Reliable Auto DB

2020 Toyota 4Runner reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota 4Runner over 7 years — 7 per year. The other 4Runner years sit at about the same rate: their median is 8 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Labels.

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

33

Per year

7

Recalls

1

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (5 of 33), then Service brakes (5) and Steering (4). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 4Runner has 65 complaints, 13 per year, and the 2021 has 36 complaints, 7 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2021.

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 2020 Toyota 4Runner. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Labels 2022-07-06 · NHTSA campaign 22V480000
Summary Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.

Complaints by component (33 total)

Air bags
5
Service brakes
5
Steering
4
Suspension
4
Back-over prevention
3
Forward collision avoidance
3
Exterior lighting
2
Structure
2
Wheels
2
Chest clip, buckle, and harness
1
Electrical system
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Powertrain
1
Visibility
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

1020207202142022620233202432026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The door actuator have been replaced a minimum of eight times. Huge safety risk involved since we never know if the vehicle is going to lock. Toyota continues to replace them but not addressing the underlying issue. Not…"
    Electrical system, Visibility · filed 2026-08-28
  • "Driver side headlight goes out approximately every 6 months. Sometimes the light only has to be “wiggled” in its connection and the light comes back on. Sometimes the light must be replaced. The light has also exploded…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-08-25
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and reversing, the rearview camera intermittently displayed a blank image. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not…"
    Back-over prevention · filed 2026-03-30
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while reversing, he became aware that the rear-view camera failed to display an image. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became…"
    Back-over prevention · filed 2024-05-22
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No…"
    Steering · filed 2024-05-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Toyota 4RUNNER SUV 2WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2020 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 16 19 17 MPG $3800
4Runner four-wheel drive 4L, 6-cyl Automatic (5-speed) All-wheel drive 16 19 17 MPG $3800
4Runner four-wheel drive 4L, 6-cyl Automatic (5-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 16 19 17 MPG $3800

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 2019 Toyota 4Runner Next year 2021 Toyota 4Runner See every Toyota 4Runner model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Toyota 4Runner reliable?

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota 4Runner over 7 years — 7 per year. The other 4Runner years sit at about the same rate: their median is 8 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Labels.

What are common problems with a 2020 Toyota 4Runner?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (5 of 33), then Service brakes (5) and Steering (4). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2020 Toyota 4Runner more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 4Runner has 65 complaints, 13 per year, and the 2021 has 36 complaints, 7 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2021.

Has the 2020 Toyota 4Runner been recalled?

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Toyota 4Runner?

Owners have filed 33 complaints about the 2020 Toyota 4Runner with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Toyota 4Runner get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Toyota 4Runner is 17 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.