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2001 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

134 reports with mileage · 20 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports
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135,000 miles · May 19, 2016
SteeringSuspensionVehicle Speed Control

WE WERE TOLD TODAY THAT OUR 2001` TOYOTA 4-RUNNER HAS FRAME ROT THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONDITION OF ALL THE OTHER PARTS ON IT. FRAME ROT THAT CONSTITUTES A DANGER TO OUR SAFETY WHEN DRIVING IT. THE REPAIR TECHNICIANS ADVISED US TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS PART OF TOYOTA'S FRAME ROT RECALL WITH THE TA…

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WE WERE TOLD TODAY THAT OUR 2001` TOYOTA 4-RUNNER HAS FRAME ROT THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONDITION OF ALL THE OTHER PARTS ON IT. FRAME ROT THAT CONSTITUTES A DANGER TO OUR SAFETY WHEN DRIVING IT. THE REPAIR TECHNICIANS ADVISED US TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS PART OF TOYOTA'S FRAME ROT RECALL WITH THE TACOMAS AND OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE THE FRAME ROT RUST WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PATTERN OF DAMAGE THEY HAD SEEN ON OTHER RECALLED VEHICLES. WHEN WE LOOKED UP OUR 4-RUNNER IN THE RECALL INFORMATION, SUPPOSEDLY TOYOTA HASN'T INCLUDED OUR TRUCK IN THE RECALL. WE WERE ADVISED BY OUR AUTO REPAIR SPECIALIST THAT THE RECALL COVERED DAMAGE IN TRUCKS THAT WERE THE SAME AGE AND OVERALL CONDITION, SO IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS EATEN UP BY RUST AND WE JUST HAPPENED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FRAME ROT. THE FRAME ROT PATTERN FOUND ON OUR 4-RUNNER IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FRAME ROT FOUND ON RECALLED TOYOTA TRUCKS AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE'S STABILITY. BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND BECAUSE THE FRAME ROT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OTHER CONSUMERS TO KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF THEIR CARE OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME MAY ROT AT A RATE THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COSTS LOTS OF MONEY TO REPAIR. 4-RUNNER OWNERS SHOULD HAVE THEIR VEHICLES CHECKED FOR PREMATURE FRAME ROT, AND TOYOTA SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THE FRAME ROT IN THE 4-RUNNERS. JUST THOUGHT THAT AFTER WE WERE MADE AWARE, SO SHOULD OTHER CONSUMERS AND SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10865769

197,000 miles · Jun 8, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO AVOID THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO AVOID THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

NHTSA ODI #10724116

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION, BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, THEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED, VEHICLE BEGINS MOVING, ALL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS TURN ON, CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION (WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC). THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES AND MAY HAVE LEAD TO AT LEAST ONE FENDER BENDER WHERE…

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WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION, BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, THEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED, VEHICLE BEGINS MOVING, ALL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS TURN ON, CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION (WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC). THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES AND MAY HAVE LEAD TO AT LEAST ONE FENDER BENDER WHERE THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE FOLLOWING CAR THOUGHT THAT MY CAR WAS ACCELERATING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. AFTER STALLING, ALL 3 CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT STAY ON. AFTER PUTTING CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING ENGINE, CAR ACCELERATES ON RUNS NORMALLY UNTIL NEXT STALLING EVENT. SINCE JANUARY 2010, I HAVE BEEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT 4 TIMES. I HAVE HAD 2 GAS CAPS REPLACED, OXYGEN METER REPLACE, BREAK/ACCELERATOR PEDAL CHECKED, CHARCOAL CANISTER REPLACED, NEW BATTERY, AND SEVERAL OIL CHANGES. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND THEY SAID THEY WILL CHANGE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361739

90,000 miles · Dec 16, 2009
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED,WENT AIR BORN, AND LANDED DOWN A RAVINE. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TRAPPED BY THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED,WENT AIR BORN, AND LANDED DOWN A RAVINE. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS TRAPPED BY THE FLOOR MAT. SHE RECEIVED POLICE REPORT NUMBER 097267. SHE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO REDUCE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10296112

Official recalls

1

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.