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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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,266 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2008 Toyota 4Runner Owner Comments

problem #11

Sep 102020

4Runner

  • miles

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

Door lock actuator failure

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #10

Jun 162020

4Runner 8-cyl

  • miles
Excessive frame rust is rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #9

May 012020

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Frame rust. I have seen the recalls on other Toyota vehicles of the era due to premature frame rust. I know that the 4runner should be on this list as well. It's rare to see a 4runner with no frame rust. The frame rusts before any other part of the vehicle.

- Okawville, IL, USA

problem #8

Oct 192018

4Runner

  • miles

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

Vehicles undercarriage including frame, rear axle and manifolds are so severely rusted that mechanics can not maintain it properly putting me at risk.

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #7

Mar 102018

4Runner

  • 128,000 miles
Frame rust is so pervasive on my 2008 4runner that the Toyota dealer refuses to make necessary repairs to transmission. The dealer suggested that I "walk away from the vehicle", citing future rust-related problems with caliper replacement and other routine maintenance. Rust on differential axle led to the shearing off of the fluid drain bolt, rendering that impossible to drain/refill. Attached are notes from the dealer's maintenance engineer, citing rusted cross member bolts and other components interfering with necessary repairs. I have serious concerns about the ongoing safety and road-worthiness of this vehicle.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

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problem #6

Jul 302018

4Runner

  • 155,000 miles
I was waiting for another car to pull out of a parking space at the carwash. As I inched forward with my foot off the accelerator, the car suddenly started accelerating and when I braked it didn't stop. With my foot on the brake and the car accelerating, I was able to steer away from the car pulling out. My car stopped when I hit a rock about 18" high along the driveway. The damage to my car is $3,200. I'll have the invoice when I pick the car up from the repair shop in a day or two. The mileage I'm submitting isn't exact since I don't have my car to look at the odometer.

- Kamas, UT, USA

problem #5

Jan 262018

4Runner

  • 154,000 miles

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

My frame brackets that hold my suspension and other parts like my fuel tank and driveline are rusting off and my mechanic says don't bother because it'll cost more than the truck is worth. It needs a full frame change!! if I would have been driving it when the last part broke at highway speed instead of the 20 mph on a regular road we wouldn't be chatting right now because I would have been killed along with my passenger and I had just got out of a 3 day stay at a local hospital so I was definitely going slower than normal. It was my complete drivers rear spring perch and track bar off the axle and the frame side is just as bad. I'm worried one day something is going to break off at highway speed and if I don't get hurt I'll hit someone else or worse. I've enclosed 5 out of 42 photo's of the rust its serious and I need help along with lots of other 4th gen Toyota 4runner owners that will sooner or later get injured or kill someone due to the serious failures of our vehicle frames rusting. I went looking to replace the brackets and they don't sell them separately I was told I need the frame it's the only way to get what I need. So can you help me and all the other owners going through this please! we were left out of the big frame recall Toyota did because there are more 4runners that all the other 3 combined and it's very sad this happened!! the vehicle was towed to (mild to wild) 217 derby ave / orange, ct to get the parts needed fabricated from scratch because you can't buy them separately you need to buy the whole frame!

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #4

May 302012

4Runner

  • 18,900 miles
Rear hatch door latch failure. The hatch release has deteriorated to the point of being unable to open the hatch in the case of an emergency. This is a design flaw that Toyota is well aware of. Initially I thought for several years that this was an isolated problem but quickly found there are many complaints regarding this defective hatch release. Toyota has corrected the problem on new models and in Japan but 2007-2008 models in the U.S. still have the defective part. In the case of a flat tire & retrieval of the spare tire or other emergency, there is no way to get the hatch opened. Searching your own database will uncover countless complaints for the exact same issue regarding the defective hatch release. Please issue a safety recall for Toyota model years of 2007-2008 with this defective latch release mechanism. Thank you.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #3

May 292009

4Runner

  • 30 miles
Several seconds after coming to a stop I feel a bump as though I was hit from behind. This started from day one of purchase. It was checked several times while under warranty and problem could not be found. Now it happens when car is starting out from stopped position as well and happening more frequently.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #2

May 012015

4Runner

  • miles
Unacceptable, intolerable bad sulfur smell when accelerating up hills. Well known issue. Please do something about this. If it's the catalytic converters then they should be recalled.

- Arnold, MO, USA

problem #1

Jan 302013

4Runner 6-cyl

  • miles
I am trying to get resolution for recalls that need to completed my truck. I have called the Toyota recall center on 30 January, 13 may, and one other date that I can't remember about the status of getting my truck fixed. My Toyota recall case # is [xxx]. I am stationed in germany serving in the army. Based on conversations with Toyota recall center that there is no time frame to get a resolution for the recall on my truck fixed because I live in germany. It has been over 100 days with no resolution. I find it hard to believe that Toyota can't figure out how to get the parts and labor completed because I know there are Toyota dealerships all across germany. Any assistance on this matter would be helpful because I am getting no where. The phone number below will not work. Please dial [xxx]to call me in germany or email me. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Apo, AE, USA

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