2006 Toyota 4RUNNER Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 8%of 381 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 32,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER, 8% of the 381 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 32,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I just purchased my 2006 4RUNNER and decided to take it to the shop where I work to have them do an oil change and fluid check, the mechanics brought me back and told me that my frame is rusting from the inside out and they think that in a matter of 2 yrs tops the frame will be rotted and collapse . I was terrified and in a panic my husband had taken my 4RUNNER it to his friends garage and had the whole underneath undercoated. …”
NHTSA complaint #11141373, filed 2018-10, 132,000 miles“I was backing out of a parking space, in reverse, when the engine began to rev. I hit the brakes and shifted into neutral. It revved at about 4000 RPM for a few seconds, then slowed down to a speed faster than normal idle. I put it back into reverse with brake firmly applied, at which point it returned to normal performance.”
NHTSA complaint #10312621, filed 2010-02, 52,389 miles“I recently purchased a new 2006 Toyota 4 RUNNER. I have had nothing but motor transmission, electrical failures. I have only had my vehicle for 1 month and anything and every thing has gone wrong. I even had to give my daughter cpr on the side of the road due to carbon monoxide inhalation. She went into respiratory failure do to this she has severe asthma.”
NHTSA complaint #10154778, filed 2006-04, 1,200 miles“I have a 2006 Toyota 4 runner that has been developing excessive rust flaking on the rear axle housing,brake components, frame and rear suspension componets.we have had warranty work performed approx. 1 year ago and the mechanics at Toyota stated they needed to replace or repair various transmission lines before they would return the vehicle to my wife. I asked them what am I suppose to do about all the rust problems and they really didnt have a answer and said I need to talk to the service manager that was not there at the time. …”
NHTSA complaint #10904524, filed 2016-09, 100,000 miles“We own a 2006 Toyota 4runner - during the first year we took it in three times and told them that when we are at a stop the SUV would shift fwd while still applying the brake. We took it back again the 2nd year, still with the same complaint. Each time they had no answer as to what the problem was cause they could never get the problem to repeat. To date the SUV still does it and would say at least once every two days so much so we have just become used to the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10304773, filed 2010-02, 12,000 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…
- 10109408Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to assist in the identification and location of serial numbers on 2006 -2014 model year remanufactured automatic transmissions.
- 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…
- 10109493Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to assist in the identification and location of serial numbers on 2006 - 2014 model year automatic transmissions.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 38% |
| 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 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER
143 complaintsOther or unknown
78 complaintsSuspension
65 complaintsBrakes
34 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsSteering
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsTires
13 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsEngine
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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