2006 Toyota 4RUNNER Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 6%of 381 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 126,954miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the visibility of the 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER, 6% of the 381 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 126,954 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“2006 4RUNNER rear glass exploded/shattered after using defrost - was denied reimbursement despite this being a known issue and faulty defrost connector. After dropping my 5 year old son off for school on 1/15/2021, I pulled up to a stop sign and heard a loud crash from the back of the car. I looked in the rear view mirror and the back glass had completely shattered and pieces were coming off into the back seat. Nothing had hit the window from the inside or outside - this happened spontaneously. …”
NHTSA complaint #11388319, filed 2021-01, 66,300 miles“I turned on the rear defrost in my driveway. After about 1 minute, I started to smell a slight burning smell. As soon as I smelled it, the rear glass shattered while the vehicle was in motion. I was turning onto highway 70 from bridgeway drive in cookeville, tn. The window shattered completely on highway 70 in front of mike's market at about 7:20 am on my way to work. Toyota provided extended warranty coverage for this exact issue but only through april 2018. …”
NHTSA complaint #11144537, filed 2018-10, 196,000 miles“On my way to the grocery store, my back window blew out while driving. It was a very loud pop! Which scared the daylights out of me! I looked in the review-mirror and the back window completely shattered. There was nobody around and I was driving too slow for it to have been a rock or debris. I was driving in san antonio texas near utsa blvd. In the turning lane, was in motion at a slow speed as I was pulling up to a red light. The mechanic at safelight auto said that it had to do with the electrical and saved the piece of where there was a short causing the blast. …”
NHTSA complaint #11386049, filed 2021-01, 183,000 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“Driving approx 40 MPH towards home and rear window exploded, shattered glass all over. It sounded like an m80 in the back of my truck. Had window repair guys come and they showed me defroster connectors were burnt out. I did have defroster setting on at the time of incident. I called Toyota but they wouldn't do anything to assist. My concern was if my dogs were in the back, as we usually take them to the park, they could have been seriously injured. I did have a major anxiety attack. If this happened on the highway it could have easily caused an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10649091, filed 2014-10, 164,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10142892Jun 20, 2018Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received reports of customer concerns where the vehicles rear hatch glass broke during defroster operation.
- 10131745Mar 2, 2017Warranty Policy Bulletin POL17-03: Toyota has received reports of customer concerns where the vehicles rear hatch glass broke during defroster operation.
- 10131744Mar 2, 2017Dealer Package: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for Broken Rear Hatch Glass on Certain 2003-2009 Model Year 4Runner Vehicles.
- 10131743Mar 2, 2017Dealer Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for Broken Rear Hatch Glass on Certain 2003-2009 Model Year 4Runner Vehicles.
- 10131742Mar 2, 2017Region Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for Broken Rear Hatch Glass on Certain 2003-2009 Model Year 4Runner Vehicles.
- 10131801Feb 27, 2017TSB: Some 2003 ? 2009 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit back door glass "broken" without external impact. This condition may be associated with rear window defogger usage…
- 10131993Dec 19, 2013This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0185-13.
- 10131988Dec 19, 2013The following procedures are recommended during routine maintenance or in the event of a customer concern for wiper performance.
- 10132136Oct 23, 2013The appearance of spots in tempered glass (when viewed at certain angles) is the result of the heat treating and quick quenching process during manufacturing.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 14% |
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 3 | 8% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 6% |
| 2018 | 2 | 3% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 3 | 3% |
| 2014 | 3 | 4% |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 4 | 4% |
| 2007 | 10 | 6% |
| 2006 | 22 | 6% |
| 2005 | 26 | 6% |
| 2004 | 14 | 2% |
| 2003 | 18 | 3% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
| 2000 | 10 | 2% |
| 1999 | 3 | 1% |
| 1998 | 1 | 0% |
| 1997 | 3 | 1% |
| 1996 | 7 | 4% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
| 1994 | 2 | 3% |
| 1993 | 2 | 4% |
| 1992 | 4 | 8% |
| 1991 | 1 | 2% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER
143 complaintsOther or unknown
78 complaintsSuspension
65 complaintsBrakes
34 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
30 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsSteering
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 29, 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