Toyota 4RUNNER model years through 2024, 2000 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2010 has the most (12). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Toyota 4RUNNER: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 41
- Fewest recalls
- 2000 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2010 (12)
- Most recalled system
- Equipment (42)
Toyota 4RUNNER Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 4 stars | Equipment |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 4 stars | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 1 | 4 stars | Equipment |
| 2023 | 1 | 4 stars | Equipment |
| 2022 | 3 | 4 stars | Equipment, Exterior lighting |
| 2021 | 1 | 4 stars | Equipment |
| 2020 | 1 | 4 stars | Equipment |
| 2019 | 4 | 4 stars | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 stars | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 stars | Equipment, Structure, Tires |
| 2016 | 8 | 4 stars | Equipment, Air bags, Structure |
| 2015 | 9 | 4 stars | Equipment, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2014 | 7 | 4 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2013 | 6 | 4 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2012 | 8 | 4 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2011 | 10 | Not rated | Air bags, Seats, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 | 12 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Seats |
| 2009 | 6 | Not rated | Seats, Equipment, Vehicle speed control |
| 2008 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Vehicle speed control |
| 2007 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Vehicle speed control |
| 2006 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Seats |
| 2005 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Seats |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Vehicle speed control |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Wheels |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2001 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2000 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20262 recalls
- 20251 recall
- 20241 recall
- 20231 recall
- 20223 recalls
- 20211 recall
- 20201 recall
- 20194 recalls
- 20185 recalls
- 20175 recalls
- 20168 recalls
- 20159 recalls
- 20147 recalls
- 20136 recalls
- 20128 recalls
- 201110 recalls
- 201012 recalls
- 20096 recalls
- 20085 recalls
- 20075 recalls
- 20065 recalls
- 20055 recalls
- 20042 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20011 recall
- 20000 recalls
Toyota 4RUNNER: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Toyota 4RUNNER recalls are equipment (42), air bags (23), seats (16), engine and engine cooling (12) and vehicle speed control (7). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 27 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Toyota 4RUNNER Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Toyota 4RUNNER?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Toyota 4RUNNER model years have the most recalls?
2010 has the most, with 12 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "4RUNNER", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy