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CarComplaints.com Notes: Although it has a stellar record in terms of vehicle problems, initially the 4th generation (2003 - 2009) 4Runner didn't earn our top "Seal of Awesome" rating because it received poor crash test ratings for rear impacts. However it's proven to have one of the lowest driver death rates out of all vehicles (not just SUVs), so we've bumped it back up to our top award.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,160 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Toyota 4Runner steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Toyota 4Runner Owner Comments

problem #5

Dec 112020

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 163,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle displayed a check engine light due to a non sealing gas cap. This condition also disables the stability control system. Vehicle lost control on wet conditions and was unable to recover due to all traction and stabilization systems being turned off due to a check engine light (faulty gas cap). I have owned the vehicle for 6 years and have put over 80,000 miles on it without incident. Vehicle was in motion traveling the speed limit on a rainy road.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

problem #4

May 312018

4Runner

  • 119,000 miles
Whenever I accelerate on the uphill or high accelerate then odor became really horrible, harsh smell, smell like tnt firework, either matches then egg rotten. I suspect the exhaust system seem faulty. I went multiple auto shop they mention it could be related to exhaust manifold but when I described that the odor came out from outside not interior air vent then they started to re-check my exhaust and said I am all good to drive as well, its "ok". the odor is frustrating, annoying. And the steering, I don't know how did my cv axle is leaking, I hopefully it will not break out when I'm driving to other state.

- Oroville, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 092010

4Runner

  • 40,000 miles
A steering vibration occurs at highway speeds between 65 mph to 80 mph. A new set of tires where installed and balanced properly at discount tire but the steering vibration would not go away. Then I had the store change the tires and install another set of four thinking bad tires where installed. The tires are dunlop grandtrek at 20 what Toyota originally puts on the car. However, the steering vibration is still there. I have had the tires balanced a multiple times and the problem is not fixed. I even took it to the dealer to balance them and they also checked the steering and suspensions and tires and found nothing wrong. However, there is still vibrations at highway speeds.

- Troy, MI, USA

problem #2

Feb 132010

4Runner

  • 20,000 miles
My fiance had purchased a 2008 4 runner from a local dealer about 1 and 1/2 years ago. We've had problems with the alignment on this vehicle, which havwe3 been looked at, and supposidly "fixed" before. The last time it was "fixed" was aboutn 6 months ago. Today was the first time I have ridden, for a long period of time, in it. We took about a 3 6 hour trip in it and within about an hour or two I was on the phone with our Toyota dealership trying to get it fixed for her. Me being an alfred state graduate and around cars all of my life know that something is not right. Feels like there is not enough caster in the vehicle. It darts lanes. I was none the less aggrivated when she called me crying telling me that there was nothing wrong with her vehicle, or as the tech had told her "it was normal. This will become a problem when her vehicle darts to another lane, kills someone, and we are left to pay for such and unfortunate situation. The only thing that the dealership can do is refund her extended warranty money that at closing, that was told to us, was told to us was it only did not cover brakes and tires. This is not a pitty letter but a please help us and others that may have the same problem. Please feel free to call me there is more to the story.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #1

Dec 012008

4Runner

  • 3,800 miles
Every time I take a tight left U turn, with my 2008 Toyota 4runner, a metal to metal thumping sound occurs. My Toyota service man said that this is normal. That Toyota no longer provides a rubber piece between the two offending metal parts like it did in the previous generations of 4 runners.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

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