AI Damage2023 Toyota 4runner: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Toyota 4runner filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most often about tires and exterior lighting. The maker issued 96 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 33
- involving a crash
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 96
What fails most often
- 1 Tires 12% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 9% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 8 Backover prevention 6% of all complaints
- Tires: 4 complaints (12% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 3 complaints (9% of all).
- Steering: 3 complaints (9% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (9% of all).
- Air bags: 2 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 33 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Engine | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle drove off a hill, rolled over and landed on its top, and all the seat belts simultaneously unbuckled, causing all the passengers to hit their heads against the roof simultaneously. Additionally, the contact noticed an abnormal fuel odor. The contact stated that she was unable to exit the vehicle.
The car just accelerated while during into parking lot. I used brake but did work and hit on to the pole. It accelerated pretty fast. The parking lot store has a video of me coming in slow and the the car accelerated.
My vehicle is rear-ended by a large earth mover branded as a Kenworth. My vehicle was then pushed into another. After the initial impact, my engine went racing above 5,000 RPM. It was disengaged from the transmission.
We had made collision accident with a brand new 4runner as it appears in the uploaded pictures, the airbags didn’t deploy and never show any notification on the dashboard that there is a problem in the airbag system,after the accident a notification came to the screen that the airbag system malfunctioned and i have to…
There were no warning lights, notifications of car crossing in in front of us, the assisted brake system did not activate, the air bags did not deploy, the on car assistance showed no accident reported. Other than the seat belts in the vehicle, no other safety features engaged.
As a result, the contact collided with two vehicles. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained shoulder, back, and forearm injuries. Medical attention was needed. The contact stated that the two other vehicles involved needed medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a wrecking lot.
Vehicle Component: Solid Rear Axle Assembly / Rear Suspension GeometryDefect Summary: The vehicle exhibits a factory manufacturing defect causing severe rear axle misalignment.
The doors had to be manually locked and unlocked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed to be a known issue, and the locks were replaced. Shortly after the vehicle was repaired, the failure reoccurred.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,041 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 50% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 4runner has 41 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 33, below average.
What to check before buying
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2019 – 2024 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit an abnormal noise that may be described as…
Some 2019 – 2024 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit an abnormal noise that may be described as cracking, clicking, or creaking from the driver and/or passenger front seat cushion track. This condition may occur…
- Customers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the following
• The Parking Brake Pedal feels loose or requires full depression for proper engagement. • When not fully depressed, effectiveness on steep surfaces may be reduced, allowing the vehicle to roll with transmission in…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Customers state Parking Brake efficiency concerns. The conditions can include the following
• The PKB Pedal feels loose or requires full depression for proper engagement. • Ineffective on steep surfaces, allowing the vehicle to roll with transmission in Neutral. • Ineffective on steep surfaces, allowing the…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to…
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the…
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software…
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master…
The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased and can never be reused…
- Some 2019 – 2024 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a cracking noise from the driver and/or passenger…
Some 2019 – 2024 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a cracking noise from the driver and/or passenger front seat cushion track. This condition may occur when the front seat cushion track is at the rearmost position.
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
NHTSA lists 96 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota 4runner?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: tires, exterior lighting, steering. Total complaints: 33. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (21%), warning lights, check engine (18%), headlights and tail lights (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Toyota 4runner?
NHTSA lists 96 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2023 Toyota 4runner from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2023 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.