2012 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 4Runner most often write about the Takata front passenger airbag inflator recall, and specifically about how long it took for replacement parts to become available and about being told to keep the front seat empty in the meantime. Outside that recall, complaints are spread thin across the brakes, electrical and fuel systems, steering vibration and engine cooling, usually on vehicles with relatively low mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Takata front passenger airbag inflator recall unfinished

   • 68 complaints (71%)
   • median 60,500 mi at 5.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2021

   Owners describe getting a recall notice telling them not to carry anyone in the front passenger seat until the inflator is replaced, then waiting months for parts. Complaints say dealers confirmed the part was unavailable or backordered without a firm date, and some owners asked for a rental or written assurance in the meantime. A few also describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Mostly reported in notices and calls logged from 2017 onward; where mileage is given it ranges from about 33,000 to about 118,000 miles.

   Recall 19V741000Recall 19V005000Recall 17V0060003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the seller or dealer whether the passenger-side inflator recall has actually been completed, and get the recall work confirmed by VIN rather than by the notice alone.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. Toyota's response to the recall is unacceptable. I simply do not understand how they can justify telling people not to use their cars, without offering an solution, compensation or even an estimated timeline for the fix. How is it that they will offer a buy-program to tacoma and tundra owners over some rust, but I am offered nothing for a car that is inoperable?”

   NHTSA complaint #10956646, filed 2017-02, 33,000 miles

   “Takata recall. I received a recall notice for my vehicle a few months ago, and yet the replacement part is not available yet. The recall notice says that I shouldn't allow passengers to sit in the front seat of my car. So I'm just frustrated that this problem is not fixed, and it's inconveniencing my everyday life.”

   NHTSA complaint #11016087, filed 2017-08, 75,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feels soft, vehicle creeps or rolls when stopped

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the pedal needing to be pushed far down before the vehicle holds still, with the vehicle creeping forward at a light or rolling back on an incline with the parking brake set. Some owners report grabbing or skidding under firm braking, and that a dealer either could not reproduce the concern or described it as normal. Reported from very low mileage, mostly under about 5,000 miles, and one owner noted it was more noticeable in hot weather.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, hold the brake firmly at a stop on level ground and on a gentle slope and see whether the pedal sinks or the vehicle creeps; ask whether the brake pads or pedal feel have been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was involved in a crash. I checked the rear view mirror preparing to brake in traffic. Before my eyes returned to the front I was crashing into the back of the vehicle in front of me pushing him into the car in front of him according to the driver in front of me. I have no idea how I got so close so fast I believe when I went to break the gas peddle was too close to the brake peddle also above the brake peddle. At the time of the crash I was in shock.and I couldn't explain what happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11033294, filed 2017-10, 10,200 miles

   “Approximately 7:45 am on 9/18/19, my son while coming home from work, had an accident. I was not with him at the time. When he showed up at home after the incident, he explained how he was unable to stop the vehicle before it collided with the vehicle in front. He articulated that when he applied the brakes, it was as if he vehicle sped up. Remembering years back during a presidential campaign, this was an issue with some other Toyota's. The verdict was the place mats interfered with the pedals. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11268551, filed 2019-10, 97,500 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Highway-speed steering wheel shake and vibration

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a steering wheel shimmy that appears at roughly highway speeds, persisting after new tires, balancing, rotation and alignment. Some report uneven tire wear as a result, and complaints say the dealer found nothing wrong. One owner also mentions a horn wiring failure traced to the clock spring. Logged between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles, typically on highway driving.

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at 60 to 70 mph and watch for wheel shake, and check the front tires for cupping or uneven wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This vehicle does not get anything close to the 22mpg highway miles per gallon as posted on the window sticker. The dealership tells me that the computer is faulty and does not calculate the mileage properly and that is the way they all are. But, I have all the receipts for every tank of gas purchased since new. This vehicle has only been getting 17.8 miles to the gallon on the highway on average. I've complained to the dealership twice but get the same answer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10513483, filed 2013-05, 1,000 miles

   “While driving on highway the steering wheel shutters or vibrate at highway speeds. Replaced tires with new tires, alignment, and problem still exists, rotated and balanced tires and problem still exists. Read that Toyota has had a problem with the r& r steering rack preload spring. But Toyota denies any problems with the 4runners. After much research I have found many posts concerning the same problems. This is a safety concern when I am constantly replacing or rotating tires to avoid chopping in the tires. Toyota says there is noting wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #10721349, filed 2015-05, 32,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the passenger airbag inflator recall has actually been completed before buying, since many owners reported long waits for parts. Beyond that, budget for a brake and tire inspection and ask about any history of stalling or wiring repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.