2018 Toyota 4Runner: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the steering, fuel system, and airbags. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018- Owner complaints
- 56
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes reported
- 7
- 2 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2018 Toyota 4Runner: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which 4Runner is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Toyota 4Runner. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | AWD, 4WD, RWD | 18 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A 4Runner that averages well under the EPA 18 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Toyota 4Runner, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Steering11No crashes
The most common complaint is the steering wheel shaking or wobbling at highway speeds, usually between 50 and 65 mph. New tires, repeated balancing, and alignments rarely fix it, and dealers often call it normal. Many reports begin on nearly new trucks. Other owners describe loose, slow steering that does not return to center, lets the truck drift, and makes strong crosswinds hard to correct. Some reports mention pulling to one side, a front-end clunk that led to steering shaft replacement, or a feeling of losing control. The top of the steering wheel also flakes and delaminates.
Fuel system8No crashes
Most of these reports concern recall 20V682000 for the fuel pump, and the main complaint is that dealers had no parts to do the repair, with no date for when parts would arrive. Before the fix, some trucks stalled while driving at speeds from 25 to 55 mph, sometimes with the check engine and traction control lights on. One stall came with inoperable brake lights. Owners also hear the fuel pump humming while the truck sits parked. Failures are reported between roughly 20,000 and 30,500 miles.
The fuel pump keeps running and making noise long after the truck is shut off. It stops only when the ignition is cycled or the doors are locked. One owner smelled gasoline in the garage while this was happening. Another report describes repeated stalls at low speed, around 15 to 20 mph, just after turning and starting to accelerate. Shifting to neutral brought power back. These symptoms match the fuel pump complaints filed under the fuel system category.
Airbags66 crashes
Every report here involves a crash, and most say the airbags did not deploy in serious frontal impacts. The crashes include hitting cattle at 55 mph, striking a large exit sign at 80 mph, and swerving around a deer into a guardrail. Several guardrail reports look like repeat filings of the same crash. One injury is recorded. Another report has nothing to do with deployment. It describes a totaled truck that was repaired poorly and returned to the road in unsafe condition.
Brakes4No crashes
The brake pedal suddenly sinks close to the floor and the truck does not stop when it should. Drivers have to pump the pedal, and stopping distances get longer. Some owners say the pedal slowly sinks at a stop and the truck creeps forward, so they shift into park at lights. One report describes the wheels locking and pulling to one side. Dealers and mechanics often cannot reproduce the problem, even after bleeding the brakes. Reported mileages fall around 21,000 to 26K.
Transmission31 crash
These reports cover three separate failures. In one crash, the truck rolled backward quickly as the driver got out, dragged him, and hit a fence. Another owner describes a surging feeling that got worse until the truck stalled and a long list of warning lights came on, after a dealer first found nothing at about 14900 miles. A third report describes a front differential that failed with no warning, damaged a front axle, and made turning difficult. The owner cites a Toyota service bulletin, but Toyota refused to cover the repair.
Electrical3No crashes
Power door locks stop working with no warning, first on one side and then the other, and one owner was quoted almost $1000 for repair out of warranty. Rodents chewing engine wiring caused warning lights and rough shaking at startup, with a repair cost over $1000. The most serious report describes a sudden total loss of power on a highway, including braking and steering. The driver had to stop with the emergency brake, and the truck would not restart.
Body and structure3No crashes
The front bumper pulls away from the body as its retaining clips work loose while driving. One owner went through 10 dealer visits without a lasting fix and was told the problem is specific to the 2018 model. That report puts the onset around 31K miles. Another owner found severe rust on the frame that holds the radiator, and the dealer painted over it instead of replacing it. One report says the driver door opened while driving.
Suspension2No crashes
Front coil springs crack and snap in cold weather with no warning. In one case this was found during a tire change at 25K miles, and the dealer declared the truck unsafe to drive. Replacement parts were back-ordered for months, which left the owner without a vehicle. The other report describes front-end and steering wheel shake that several dealer visits did not fix, plus a fuel pump that ran with the key out of the ignition.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints 4Runner owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Vehicle steering shakes between 60-65 mph. After 4 different sets of tires in 3 weeks, multiple road force balances, tire rotations, an alignment, an alignment checks, brakes checked, a “visual inspection” of suspension components from two Toyota dealerships, the vehicle continues to vibrate at highways speeds.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2021
My vehicle was in a collision at 55 miles an hour. Hit 3 grown cows in the highway at nighttime. Totaled my vehicle in the airbags, never deployed period Turn off.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2024
How the 2018 compares with other 4Runner years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 4Runner years, about 1.7 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Steering114
- Fuel system82
- Airbags63
- Brakes44
- Transmission31
- Electrical33
Where the 2018 fits in the 4Runner's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the ninth model year of the 4Runner's fifth generation (2010–2024).
It includes the 2013 update.
What changed for 2013
- Revised front and rear designs
- Updated interior features
Recalls to confirm (5)
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
20V682000Fuel systemNov 2020
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.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
19V670000SteeringSep 2019
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.
Risk: Loose fasteners may cause a loss of vehicle control, or cause an accessory to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
18V753000EquipmentOct 2018
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.".
Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
17V831000EquipmentDec 2017
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.".
Risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
17V763000Body and structureNov 2017
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.
Risk: If the Billet Grille Overlay detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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Cars shoppers compare with the Toyota 4Runner, with their own 2018 checklists.
2018 owner complaints, side by side
- 2018 Toyota 4Runner56
- Nissan Pathfinder74
- Chevrolet Traverse416
- Ford Explorer651
- Subaru Outback779
- Jeep Grand Cherokee804
- Jeep Wrangler1,750
