2016 Toyota 4runner
The Verdict
The 2016 Toyota 4runner has 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (31 complaints) and electrical (25 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 79/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota 4runner, consider the 2024 model year which has 89% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 89% fewer complaints
View the 2024 Toyota 4runner dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 2
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling one 2016 Toyota 4Runner vehicle manufactured November 1, 2016 and one 2017 Lexus GX460 vehicle manufactured November 16, 2016. The af...
Risk
The improper inflation of the passenger air bag may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota dealers have replaced the passenger side air bag modules, free of charge. Toyota notified the affected dealers on December 15, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
Gulf States Toyota, Inc (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2016-2017 4Runner vehicles equipped with the TFORCE accessory package. The fasteners for the aftermarket roof rack may have been improper...
Risk
If the roof rack fasteners loosen, the roof rack may detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the roof rack fasteners, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States custome...
Reported Jan 5, 2017
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2016 Toyota 4runner. No spam, no marketing.
Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 354 | 34 | 18 | 47 | 39 |
| 2001 | 123 | 8 | 9 | 20 | 30 |
| 2002 | 157 | 26 | 11 | 23 | 34 |
| 2003 | 467 | 66 | 17 | 113 | 40 |
| 2004 | 469 | 74 | 51 | 47 | 34 |
| 2005 | 311 | 31 | 24 | 33 | 23 |
| 2006 | 266 | 27 | 36 | 23 | 28 |
| 2007 | 85 | 28 | 19 | 11 | 11 |
| 2008 | 44 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 23 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 2010 | 29 | 11 | 92 | 4 | 5 |
| 2011 | 28 | 6 | 111 | 8 | 5 |
| 2012 | 6 | 7 | 70 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 27 | 4 | 30 | 14 | 1 |
| 2015 | 35 | 3 | 29 | 16 | 2 |
| 2016 | 31 | 5 | 25 | 10 | 6 |
| 2017 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 2 |
| 2019 | 30 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 4 |
| 2020 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 19 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
See how the 2016 Toyota 4runner stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
The paint is failing on this vehicle. The color is 8S6 Nautical Blue Metallic. The paint is peeling on the roof, hood, and two doors. The failure has been confirmed by a body shop.
We were traveling down the mountain of Mt. Nebo in Dardanelle, AR, around 1:08pm on Friday, May 22, 2026. It had been misty rain for a few hours. As we were traveling down the switchbacks of the mountain, we pressed on the brake to slow the vehicle; however, the vehicle did not slow down any. Since we were coming to the next curve in the switchback, the decision was made to drive the car into a tree vs. risking flipping the car over the side of the mountain. When the vehicle collided with the tree, none of the air bags deployed. The point of impact was the front driver corner of the car. The car was traveling around 20 MPH at the time of impact (to the best of our knowledge). Problem #1-brake system failure Problem #2-Air bags failed to deploy -What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The brake system & air bags. Both are available for inspection. -How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Risk of death associated with the crash. -Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Unavailable at this time due to the extensive damage caused from the crash. -Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not to my knowledge since this happened a few hours before a holiday weekend. -Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? None that we seen.
On March 6, I was on South bound on Rt 29 in Culpeper County VA at the posted speed limit of 55mph when I hit a debris item on the road. I do not know what it was but it impacted the front skid plate and seems to be no other damage from the impact. There was no contact with the bumper, wheels or otherwise. There was no sudden change in speed or loss of control at all. The most dangerous result of this was the deployment of all the airbags (except passenger front airbag, there were no passengers). A police report was filed with Culpeper County Sheriff (case# 2603-0033) and my insurance agency (USAA claim # 016632631-800). The shop where the vehicle was towed (Ace Collision in Madison, VA) expressed surprise at the total deployment of the air bags given the scenario. There were no warning lamps on, the vehicle was in perfect operating condition and all recalls have been addressed according to CarFax
I am reporting premature clear coat failure on a 2016 Toyota 4Runner in Magnetic Gray Metallic. The vehicle has approximately 120,000 miles and has been properly maintained, including regular washing and professional ceramic coating. The clear coat on the hood and roof (horizontal panels) is severely peeling and delaminating. The protective clear layer has failed, and the base coat is beginning to oxidize. This is not the result of neglect, damage, or improper care. The condition appears to be premature material or manufacturing failure of the clear coat. I have contacted Toyota corporate and opened a case. I was informed there are currently no other documented cases for gray paint and that additional complaints would be required before further investigation. I have read numerous reports in online owner forums indicating this is a common issue affecting 4Runners and other Toyota models, particularly on sun-exposed horizontal panels. However, Toyota has not formally addressed this issue for gray paint vehicles. I am submitting this complaint to document a potential widespread clear coat defect and to request further review.
My 4Runner is hard starting all the time. I’ve replaced the battery, tested the alternator etc. It sounds exactly like the problem of the fuel pump recall. The 4Runner was recalled from 2014-2015, my car was technically put together in Sept 2015, but is labeled a 2016. I believe my fuel pump is failing. I am extremely nervous it is going to not start one day while I am out camping.
Rear view camera / backup camera randomly displays blanks screen. Screen has no other issues noted. Has been occurring over the past couple years.
I have a 2016 Toyota 4Runner at 143,011 miles. When it hit 125,000 mile mark the backup camera stopped working intermittently. The screen in the car goes blank. Turning the car on/off or changing gears does not affect this issue. It’s random and seems to becoming more frequent as more miles are put on. I will take it in however when I called them they said since it’s not a known issue I will have to replace it and it’s not cheap!
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera displayed a blank screen. An independent mechanic or dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,293.
PAINT CLEAR COAT BUBBLING ISSUES REGARDING ROOF AND REAR BUMPER
Wiring harness to rear window defogger melted causing the rear window to crack and shatter. Safe lite replaced the window and recommended the harness not be reconnected. Told me it was not uncommon. Vehicle was not being used at the time. It was in my driveway when the window blew outward. Inspected by Safe lite, Reported to Liberty Mutual. No warning light, rear defogger was not in use, car was off.
On 5/11/2025, my husband and I were returning home from the grocery store. I was operating the vehicle at the time of the incident. Upon arriving at our residence, I pulled into our driveway, which has a slight downward incline. As in our usual practice, I attempted to stop in front of the garage to unload groceries before entering, as the hatch of our vehicle can come in contact with the garage door when opened inside. While aligning the vehicle with the garage door, I began breaking and turning slightly to the left. However, as I attempted to come to a complete stop in front of the closed garage door, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated forward. Despite applying the brakes, the vehicle continued moving and crashed through the closed garage door. Due to the steering wheel being slightly turned, the vehicle veered left upon entering the garage, striking the left interior wall and a 32 foot ladder that was leaning against it. The impact with the wall and ladder brought the vehicle to a stop although the engine continued to rev and the vehicle attempted to move forward. My husband instructed me to shut off the engine, which I did immediately. My husband was not injured in the incident. I sustained pain in my left shoulder and upper left back. A medical evaluation indicated that the pain is expected to subside within a few weeks; imaging will be conducted if symptoms persist. I have filed both auto and homeowner's insurance claims regarding the incident. Additionally, I contacted the dealership, which advised me to report the issue to the manufacturers corporate office. They noted that the vehicle is equipped with a fail-safe system designed to prevent simultaneous engagement of the brake and accelerator. This was a very scary incident that I don't want to have happen to someone else.
This vehicle has experienced the front coil spring cracking on the right front, the left front cracked at 114K miles. This is a very common issue with 2015-2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD-Pro, it is a design defect in the way the coil spring terminates and sits on the top hat and bottom spring perch. Toyota has discontinued the defective parts and redesigned the spring perch on the updated strut and uses a different spring, but it is not recalled and should be as this is a safety defect. A broken coil spring can cause sudden loss of control of the vehicle resulting in a crash and even death.
I drive for a living and yesterday I was driving while this happened 3 separate times. I was going 70 mph on the highway when my radio, usb ports blower motor and dash cluster power went out. I was terrified that my car would shut off while driving. Upon checking the car over, I noticed the battery mount was broken/missing pieces. The upper portion had become lose due to the broken parts and had stuck itself to my positive battery terminal. Lots of sparks when I tried to remove it. I finally got it broke loose using a piece of wood instead of my hands. Very scary.
The entire exterior body clear coat is peeling off. This started about 1.5 years ago on the tailgate. It has now spread to the hood and the top of the vehicle. I called Toyota customer care, and they indicated this a known widespread problem with this vehicle make and model. So far, only the pearl white color has been recalled as the result of numerous consumer complaints. My vehicle color is nautical blue- Toyota indicated there has not been enough consumer complaints yet for this color for it to be recalled. Toyota suggested I log a complaint here in hopes it will result in a recall.
Picked up a Gal to go out on a date. Turned the vehicle on and got about 1 mile down the road when I started to smell , like a hot , burning electrical smoke . My Date , sitting in the passenger seat says Her seat is get warm , then says , it's getting really hot ! I looked at the seat warmer switch and noticed and said , weird , the switch isn't even on . Then the smoke became very apparent as we got onto the Freeway and we were compelled to pull over as the electrical components or wiring were on the verge of catching fire , where the Electic Seat switch is located .
X-REAS sport enhancement system is failing in a vehicle (2016 Toyota 4 Runner) with 58,000 miles that has always been driven on city streets. Front struts and rear shock absorbers are both leaking and require replacement.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota 4Runner equipped with an Ironman 4x4 USA, Part: Pro Forge upper control arm. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E051000 (Suspension) however, the contact stated that after calling and leaving messages with the manufacturer regarding the recall, the contact had not received a call back. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Parts distribution disconnect.
This vehicle transmission is demonstrating transmission shuddering problems, We have returned this car three time for the same repair. The highly reputable transmission has cited direct purchases of this part from Toyota has constantly have quality issues with the torque converter, This problem was inspected and confirmed by dealer and independent service center. They both concluded the same diagnose, There were no warning messages. We fear travelling on interstate roads is hazardous.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that rodents had chewed through the soy-based wiring. The electrical wiring was replaced out of pocket; however, the failure had recurred twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 29,922.
Passenger side back seat seatbelt broke under normal wear and tear.
77 total