2017 Toyota 4Runner
The 2017 Toyota 4Runner is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 4Runner 2WD, is EPA-rated at 18 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 36 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Runner 2WD | Gas | RWD | 4.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 21 | 18 | $3,700 |
| 4Runner 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 4.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
| 4Runner 4WD | Gas | AWD | 4.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38512, 38513, 38514.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Runner 2WD, 4Runner 4WD | 6 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 5 |
| GVWR class | Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 4 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 270 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 5 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking
Optional: Blind-spot monitoring
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: LE/XLE Hybrid, Ltd/SR5/SR5 Premium, Ltd/SR5/SR5 Premium/TRD Off Road/TRD Off Road Premium/TRD Pro). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 189.8 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 76.0 in |
| Height | 70.1–74.0 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.8 in |
| Track, front | 63.0–63.4 in |
| Track, rear | 63.0–63.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4,654–4,806 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 54/46 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 4-door SUV 4WD Limited V6, 4-door SUV 4WD SR5 V6, 4-door SUV 4WD Trail Edition V6. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2017 Toyota 4Runner is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (5)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseEquipment
Toyota H0Z Lexus HLFStructure
SET17CTires
17R2Equipment
17R1These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific 4Runner
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Toyota publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Toyota 4Runner, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2017 Toyota 4Runner
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this 4Runner →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported
4.2 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 85,417 4Runner built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2017: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 2
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
2017 Toyota 4 runner SR5 While driving on the highway the vehicle stopped apparently the fuel pump stopped working and could not get going anymore. I had a mechanic come to the house with a PC and test it. He told me that’s a change that will need to take place in a garage.
Front struts are leaking which are causing the vehicle to drive inconsistently. The struts should not have to be replaced this soon when the vehicle is being used on normal condition roads.
Text sent to Toyota. Copy to NHTSA. Hello, my name is . I am writing to both Toyota and NHTSA with what I perceive as a safety problem. I have owned three Toyotas including a 2017 4runner. I have been pleased with them except for one characteristic they all shared. The turn signal sound volume is just too low.
Failed brake master cylinder, this is still a rather new vehicle and the mechanics said this is unlikely in a new low mileage vehicle. I did research and this has only happened a few times, seems like a safety recall should be put in place
A deer ran out in front of me, driving 50 MPH. Passenger side hit, all 8 airbags deployed. Passenger side airbag under steering wheel, cut up my legs horribly, very swollen, refused hospital due to covid 19 fear. The airbags cut up my left arm and my daughter's right arm(she was passenger).
Toyota entune (iphone app) will not pair with your phone or disconnects during use because app does not maintain the user's login credentials. The behavior of the connectivity between the vehicle's entertainment system and phone is difficult to predict, sometimes the system won't work without the phone's app running and other times it…
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Toyota itself: 41 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 55 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 48 per 100,000 built. Every 4Runner model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 23 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 8,000 and 26,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 25% |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 25% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Structure, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, Engine.
- T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-01-07 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
- T-TT-0790-25 Service bulletin2025-08-20 · Electrical System
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
- T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 Service campaign2025-06-13 · Electrical System
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
- T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
- T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
- T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on
- T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-05 · Structure — Body
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.
- T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-03 · Structure — Body
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brus
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| C0226 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 1 bulletin |
| C0236 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 1 bulletin |
| C0246 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 1 bulletin |
| C0256 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 1 bulletin |
| P0087 P0087 on Toyota → | Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded. | Equipment · Fuel pump → | 1 bulletin |
| P0171 P0171 on Toyota → | The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants. | Equipment · Mass air flow sensor → | 1 bulletin |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Toyota 4Runner failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).
failed emissions
1,453 initial inspections of 1,421 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2017 4Runner | Every 2017 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 1.3% | 3.7% | 1,450 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.8% | 2.1% | 1,453 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.14% | 0.25% | 1,453 |
| Miles driven a year | 10,786 | 10,048 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 100,346 | 93,238 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
4Runner by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2017 4Runner
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2017 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2017 Toyota 4Runner. The most serious on file is 17V763000, covering Structure. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2017 Toyota 4Runner?
NHTSA gave the 2017 Toyota 4Runner 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (80/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Toyota 4Runner?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Toyota 4Runner, the best EPA combined figure is 18 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2017 Toyota 4Runner?
Transport Canada measured it at 189.8 in long, 76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 70.1–74.0 in tall, on a 109.8 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,654–4,806 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2017 Toyota 4Runner?
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota 4Runner, most often about unspecified, service brakes, electrical system. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2017 Toyota 4Runner?
The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Toyota 4Runner is 6 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Toyota 4Runner?
The manufacturer has filed 208 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Toyota 4Runner, most often covering equipment, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-01-07. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2017 Toyota 4Runner do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Toyota 4Runner failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 5 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 36 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 208 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 1 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 13 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.