2005 Toyota 4RUNNER Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 6%of 425 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Toyota 4RUNNER, 6% of the 425 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The rear axle rusted so badly that it started flaking apart. The frame is rusted severely in the areas where the rear suspension components attach. The gas tank skid plate rusted until it began to fall off while driving down the road and all of the areas where it was bolted to the frame completely rusted out. The exhaust also rusted through behind the muffler causing it to fall off while driving down the road. There are holes in multiple areas of the frame. I had to grind,chip, and wire brush the frame with the vehicle on jack stands in order to repaint everything and keep my vehicle going. …”
NHTSA complaint #11141370, filed 2018-10, 100,000 miles“In general, when I pull up to a stop I sometimes feel a clunk. Then, when I start again, it feels like the brake release is delayed with another clunk. There's a few lexus gx470 owners (same engine and drivetrain as 4runner) that are complaining at other sites. I've been told the two piece driveshaft gets air compressed inside, and when the compression leaks out, you get the clunk. Lexus is apparently fixing the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10206146, filed 2007-10, 34,090 miles“I am writing today to alert you to a potential accelerator problem with the 2005 Toyota 4runner SUV. In mid-december, my husband and I were driving on the highway when the car inexplicably accelerated, going from approximately 40 MPH to about 60 MPH within a matter of seconds. My husband, who has had professional driving instruction, put the car into neutral and was able to slow the car down, at which point the accelerator (which was moving towards the floor without a foot on it) popped back up and the brakes began working again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10306653, filed 2010-02, 83,000 miles“I have a 2005 Toyota 4runner and it has a loud clunk in the drivetrain every time I stop.when it clunks it also lunges forward causing a few close calls I have addressed this issue with Toyota and they say it is a normal operating characteristic. The problem occurs in the 03-06 4runners,tacomas and lexus gx470 Toyota has a t.s.b on the lexus model only not the Toyota 4runners or tacomas which means at least to me that it is a defect!!! I have contacted the dealership and they say their is no TSB so they cant do anything I contacted Toyota and got no response. …”
NHTSA complaint #10360552, filed 2010-10, 125,000 miles“2005 Toyota 4RUNNER sr5 was taken into a certified Toyota mechanic for inspection and the mechanic showed me the undercarriage of the vehicle, namely the frame and other associated parts. He warned that it would be difficult to perform maintenance on the vehicle if the frame is rotted through. The vehicle was put on a lift for inspection.”
NHTSA complaint #11180197, filed 2019-02, 228,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10142876Jun 8, 2018TSB: REVISION NOTICE June 8, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to exclude 2016 ? 2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. ? The Repair Procedure section has been updated. May…
- 10134454Aug 24, 2015TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
- 10111564May 20, 2015TSB: Some 2004 - 2015 model year Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, and 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a cyclical grinding or groaning noise coming from the front differential in 2WD that goes…
- 10111181May 20, 2015TSB: Some 2004 - 2015 model year Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, and 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a cyclical grinding or groaning noise coming from the front differential in 2WD that goes…
- 10109405Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information regarding transmission and/or park neutral position switch installation. If the manual shift lever is rotated prior to…
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109403Oct 16, 2014TSB: World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) was introduced to reduce maintenance costs and increase the mileage between scheduled maintenance checks. Here are…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10133773Mar 31, 2014As part of the settlement described above, Toyota will install Smart Stop Technology on the above listed model and model year vehicles. This feature will cut engine power in case…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 43% |
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 6% |
| 2018 | 3 | 5% |
| 2017 | 1 | 3% |
| 2016 | 6 | 7% |
| 2015 | 4 | 5% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 10 | 45% |
| 2008 | 27 | 28% |
| 2007 | 11 | 7% |
| 2006 | 30 | 8% |
| 2005 | 25 | 6% |
| 2004 | 36 | 5% |
| 2003 | 39 | 6% |
| 2002 | 33 | 15% |
| 2001 | 32 | 17% |
| 2000 | 42 | 9% |
| 1999 | 23 | 7% |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% |
| 1997 | 25 | 10% |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% |
| 1995 | 14 | 8% |
| 1994 | 3 | 5% |
| 1993 | 3 | 6% |
| 1992 | 4 | 8% |
| 1991 | 5 | 12% |
| 1990 | 14 | 18% |
| 1988 | 2 | 22% |
| 1987 | 2 | 40% |
Other parts of the 2005 Toyota 4RUNNER
185 complaintsSuspension
77 complaintsOther or unknown
68 complaintsBrakes
32 complaintsSteering
29 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
26 complaintsEngine
21 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsTires
12 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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