2018 Toyota 4RUNNER Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 5%of 60 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 24,700miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Toyota 4RUNNER, 5% of the 60 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 24,700 miles. 1 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.
“2018 4RUNNER trd off road premium. 24733miles (at the time this review is written) started to feel like it accelerate but with out doing it. (very few not that pronouce) took it to dealer on april 2020 around (14900miles). They did a recall check and said they found nothing and thay my truck was fine. March 2021 it happen again but now it was doing it very strongly. …”
NHTSA complaint #11402837, filed 2021-03, 24,700 miles“While my father was exiting his 2018 Toyota 4Runner SR5, the vehicle unexpectedly started reversing fairly quickly, despite no foot being on the brake. He was dragged by the vehicle while attempting to stop it outside the car, and it continued moving backwards then down a hill before crashing into a fence, causing significant damage to both the car and the fence. This vehicle should not have rolled back at this speed, and it appears to be related to a potential design flaw in the vehicle’s brake-shift interlock system or automatic reverse functionality. …”
NHTSA complaint #11650452, filed 2025-03“The front differential in our 2018 Toyota 4Runner failed. This caused damage to one of the front axels of the vehicle. The failure can cause difficulties in turning the vehicle. The failure can lead to catastrophic failure of the axels, leading to the wheels to lock up. The problem is reoccurring in model years 2016-2019. Toyota is aware of the problem and has issued bulletins (see Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-TCI-5185 Rev.1, dated 4/5/2019). Yet, Toyota refuses to offer a cost free repair of the failure/damage. …”
NHTSA complaint #11452413, filed 2022-02Related service bulletins
- 10224177Sep 26, 2022TT: If you see this condition, please create a TAS case and contact TAS for instruction prior to diagnosing or repairing of the vehicle. If it is a weekend or holiday, continue…
- 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…
- 10164329Jul 1, 2019TSB: Some 2014 ? 2019 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a whine or groan noise from the rear of the vehicle. This condition may occur while driving around 40 ? 60 mph at a…
- 10154805Feb 8, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE February 8, 2019 Rev1: ? The Warranty Information section has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Some 2016 ?…
- 10153276Jan 10, 2019TSB: Some 2016 ? 2019 model year 4Runner 4WD vehicles may exhibit a cyclical groaning or grinding noise from the front differential in 2WD that is not present during 4WD…
- 10153202Dec 6, 2018TT: Intermittent high-pitched whine noise is heard when driving 45-70MPH.
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 2018 Toyota 4RUNNER
12 complaintsFuel system
9 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 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