Toyota 4Runner
Every model year 2016–2026: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every Toyota 4Runner model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hybrid Gas | A | 2 | 7 | ★★★★☆ | 23 mpg | |
| 2025 | Hybrid Gas | A | 1 | 62 | ★★★★☆ | 23 mpg | |
| 2024 | Gas | A | 1 | 10 | ★★★★☆ | 17 mpg | |
| 2023 | Gas | A | 1 | 33 | ★★★★☆ | 17 mpg | |
| 2022 | Gas | B | 3 | 39 | ★★★★☆ | 17 mpg | |
| 2021 | Gas | A | 1 | 36 | ★★★★☆ | 17 mpg | |
| 2020 | Gas | A | 1 | 33 | ★★★★☆ | 17 mpg | |
| 2019 | Gas | B | 4 | 65 | ★★★★☆ | 18 mpg | |
| 2018 | Gas | C | 5 | 59 | ★★★★☆ | 18 mpg | |
| 2017 | Gas | B | 5 | 36 | ★★★★☆ | 18 mpg | |
| 2016 | Gas | F | 8 | 80 | ★★★★☆ | 19 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2020 is the cleanest 4Runner year we hold, and the 2016 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2025: added hybrid; best combined mpg 17 → 23; 3 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2020: best combined mpg 18 → 17
- 2017: best combined mpg 19 → 18
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 4Runner vs Hyundai Palisade · Large SUV | Palisade +16.1 | |
| 2026 4Runner vs Honda Pilot · Large SUV | Pilot +11.7 | |
| 2026 4Runner vs Mazda CX-90 · Large SUV | CX-90 +11.7 | |
| 2026 4Runner vs Ford Explorer · Large SUV | Explorer +7.8 | |
| 2026 4Runner vs Jeep Grand Cherokee · Large SUV | 4Runner +31.1 | |
| 2025 4Runner vs Kia Telluride · Large SUV | Telluride +11.8 | |
| 2016 4Runner vs Mercedes-Benz GL-Class · Large SUV | GL-Class +7.2 |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Toyota 4Runner
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Toyota 4Runner year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2020 4Runner comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (97/100), 1 recall and 33 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Toyota 4Runner years should I avoid?
2016 has the weakest recall record in this range. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every 4Runner model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Toyota 4Runner have?
Across model years 2016–2026, NHTSA has posted 32 recall campaigns for the Toyota 4Runner. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.