2001 Toyota 4RUNNER Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 4%of 185 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 120,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the steering of the 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER, 4% of the 185 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 120,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“First there were 3 recalls 1. 135468 2. 135469 and 3. 135469 dating back to 2005 that I was never notified of and I have a very bad corrugated metal bumpers and when I drive my vehicle and I hit a bump or something in the road it feels like my car is going to turn over. I had the shocks replaced and it hasn't helped”
NHTSA complaint #11405640, filed 2021-03, 200,000 miles“Entered highway from on ramp as picked up speed steering wheel began to shake violently and began to loose control of SUV. I immediately pulled over and had it taken to shop to find excessive rust on back frame n shock causing wheel to 'basically be free floating and unattached' the vehicle is still in shop at moment and I can get pictures and a statement upon request”
NHTSA complaint #11281067, filed 2019-11, 98,005 miles“On thursday, january 21, 2010, while driving the 2001 Toyota 4 RUNNER, the steering wheel locked up causing my son to drive completely off the road crashing and flipping the SUV into a creek. The vehicle is in the process of being totaled. I did a recall research on the vehicle to find a steering loss, recall dated 2005. I purchased this vehicle in 09/07, from infinity of south atlanta. Apparently the recall had not been done by the dealership before selling to me.”
NHTSA complaint #10302952, filed 2010-01, 120,000 miles“We were told today that our 2001` Toyota 4-runner has frame rot that is inconsistent with the age of the vehicle and the condition of all the other parts on it. Frame rot that constitutes a danger to our safety when driving it. The repair technicians advised us to determine if it was part of Toyota's frame rot recall with the tacomas and other vehicles because the frame rot rust was consistent with the pattern of damage they had seen on other recalled vehicles. When we looked up our 4-runner in the recall information, supposedly Toyota hasn't included our truck in the recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10865769, filed 2016-05, 135,000 miles“On three separate occasions my 2001 Toyota forerunner has had an issue where the steering wheel pulls to the right and locks up for about a second. On each occasion I was on a right hand curve in the road and was accelerating through the turn after initially slowing down to begin the curve. On each occasion I was obeying the posted speed limit for the section of the road where the curve was located. As I began accelerating into the curve the steering wheel suddenly jerked to the right, a beeping noise occurred and the vehicle momentarily felt like the steering wheel locked up. …”
NHTSA complaint #10354396, filed 2010-09, 98,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 7% |
| 2023 | 3 | 9% |
| 2022 | 4 | 10% |
| 2021 | 13 | 36% |
| 2020 | 4 | 12% |
| 2019 | 10 | 15% |
| 2018 | 12 | 20% |
| 2017 | 2 | 6% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 8 | 9% |
| 2014 | 7 | 9% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 9% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 9 | 6% |
| 2006 | 22 | 6% |
| 2005 | 29 | 7% |
| 2004 | 32 | 5% |
| 2003 | 35 | 5% |
| 2002 | 12 | 5% |
| 2001 | 8 | 4% |
| 2000 | 21 | 4% |
| 1999 | 16 | 5% |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% |
| 1997 | 14 | 5% |
| 1996 | 3 | 2% |
| 1995 | 5 | 3% |
| 1994 | 8 | 13% |
| 1993 | 6 | 12% |
| 1992 | 2 | 4% |
| 1991 | 5 | 12% |
| 1990 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER
81 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
32 complaintsSuspension
27 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsEngine cooling
13 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsTires
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology