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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:
67,205 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.

2007 Toyota 4Runner miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2007 Toyota 4Runner Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

Aug 152022

4Runner

  • miles

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

Hello My Frame is rotted beyond safety standards, rotted way faster than the sheetmetal on the rest of the truck, leaving my vehicle unsafe for the road. Yes, it is available for inspection, and the local Toyota dealer did have a look and rendered it unsafe for the road. Apparently when the rust finally breaks, I will be hurled into oncoming traffic, endangering myself, my passengers and other drivers and passengers on the road nearby. No lamps, lights or other warnings were noted, yes, this vehicle was inspected by Charlie's Toyota in Augusta, Maine and deemed unsafe for the road due to dangerous frame corrosion, particularly surrounding the steering control arm, and rear axle control arm mounts causing severe safety hazards. There was a label saying the frame was sealed by the manufacturer, so I do not see how this is possible.

- Augusta, ME, USA

problem #20

Jun 132021

4Runner

  • miles
My 4runners frame is rotted out on the passenger side after an accident and I do not believe it is safe to drive because of this; moreover, there are other areas of the vehicle that were rotted out due to rust, like the vehicles gas tank.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #19

Oct 072021

4Runner 8-cyl

  • miles
The Undercarriage of my 2007Toyota 4runner sport has irregular rusting issue. The truck has 128,000 miles on it and has been well maintained and garaged most of its life. I was under it the other day to check the exhaust system and noticed the frame is rusting like no other car I know of. Even cars that sat in junkyards for decades. I know they had a recall for similar issues with other vehicles within the same year. However, when I spoke with Toyota they were uninterested in helping me and told me it was my problem. Other than the frame rust the truck is in perfect condition. Is this something that you can help me with. I see I am not alone having this issue and that it is well reported. Please let me know what my options are for getting this defect corrected by Toyota. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Waldwick, NJ, USA

problem #18

Jul 132021

4Runner

  • miles

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

Recently bought this. Owner said there was a recall about it. There isn-??t, at least yet. The front passengerside & back driverside doors won-??t unlock remotely. That could be a problem after an accident or if needing to enter the car immediately. I haven-??t taken it anywhere, but it is available to be inspected. There weren-??t any lights/warnings indicating a problem. The date & mileage listed is current. I don-??t know when it actually started.

- Rome , GA, USA

problem #17

Mar 252019

4Runner

  • miles
Codes P1442, P1445, P2441, P1441. Had to install a new Secondary Air Injection System. Defective emissions system. I (service station) mistakenly bypassed the system in order to save several thousand dollars when the SAIS was known to be defective in these vehicles.

- Germantown , MD, USA

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problem #16

Oct 252020

4Runner

  • 178,000 miles
During use of my rear window defroster, the rear window popped and shattered into the interior of the car.

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #15

Sep 032020

4Runner

  • 100,000 miles

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

Vehicle has premature excessive rust of the frame and associated components and should have been included in the same recall my 05 sequoia (as well as Tacoma and Tundra) of the same era since all were manufactured with the same process that lacked adequate application of rust protection/coating. Many others on here as well as online on other sites also are reporting this generation of 4runner to have rusting. I have rusted motor mounts that cause motor vibration, rusted brackets holding my gas tank to the frame, I have had to replace all transmission lines due to rust that left me stranded while moving across the country. I have had to do replace several rusted parts like cv axels, wheel barrings, and possibly rusted steering box leak/rack and pinion (conflicting info from2 mechanics so undetermined). I purchased this in 2014 and just paid it off and need help as it should have lasted me more than 7 yrs and should not have had this kind of rust in yrs 7-11 after being made! it has low miles and should have lasted many years to come. Everything else is in excellent condition but this frame issue they excluded this model from needs to be extended for 4runners in the same generations of the recall mentioned above. This is leaving many drivers who paid the extra pricetag to have a Toyota left with a finacial loss of purchase as well as loss of use of a vehicle. Please look at all the complaints. Some are mislabeled on this site but descriptions show it is a frame issue that causes many secondary issues/related repairs. I have taken excellent care of this vehicle and just out a lot more money into it at the dealership with repairs since no one said it was rusted like this. After moving, I have had 3 non-dealership mechanics tell me it is bad. Please contact me with an update.

- Venice, FL, USA

problem #14

Apr 012020

4Runner

  • 154,000 miles
Frame rust so bad that holes are starting to appear.

- Pensacola, WA, USA

problem #13

Mar 272020

4Runner

  • 186,000 miles
Severe frame corrosion; transmission crossmember has holes in it, front frame portion is badly rotten and cracking. Front frame cradles suspension has rust holes and steering supports are rotten and was told by mechanic it is unsafe to drive.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #12

Oct 012018

4Runner

  • 77,000 miles
I purchased my 2007 4runner and found A-lot of rust on the under carriage of my favorite vehicle. It spreads everywhere; including the engine bay. Not only does it compromise the safety of the vehicle but it shortens the life also. I wanted to buy a new 4runner this year but after learning of the rust issues I thought twice.

- Morton, PA, USA

problem #11

Jun 012016

4Runner

  • 121,587 miles

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

The frame is rusted out. My mechanic said it will not be inspectable.

- Old Town, ME, USA

problem #10

Aug 222018

4Runner

  • 84,000 miles
The frame and suspension components are showing large amounts of rust which may lead to structural damage and possible degradation of integrity and suspension performance.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #9

Apr 152016

4Runner

  • miles
Takata recall: The sun visor on the driver and passage don't stay up any more. Keep falling.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #8

Sep 172017

4Runner

  • miles
Cpsc:secured my two children into the middle seats of my 2007 Toyota 4runner, secured myself into the driver seat, and left my residence. Less than 2 miles into the drive, I smelled a burning smell, not a smoky smell, but an intense burning aroma. The consumer stated the glass window exploded into the car while driving.

- Saint Johns, FL, USA

problem #7

Jun 172015

4Runner

  • 160,000 miles
Severe rust problem on the frame/hitch/rear hatch. We were advised not to use the rear hitch due to the rust and that it could come loose when towing..

- Conway, SC, USA

problem #6

Feb 112016

4Runner

  • 69,824 miles
Melted black back door lift gate release switch. Part#84840-35010 dealer said it was shorted out that caused it to melt and become sticky.

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #5

Apr 152015

4Runner

  • 100,000 miles
The rubber on the inside the tailgate handle has melted and eroded. It is sticky to the touch and consists of a black tar-like substance. Year round the handle is difficult to latch. This is an obviously faulty part, and should be replaced as the manufacturer is well aware of this issue. I heard that Toyota shipped a punch of faulty door openers like this in 2006.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

problem #4

Sep 292015

4Runner

  • 98,000 miles
The vehicle was in motion on a town 2 lane highway, speed limit 40, goog weather, when the car suddenly turned to the left and made a loud beeping noise. I turned it back to gain control and return to the correct line of travel. Brought it to the dealer where system tests were performed per Toyota and nothing was found to be wrong. This had happened before.

- Pawtucket, RI, USA

problem #3

Aug 222011

4Runner

  • 59,900 miles
While traveling under cruise control at 55- 60 mph on a rural 2 lane highway in nc, I came upon a vehicle in my lane traveling at a slower rate of speed. As I approached the vehicle, I accelerated to pass. While passing I could tell that the vehicle felt like it was moving faster than the 60 - 65 mph it should have been for the amount of gas I gave it, but I was concentrating on completing the pass and did not look at the speedometer. After passing and pulling back into my lane, I depressed the brake to slow down. My vehicle slowed slightly but felt odd, like it was pulling. When I removed my foot from the brake, my vehicle began rapidly accelerating on its own, quickly getting to about 70 - 75 mph before I depressed the brake again. Again the vehicle slowed slightly but felt odd, like it was pulling. When I removed my foot from the brake, my vehicle again rapidly accelerated on its own, at which point I realized something was wrong and depressed the brake harder. The vehicle pulled harder this time and started vibrating severely. I removed my foot from the brake and the vehicle again began accelerating. I shifted to neutral and brought the car to a stop on the side of the road. Over the next ~ 20 minutes I tried ~ 4 - 5 times to crank the car. Each time the engine immediately revved such that the tachometer almost instantly hit red zone, and I cut the engine off. I called Toyota's "800" phone number, and they told me to get the car to a totota dealer. Before calling a tow truck, I tried cranking the car one more time, and that time the engine cranked normally.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

problem #2

Jun 012008

4Runner

  • 23,000 miles
Purchased pre-owned 4 runner "certified? from russel Toyota 12/07 with approx 21K miles. Complained of unusual brake performance immediately but was told the vehicle was ?performing to factory specs? brake performance issues including aggressive stopping, stiff pedal, loss of pressure, and random ?anti-skid system? responses nearly caused a few accidents. On 3/14, approx 23K miles, complete brake failure, no pressure, accident avoided and coasted vehicle to a stop, pressure did not return. 4runner towed to dealer, master cylinder was ?internally leaking" and replaced. Symptoms continue and vehicle is completely unsafe. Numerous attempts have failed to re-produce the intermittent problem at the dealer and therefore the dealer keeps saying there is nothing wrong. Vehicle is unsafe and Toyota unwilling to help and referred us to ncds dispute resolution program or told us we can file a suit. This vehicle is unsafe and should be replaced. Breaks continue to fail/malfunction approximately 1 time per week. Dealer always says no problems found.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

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