2018 Toyota 4Runner reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Toyota 4Runner holds 58 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 11 per year. That is more complaints per year than most 4Runner years here — over the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Fuel pump, Steering, and Labels.

2016 Toyota 4Runner Limited — Photo by RL GNZLZ from Chile, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Steering (11 of 58), then Air bags (7) and Service brakes (6). Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 4Runner has 36 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2019 has 65 complaints, 13 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Toyota 4Runner. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (5)

Recall Fuel pump 2020-11-04 · NHTSA campaign 20V682000

Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

Recall Steering 2019-09-20 · NHTSA campaign 19V670000

Summary Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. During installation, certain steering and suspension components may not have been properly tightened.

Remedy SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and re-tighten the steering and suspension fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 19, 2019. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET19B.

Recall Labels 2018-10-25 · NHTSA campaign 18V753000

Summary Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota 4Runner vehicles that SET modified to be equipped with a TRD wheel package. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on the certification label may be incorrect, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy SET will notify owners and mail them corrected certification labels, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET18A.

Recall Labels 2017-12-20 · NHTSA campaign 17V831000

Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

Recall structure, body, hood 2017-11-29 · NHTSA campaign 17V763000

Summary Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Toyota 4Runner vehicles equipped with an accessory Billet Grille Overlay installed by SET or provided by SET and installed by SET dealers. The U-nut that secures the overlay grille may fracture, allowing the Billet Grille Overlay to detach from the vehicle.

Remedy SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the securing U-nuts with upgraded hardware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 26, 2018. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17C.

Complaints by component (58 total)

Steering

Air bags

Service brakes

Engine

Fuel system, gasoline

Structure

Electrical system

Fuel and propulsion system

Suspension

Powertrain

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Seat belts

Speed control

Visibility and wipers

Back-over prevention

Exterior lighting

Seats

Tires

Wheels

Show 11 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Toyota 4Runner. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy per a Carfax report. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle…"
Electrical system · filed 2026-07-16
"The dealership Direct Motor, located in Manassas, Virginia, sold me this car in poor condition. On Sunday the 22nd, I picked up the car around 10 PM. They didn't show me any information about the car. When I picked it…"
Air bags, Service brakes, Engine · filed 2026-03-27
"this vehicle was purchased from Don Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho on 1129, 2025, upon purchasing a 2018 Toyota foreigner Limited I traded in a 2020 Acura RDX with only 50,000 miles. The salesman seemed to trustworthy. He…"
Steering, Suspension, Service brakes · filed 2026-01-10
"While my father was exiting his 2018 Toyota 4Runner SR5, the vehicle unexpectedly started reversing fairly quickly, despite no foot being on the brake. He was dragged by the vehicle while attempting to stop it outside…"
Powertrain, Speed control · filed 2025-03-25
"Fuel pump make noises and I can hear it"
Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-03-15

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2018 Toyota 4Runner SUV 2WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars
2018 Toyota 4Runner SUV AWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
4Runner two-wheel drive	4L, 6-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	17	21	18 MPG	$3600
4Runner four-wheel drive	4L, 6-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	Part-time four-wheel drive	17	20	18 MPG	$3600
4Runner four-wheel drive	4L, 6-cyl	Automatic (5-speed)	All-wheel drive	17	20	18 MPG	$3600

Specs and fitment

5th generation (N280), 2010–2024

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 , 6.6 qt capacity

Tire size P265/70R17 113S (SR5/TRD), P265/60R18 (Limited), P245/60R20 107H (TRD Pro), 245/70R17 (select trims)

Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 19V005 covers certain Toyota 4Runner vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that may explode after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature cycling, including 2014-2016 4Runner models registered in NHTSA Zone A states and territories, 2011-2016 4Runner models in Zone B, and 2010-2016 4Runner models in Zone C. Depending on the vehicle, dealers replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. NHTSA campaign 20V682 covers certain 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner vehicles among a larger Toyota and Lexus population: the low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. If the pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. That campaign expands NHTSA recall 20V-012.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Toyota 4Runner Next year 2019 Toyota 4Runner See every Toyota 4Runner model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Toyota 4Runner reliable?

What are common problems with a 2018 Toyota 4Runner?

Is the 2018 Toyota 4Runner more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 4Runner has 36 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2019 has 65 complaints, 13 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Toyota 4Runner been recalled?

The 2018 Toyota 4Runner has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Toyota 4Runner?

Owners have filed 58 complaints about the 2018 Toyota 4Runner with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Toyota 4Runner get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Toyota 4Runner is 18 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2020 Toyota 4Runner?

5th generation (N280), model years 2010-2024 in the US.

What oil does a Toyota 4Runner take?

Fifth-generation US 4.0L V6 models use 0W-20 (about 6.6 qt with filter). 2025+ sixth-generation 2.4L i-FORCE models use 0W-20 (about 5.9 qt with filter).

How much can a Toyota 4Runner tow?

The fifth-generation 4.0L V6 is rated for 5,000 lb (trailer plus cargo). The 2025+ sixth generation lists up to 6,000 lb when properly equipped; i-FORCE trims are limited to 5,000 lb with a dead-weight hitch.