NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2025 Toyota 4Runner. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Driving 70 mph on a cloudy 73° day around 6:30 pm no cars immediately around me on I45. I heard a loud gunshot to the point I ducked in my car. Immediately pulled over walked around the car. My Sunroof exploded upwards. Took to Longo Toyota on Monday at 7am. Upon arrival they thought it would be covered under warranty. They brought in a specialist to evaluate and they can’t prove it but something must have hit it and they are denying warranty. The glass moved upward and was shattered but intact upon initial inspection. Upon online review this is a known problem w Toyota but one that needs to be addressed in a bigger scale as this could have caused an accident just from the sound alone or if the sunroof cover had been open glass raining down on passengers and driver.
Vehicle: 2025 Toyota 4Runner Summary of Issue: The rear tailgate cannot be opened if the rear window is even slightly lowered. This appears to be an intentional design feature; however, it creates a real-world safety concern. Description of Safety Concern: In normal daily use, I needed to quickly access the rear cargo area (to retrieve my child’s belongings) while parked with the vehicle turned off. The rear window was partially lowered, which prevented the tailgate from opening entirely. This resulted in a delay while I attempted to determine why the tailgate would not open and then had to return to the driver’s seat to raise the rear window before accessing the cargo area. During this time, my child was left standing in a parking lot longer than necessary. While the vehicle was stationary, the inability to quickly access the rear compartment created an avoidable safety exposure. Why This Is a Concern: The system does not account for vehicle state (e.g., parked, engine off, zero speed). A more appropriate design would allow the tailgate to open when the vehicle is stationary or automatically raise the rear window when the tailgate is activated. Instead, the current behavior enforces a strict lockout regardless of context, which can delay access in situations where timely access is important for safety. Requested Action: I request that this behavior be reviewed for potential safety implications and that consideration be given to a software update or design change that allows tailgate operation when the vehicle is stationary, or provides an automatic window-close function when opening the tailgate. Additional Notes: This behavior may be present across multiple model years and could affect a large number of vehicles.
While going around turns (left or right) over 30mph the vehicle has knocking that can be felt coming through the steering wheel. This is not the driver assist feedback. If the turn are longer (like highway on ramp) you can hear a slight clunk associated with the knocking that is felt.
My 2025 Toyota 4Runners brakes have a very high pitched squeal. This is most noticeable when backing up but sometimes when applying the brakes going forward, especially in wet conditions. I feel the brakes may fail at some point causing an accident. Twice I’ve had other vehicles slam their brakes on or attempt evasive action thinking I was going to hit them because the noise was so loud they heard it inside their vehicle. This did happen in a parking lot and not on the road. It is my understanding Toyota had a service bulletin to fix the issue under T-SB-0046-25 which was issued in July 2025, however to date, Toyota has not repaired my vehicle. It is my understanding that some vehicles were repaired under the bulletin but the fix did not correct the problem. I was told by my local Toyota dealer this week that Toyota told them to stop all repairs because the TSB was not correcting the issue and they were waiting for Toyota engineers to find a new solution. Request your assistance in getting Toyota to repair all the vehicles affected by this problem before a serious accident occurs because of brake failure or another driver taking evasive action when they hear this noise.
I am reporting a suspected manufacturing defect involving the exterior paint on my 6th generation Toyota 4Runner. The paint appears to be abnormally thin and is showing premature wear, including chipping and surface irregularities, under normal driving conditions. This vehicle has not been subjected to any abnormal environmental exposure, misuse, or neglect. The condition developed much earlier than expected for a new vehicle and raises concerns about inadequate paint application or quality control during manufacturing. While this issue is cosmetic in nature, it may lead to long-term structural concerns such as corrosion if the underlying metal becomes exposed. Additionally, this concern appears to be reported by multiple owners of the same generation vehicle, suggesting a potential pattern rather than an isolated case. I am requesting that this issue be documented and reviewed for possible investigation if additional complaints are received.
The contact was a police officer calling on behalf of the owner of a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while the owner was attempting to park the vehicle in a parking spot, the vehicle began to independently accelerate up a hill. The owner then placed the vehicle into reverse(R) as the vehicle continued to accelerate while in reverse. The contact stated that the owner had their foot firmly pressed on the brake pedal as the vehicle continued to accelerate. The owner then struck two parked vehicles and another moving vehicle that was entering the parking lot. The vehicle continued to accelerate in reverse(R), crossed a side street, and entered a grassy area before the vehicle abruptly shut off. The contact was unaware if any warning lights had appeared on the instrument panel during the failure. The air bags did not deploy at any time during the failure. The officer stated that no injuries were reported and no medical attention was given. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an unknown location. The contact was unaware whether the matter was reported to the dealer or the manufacturer. The whereabouts of the vehicle were unknown. The failure mileage was unknown.
This vehicle’s brakes loudly squeal when in reverse and when just stopping at a stop sign. After a few weeks of purchase I brought it to the Toyota service team in St. Peter’s to fix since it’s under warranty. They said they do not have a fix for the issue! Driving this vehicle scares me and I don’t feel safe. Please help. This is a major safety hazard. Supposedly, these vehicle was brought in and “fixed” for the same brake issue. It clearly has not been fixed. I have video evidence but your platform won’t allow me to upload a video.
The parking collision assistance feature continues to beep loudly if there is snow on the sensors as it thinks there is something close to the sensor. If driving and unable to clear snow off the sensors in the front a fault will eventually show on the gauge cluster. This is a false reading and needs to be addressed. This is a program issue and needs fixing. As the loud noise while driving is a complete distraction and can cause an accident.
On at least 3 occasions the multimedia touch-screen display console has gone blank without warning lamps/messages. This causes a hazardous condition for 2 main reasons: 1. The GPS navigation system is not visible and one has to pull over in traffic, find a safe place to park, and then change to one’s cell phone system. 2. When this occurs, the reverse camera is no longer visible, thus increasing the chance to crashing into rear crossing traffic or pedestrians. On [XXX], (odometer 16339 mi) I reported it to SW Toyota in Lawton OK. They said that other owners had reported this problem but that it would take months to receive the replacement display, so I should take it in to the Toyota dealer in my home dealership in MS. I did so on 1/16/25, (odometer 17637mi). This dealership, J. Allen Toyota, Gulfport, MS, inspected the vehicle and said that they could not reproduce the problem. They advised me to return if the display turned off permanently. I asked if there was a TSB or recall on this problem and they replied in the negative. I have just read that Toyota has issued a recall on the 2024 & 2025 Tundra, which according to Gemini AI shares the same part as the 2025 4Runner. Therefore, I strongly recommend that this recall be broadened to include the 2025 4Runner. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While backing up the front brakes screech terribly. This problem is constant. Every time you reverse and brake.
Was driving along at approximately 25 mph and had a major sudden failure of the right rear tire
Two separate occasions while driving this car and using the wipers in rain there was been almost zero visibility to the point where we can almost not see while driving in the rain. I have owned three Toyotas and this is the first time I have ever experienced this issue. It almost as if the wipers don't move fast enough to clear the water off the windshield or the wipers aren't making contact the entire time wiping the glass. I took my car to the dealer and the wipers move the same as the exact make model and year. I feel this is a design flaw and could be responsible for a serious crash due to not being able to use this car well in the rain.
Digital rear view mirror failure, electrical failure, replaced by Manufacturer.
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the AC outlet in the cargo area had an open ground. The contact became aware of the AC outlet failure while on a road trip, when the heated mat for the dog's crate failed to heat after being plugged into the AC outlet. The contact tested the AC outlet with a continuity tester, which showed an open ground fault. The contact was concerned that the failure could cause an electrical shock and fire hazard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the AC outlet was replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 700.
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal squealing coming from the rear brakes. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the driver’s and passenger’s side rear brake pads. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 400.
We were parked on a slight incline loading items onto a carrier onto the back of the vehicle. We heard the electronic brake release and the vehicle started to roll backwards down the hill towards us. My husband jumped in the driver's seat and slammed on the brake pedal. He confirmed that the vehicle was still in park.
The brake system emits a high-pitched noise, which seems to be worn down to the discs when used in drive mode and reverse mode. At any moment, they could stop working or cause an accident. The problem was reported to the dealership on October 28, 2025, when the vehicle had only 3,171 miles. The vehicle is still under warranty. It has been inspected by the dealership. To date, it has not been repaired. The dealership reports that this problem has occurred in most of these vehicles. There were no warning lights or warning messages. The situation first occurred when the vehicle had approximately 3,100 miles and was reported to the dealership at 3,171 miles.
Brakes when reversing are LOUD and sound like may give out. Vehicle is brand new and has 4,000 miles only on it
Brakes- when reversing the brakes make loud grinding / squealing noise. I'm worried at times it will give out by not braking. Electrical- my display panel with the reverse camera turns off which at times can cause an accident.
Steering wheel creaking and knocking noise when turning the steering wheel left and right.
Brakes screech every time I back up. Brake pads have been replaced twice and issue is still unresolved. Just had pads replaced again a few weeks ago (they claimed they have new pads) and issue is ongoing
The brakes in the new 2025 4runner howl and squeal extremely loudly. I avoid braking slowly to try to avoid the noise. The TSB was completed last month: TSB-0046-25. It did not work. The noise is back, and worse. I am worried I am going to get into an accident because the brakes are so egregiously bad. Please help make Toyota fix this. It's crazy!!!
2025 4Runner had loose window glass on driver and passenger side,hood wobbles and rear spoiler loose hoping for a recall.
Loose window glass on driver and passenger side,hood wobbles,rear spoiler loose.
Vehicle purchased new on 8/10/2025. Within days, developed severe vibration at highway speeds (70+ mph) and rattling driver-side window. Vehicle was at dealership (AutoNation Toyota Winter Park) from 8/20–8/31/2025; during this time, odometer readings increased significantly without explanation and no mileage log was provided. Vehicle was returned unrepaired, with “take-off” tires installed without disclosure. Issues persisted and vehicle was later taken to a second dealership (Seminole Toyota) from 9/2–9/13/2025. Dealer staff confirmed vibration linked to tire condition, but contradictory invoices and lack of transparency left safety issues unresolved. Concerns: Vehicle stability and vibration at highway speeds. Window rattle impacting safety on uneven roads. Odometer irregularities during dealer custody (mileage logged inconsistent with actual travel). Dealer substitution of tires without proper disclosure. Reason: Unknown – possible tires, suspension, or related system. Manufacturer and dealerships have not resolved after multiple service attempts. Claim filed with NCDS and Toyota, scheduled for Arbitration Hearing on 10/3/2025 at AutoNation Winter Park, FL.
Have had 4Runner less than a month and brakes make a horrible load sound when pressing. The noise is worse when reversing. Have gone to toyota twice and said there is nothing that can be done. That they dont know what materia are the breaks done that are causing this. It is extremely dangerous as excessive noise indicates a problem and they dont fix. Pelase help brand new car cant be doing this.
When operating in reverse and applying the brakes they make a very loud squeal sound. This is a brand new car, purchased a week ago, with less than 700 miles on it. I spoke with the dealership and they are aware of the issue but have no resolution.
Intermittently, the center console (navigation) screen and system crash at random. All audio stop and the screen turns black for a few seconds, before resetting to the default view and disconnecting all previously connected devices. This has happened at least 10-20 times while driving during my ownership of the vehicle. I can confirm that it happens when my iPhone is connected to the vehicle via wireless Apple CarPlay, but I am unsure about other circumstances where this may happen. It had happened regardless of which phone is connected or what operating system version is in use - that is, this issue has persisted across several different iPhones and versions of iOS, so it does not appear to be related to the mobile device. When this issue occurs while driving it is very jarring and can be disorienting, as any navigation or other audio ceases. The issue has not been reproduced by a dealer, and the components have not yet been inspected. There were no warnings or other symptoms of this problem. The problem first appeared within 1-2 months of purchasing the vehicle.
Brakes are EXTREMELY loud when going in reverse. Carried to the dealership, they said that they are “aware” of the issue but until a recall is done then their hands are tied. This could lead to improper braking.
Retaining clips / fasteners missing from front air dam causing the large plastic structure to become dislodged and tangled in steering brakes, suspension or causing unsafe road hazard for other vehicles particularly motorcycles. Many owners are reporting this issue and I have verified on my own vehicle missing hardware from recent purchase and vehicle currently has less than 2000 miles. The dealerships are not taking my owner complaints seriously and are refusing to honor warranty claiming that this issue is caused by road hazards when it clearly is not and is easily proven to be a defect or manufacturing issue. My air dam came loose on a interstate highway with 75 mph speed zones and became entangled in the undercarriage, further investigation revealed that several of the fasteners were missing and no evidence they were ever installed. The dealership tried to accuse me of removing or tampering with the hardware which is absolutely ridiculous and potentially criminal to make these unfounded allegations. The attached pictures were taken after temporary repairs were made on side of road but show the place where one of several fasteners should have been installed from factory but are clearly missing.
Side view mirrors shake to the point you cannot see out of them. Car has 2K miles on it and has been to the dealer 5 times over the past month for resolution. Dealer and toyota have escalated to a more advanced technical team, they took a look at it and informed me it is a normal characteristic of the vehicle with no fix. This is unacceptable and not safe to drive on the highway.
Brakes squeak/squeal very loudly and often, no matter if it’s cold, rainy, hot or humid. It was only squeaking/squealing when applying the brakes while backing up but now starting to squeak/squeal when applying the brakes while moving forward. Seems to be getting worse. Spoke to the dealer and they say there’s nothing they can do until Toyota comes up with a fix.
While driving on the highway yesterday I noticed a vibration and worsening noise. I exited the highway and pulled over into a parking lot. I observed the front air dam/lower valence had come undone. Upon further inspection I saw that 3 of the 9 10mm bolts securing the piece had apparently fallen out. I belong to a Toyota 4Runner forum [XXX] ) and searched for tis issue there and it is apparently occurring for a number of owners. As a precaution I had to remove the piece to prevent further damage to my vehicle or to others on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Brakes on the 4Runner are extremely loud when backing up braking. Drivers tend to avoid hitting the brakes properly to avoid the loud noise. Not using the brakes properly due to an abnomal loud noise is a safety hazard.
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while reversing at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound while the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The dealer made the contact aware that the failure was a known issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Servco Toyota Honolulu (2850 Pukoloa St #200, Honolulu, HI 96819); to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5.
I've owned a 2025 4runner for 1 month. The brakes are screaming and squalling like a 20 year old car when the car is a cold start everyday especially in reverse. This cant be safe, and Toyota says there is nothing they can do. I hope this doesn't wear out the brake pads faster and cause an accident. We were told by Toyota we cant fix the problem, because it would void the warranty and there is no recall on this issue.
2025 Toyota 4Runner straight from the factory and it is defective. All four brakes shriek going forward and reverse. Although Toyota admits they are aware of the issue as other vehicles have them too, they say they cannot do anything until there is a recall on that model. We have taken it in twice for service as the noise is getting worse and nothing gets done. They say they cannot find anything wrong with it. Yet, they say they cannot do more than inspect it until a fix is found by Toyota itself. They pass around from one service tech to the next and the service department supervisor is always unavailable to give us a better explanation.
I recently purchased a 2025 4Runner and currently have approximately 1,000 miles on it. On Sunday, as I was driving from Sedona to Phoenix on Interstate 17, I heard an odd sound from the driver’s front tire area. Upon inspection, at least one screw/bolt was missing on the front spoiler and it was hanging loose and rubbing against the tire. The edge had been rubbing against the front tire as I drove down into the valley. I searched online for this issue in 6th generation 4Runners and found that the front spoiler falling off at high speeds is indeed a problem – please visit 4runner6g.com to see multiple reports and photos that echo mine.
Loud brake squeal, Toyota and Dealer not willing to perform any repair. It seems like brakes are not functioning properly, especially when cold
I bought this 2025 toyota 4runner on March 3rd. Less than a week the brakes have been no stop making noise. It's loud and noisy. I'm scared that my brakes or rotors will mess up. We taking it to the dealership but they said they can't do anything unless Toyota places a recall on that certain part or issue. I believe this is a serious is for someone especially for my family and anyone's family as I'm driving on the road. I'm very disappointed as much money as I spent on this new vehicle. I just want to be safe.
The brakes are horrible loud. Mostly in reverse but it happens going forward also. The brake noise is so loud that I’ve been noticing my driving is affected in a way that I trying to stop the sound by not applying the brakes when backing up. This could cause an accident. It’s not on purpose it’s subconsciously your reversing hear the loud noise and release the brake. driving safely is affected
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the contact heard a scratching sound coming from the brakes. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The brake pads were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was working on the issue, and opened a case. The case number was not provided. The approximate failure mileage was 1,150.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026