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Toyota 4RUNNERModel year report

2019 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems

Compared with other Toyota 4RUNNER years

Typical for this model

64/100 1.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2020, 2021

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
65filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
13,074miles, 26 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.0L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 4Runner most often write about a steering wheel shake or shimmy at highway speeds that repeated balancing and alignments have not resolved, and about the fuel pump safety recall, where several owners report lost power or long waits for parts. Steering and suspension complaints dominate, with many reports filed at low mileage; a smaller but consistent group of complaints covers the sunroof glass, backup camera, seat belt retractor, and airbag concerns.

  1. Fuel system

    Fuel pump recall and loss of power

    • 10 complaints (15%)
    • median 7,250 mi at 1.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2022

    Many complaints are about recall 20V682000 for the fuel pump: owners say they received notice but the dealer had no remedy parts for weeks or months, leaving them driving a vehicle that could stall or lose power. A few describe the symptom itself - the accelerator going unresponsive for several seconds at highway speed, jerking, or the engine stalling - and one reports the fuel pump was replaced but the behavior came back. Another cites a check engine light tied to the same recall. Reports cluster in the first 25,000 miles, often during normal driving at 45-55 mph; several complaints were filed while the recall remedy was still pending.

    Recall 20V682000

    What to check: Check with a dealer by VIN that the fuel pump recall has been completed with the replacement part, not just registered, and ask for proof of the repair.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My issue is primarily with Toyota corporate and how they are handling the fuel pump recall. A brand new vehicle with less than 5000 miles has a recall for a random fuel pump failure, and Toyota does not have a 'remedy' available nor do they have a timeline for when the remedy may be available. They are requiring their customers to assume the risk of the stall or car wreck while they are trying to figure out the cheapest way to replace the fuel pumps in 700,000 vehicles. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11311121, filed 2020-02, 4,501 miles

    “Need to remedy this open recall of driving a vehicle that can shut off while driving at high speeds. I have been calling Toyota on a weekly basis asking for a remedy, but have not been provided an answer. How are people supposed to keep driving a vehicle that could just shut off and lose control?”

    NHTSA complaint #11309849, filed 2020-02
  2. Steering

    Steering wheel shake or shimmy at highway speed

    • 8 complaints (12%)
    • typically at 2.9 yrs old
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2021–2026

    Complaints describe a steering wheel that shakes or wobbles, sometimes strongly, at roughly 50-65 mph and is often described as present since the vehicle was new. Owners report repeated wheel balancing, rotations, alignments and dealer inspections without a lasting fix, and some mention tires were replaced with no improvement. Several relate it to uneven tire wear or a possible steering rack concern the dealer could not resolve; one owner notes a service bulletin covering steering wheel vibration on certain 2019-2020 4Runner SR5 and TRD Off Road models with a specific Dunlop tire. Reported across a wide mileage range, frequently from new and noted again well past 20,000 miles, at highway speeds around 55-65 mph.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive at 55-70 mph on a smooth highway and feel for vibration through the wheel; ask whether tires are evenly worn and whether any balancing or alignment work was already done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vehicle Steering Wheel shakes at speed of 50-60 MPH. Wheels and tires have been rotated and balanced numerous times as my fiancé is a manager at a tire shop. Alignment has been checked and does not need one.Correct Tire pressure is used. Tires have been rotated and balanced by dealer and my fiancé’s tire shop with thorough inspections.”

    NHTSA complaint #11436075, filed 2021-10

    “I have experienced a persistent steering and suspension-related issue with my 2019 Toyota 4Runner since early ownership, beginning at approximately 6,800 miles. The vehicle repeatedly pulls/drifts to the right at highway speeds and requires constant steering correction. I have also experienced steering wheel vibration and instability, particularly at speeds above approximately 50–60 MPH. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11736154, filed 2026-05
  3. Electrical system

    Backup camera blank or intermittent, dash glitches

    • 5 complaints (8%)
    • typically at 6.5 yrs old
    • filed 2020–2026

    Owners report the backup camera showing a black or frozen image in reverse, sometimes working and sometimes not, and one notes the wiring harness inside the rear hatch or the rubber boot between body and hatch as a suspected cause. Other electrical complaints describe the instrument cluster going blank, radio volume changing or turning off on its own, and Bluetooth call audio that is distorted or unusable; one owner says the dealer found no remedy for the Bluetooth echo, which a service bulletin addresses by adjusting phone hands-free volume. Reported from low mileage through higher mileage, with many complaints filed after several years of ownership.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Put the truck in reverse and watch the screen for a blank or frozen image, and check the hatch wiring boot for kinks or rubbed insulation; test a phone call over Bluetooth.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vehicle Back-up camera works intermittantly, sometimes working when placed in reverse, other times showing a black screen when placed in reverse. Has not been a consistent enough problem for dealer repair/troubleshooting. A google search shows many 5th Gen 4runner online web forms with lots of reports involving pinched, stretched, worn camera wiring harnesses inside the rear hatch or in the rubber wire boot between the body and rear hatch.”

    NHTSA complaint #11727011, filed 2026-03

    “Bluetooth is not correctly working with iphone 11pro max or any iphone or any andriod. The connection is awful, robotic and static sound! Cant use the bluetooth at all for calls. Toyota dealership told me there is no remedy for that! Unacceptable!”

    NHTSA complaint #11430021, filed 2021-08

Buying note. Check that the fuel pump recall was completed with parts, and take a highway test drive at 55-70 mph to feel for steering shake. On TRD Pro models, inspect shocks and springs for corrosion and listen for cold-weather clunking.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 59 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.

NHTSA recorded 65 consumer complaints for the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER. 26 of the complaints include a mileage, and 96% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 13,074 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 157 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 14 Toyota 4RUNNER model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 64 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (3), Wheels (3), Seat belts (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “My 2019 Toyota 4Runner was inhabited by a rat that chewed the wiring harness in at least 3 different areas. The damage occurred between 8pm and 7am. The vehicle started with lights on the dash illuminated. The car was out into drive and was jerking. Reverse had the same result. After inspecting under the hood of the car wires were seen chewed partially and a few completely severed. A rat was seen under the manifold cover. I used an air hose to evict it and had the car towed to dealership. The bill was just under $1000 to repair. …”

NHTSA complaint #11444372, filed 2021-12

Other or unknown: “With under 12,000 miles on my brand new vehicle, I have had to replace the whole windshield 4 times now. Each crack/chip has occurred with vehicles going in the opposite direction on a two lane highway. We have continued to call the dealership (where we purchased the vehicle) and Toyota's headquarters about the issue of the brittle/delicate windshield on the 2019 4RUNNER. I have researched forums to see if other consumers were having this problem with a lot of concurring about the thin windshield. …”

NHTSA complaint #11318798, filed 2020-03, 11,500 miles

Steering: “Steering wheel out of control while driving. My car lost control and crashed. I contacted Toyota Motor North America.Inc. But they said their inspection didn’t find evidence that the incident was the result of a defect in my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11509903, filed 2023-03

Electrical system: “I had been driving for two minutes on a city road going approximately 30 MPH, when my car suddenly stalled and all the indicator lights came on. Then the car started on its own and I was able to turn into a parking lot. Then the car stalled again and I noticed smoke coming out of the hood in front of the windshield. I put it in park and took the key out of the ignition. I got out of the car and the car restarted and stalled on its own a few more times after that. It also made a loud beeping sound that sounded like a car alarm but we don't have an alarm installed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11311657, filed 2020-02, 22,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

96% of the 26 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,300 and 24,500 miles.

42%0–1035%10–2519%25–504%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (26 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 13,074 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2019202020212020222023202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
4RUNNER · SUV 2WD★★★★☆4 / 3543 · 24.6% risk
4RUNNER · SUV AWD★★★★☆4 / 3543 · 24.6% risk

Neighbouring years: 2018: same overall rating; 2020: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
4Runner 2WD4.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172118$3,700
4Runner 4WD4.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172018$3,700
4Runner 4WD4.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172018$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 157 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 157 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota 4RUNNER

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202673002422—Too new
2025609251422Too new to compareToo new
2024102,0381417—Too new
2023339,500141730 · FewerToo new
20223923,600341750 · TypicalRising
202136637141727 · FewerFalling
2020339,000141728 · FewerFalling
20196513,074441864 · TypicalFalling
20186020,500541862 · TypicalFalling
20173612,890541840 · TypicalFalling
20168125,000841966 · MoreFalling
20158738,977941961 · TypicalFalling
20147740,000741939 · TypicalFalling
20133672,45064190 · FewerFalling
20129645,144841941 · TypicalFalling
201116341,32010—1965 · MoreStable
201014758,00012—2063 · TypicalFalling
20092221,5006—18—Falling
20089653,0005—1857 · TypicalFalling
200715469,8245—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2006381100,7625—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2005425104,8505—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2004678115,9782—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2003696106,0003—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2002225120,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2001185122,0001—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2000483143,4640—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1999330155,0000—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1998250157,5001—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1997261167,6001—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1996161175,0002—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1995172110,0001—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199464115,0001—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199351150,0001—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199253141,0001—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199143170,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199078150,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19896—1—17—Not enough data
19889—1—16—Not enough data
1987572,3910—18—Not enough data
19868284,0000—18—Not enough data

All Toyota 4RUNNER model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER?

Owners of the 2019 4Runner most often write about a steering wheel shake or shimmy at highway speeds that repeated balancing and alignments have not resolved, and about the fuel pump safety recall, where several owners report lost power or long waits for parts. The issues reported most often: Fuel pump recall and loss of power; Steering wheel shake or shimmy at highway speed; Backup camera blank or intermittent, dash glitches.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER have?

NHTSA recorded 65 consumer complaints for the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 13 complaints (20% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 12.

Has the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER get?

The EPA rates the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER (4Runner 2WD, 4.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 17 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2019 Toyota 4RUNNER reported?

Among the 26 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 13,074 miles and the middle half falls between 5,300 and 24,500 miles; 96% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.