How the 2023 compares
Too new to judge fully
It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older 4Runner year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the driver assist systems.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other 4Runner years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota 4Runner. The most reported problem area is the driver assist systems (5, 15% of complaints), followed by the lights, wipers and visibility and the wheels and tires. That ranks 12th of 13 4Runner years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 1 recall.
Complaints33filed with NHTSA
Recalls1for this model year
Crashes65 injuries reported
Fires1reported in complaints
3 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2023 Toyota 4Runner before you buy.
Driver assist systems
5 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the back-up camera displayed a distorted screen. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 700 miles
The car just accelerated while during into parking lot. I used brake but did work and hit on to the pole. It accelerated pretty fast. The parking lot store has a video of me coming in slow and the the car accelerated.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Lights, wipers and visibility
4 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
My brand new 2023 Toyota 4Runner has terrible head lights. I see I am not the first person to post this very same complaint either. These headlights NEED to be recalled and replaced by Toyota. I will do my best to describe this, but when driving in the dark there is large shadow cast on the left side of the throw of the lights. It is far…Owner complaint, filed 2023
The headlight pattern of the low beam lights has a large dark area at the 10 to 11 O'clock position that appears in the oncoming traffic lane when driving at night. This dark area is very distracting while driving at night. The area is approximately 1 to 2 meters in diameter when seen on the driving surface. It appears the headlights to…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Wheels and tires
4 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
Purchased size 265/70R17 tires (Michelin Defender LTX M/S2) exhibiting severe highway vibration immediately post-installation. The vibration persisted continuously for two years across every rotation, posing serious handling and steering risks. For two years, local shop staff gaslit the customer, claiming an "out-of-round" tire or casing…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Component: Tire, Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 P265/70R17 Vehicle: 2023 Toyota 4Runner (approx. 25,000 miles) After a standard tire rotation, I began experiencing severe steering wheel vibration (flutter) at highway speeds (55, 65+ mph) and during braking. The issue started immediately after rotation and has not gone away, even after returning…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Steering
3 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
I was driving the vehicle and suddenly the steering wheel started to getting hard to turn it and the dash board doesn’t show any failure I went right away to dealership close by they inspected the vehicle they states there is a power steering failure but the car never showed any failure on dashboard or safety systemOwner complaint, filed 2026
Vehicle Component: Solid Rear Axle Assembly / Rear Suspension GeometryDefect Summary: The vehicle exhibits a factory manufacturing defect causing severe rear axle misalignment. At approximately 350 miles from new, an official dealership Hunter alignment report documented out-of-spec rear alignment parameters (-0.16° rear total toe) on a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Suspension
3 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
Vehicle Component: Solid Rear Axle Assembly / Rear Suspension GeometryDefect Summary: The vehicle exhibits a factory manufacturing defect causing severe rear axle misalignment. At approximately 350 miles from new, an official dealership Hunter alignment report documented out-of-spec rear alignment parameters (-0.16° rear total toe) on a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Vehicle begins to shake when speed reaches 60 to 70 MPH (issue has been happening since the vehicle left the lot). Shaking can be felt in the steering wheel, gas/brake pedals and front seats. Vehicle has been taken to a Toyota dealership three different times and after three realignments and tire rebalancing, the issue still persists.…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
2 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
My vehicle is rear-ended by a large earth mover branded as a Kenworth. My vehicle was then pushed into another. After the initial impact, my engine went racing above 5,000 RPM. It was disengaged from the transmission. I switched my car into neutral, shut my car off and the engine was no longer racing when I restarted the car. Because of…Owner complaint, filed 2025
We purchased our vehicle new September 2023 from a Toyota dealership. Engine oil dipstick Toyota part 15301-50140 was installed in vehicle and was verified by 50140 stamped on dipstick. I wanted an extra oil dipstick so ordered a replacement through Toyota. The original dipstick part 15301-50140 is no longer available and has been…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
The Front differential need to be replaced. The dealership where we purchased the vehicle replaced the differential. When we got the vehicle back we still had the same problem. The car was making a groaning sound while turning to the right above 35 mph. And the whole car would shake and my wife said it felt like the car was going to fall…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Vehicle begins to shake when speed reaches 60 to 70 MPH (issue has been happening since the vehicle left the lot). Shaking can be felt in the steering wheel, gas/brake pedals and front seats. Vehicle has been taken to a Toyota dealership three different times and after three realignments and tire rebalancing, the issue still persists.…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Brakes and stability control
2 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
New, strange noise started in Dec'25 (41K miles; 2yrs 9 months). No warning lights. Diagnosed as failed brake accumulator (first at an independent shop, later at the dealer). Apparently the accumulator is part of the full master cylinder assembly which must be replaced. Toyota has quoted $3,200 to complete this repair and is telling me…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owned a 2023 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while the husband was driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the pedal became stiff and did not slow down as intended. As a result, the contact collided with two vehicles. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained shoulder, back, and forearm…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 9,000 miles
Air bags
2 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
We had made collision accident with a brand new 4runner as it appears in the uploaded pictures, the airbags didn’t deploy and never show any notification on the dashboard that there is a problem in the airbag system,after the accident a notification came to the screen that the airbag system malfunctioned and i have to visit dealer And…Owner complaint, filed 2024
November 2023, my 13 year old daughter and I were involved in a car accident. A vehicle made a left hand turn in front of us and we collided (t-boned) the passenger side of the other vehicle. There were no warning lights, notifications of car crossing in in front of us, the assisted brake system did not activate, the air bags did not…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Seats and seat belts
2 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owned a 2023 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while her father was driving under 30 MPH on a side road, the driver swerved to miss a deer. The vehicle drove off a hill, rolled over and landed on its top, and all the seat belts simultaneously unbuckled, causing all the passengers to hit their heads against the roof…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 10,000 miles
On 2/21/2023, my parents jumped into the backseat of my parked car and began putting on their seatbelts. They were met with resistance and were unable to retract their seatbelts. This was very arcane because I seldom have any backseat passengers and I don't load any heavy cargo into my car. Moreover, I went into my backseat and retracted…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Body, doors and structure
2 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to lock using the key fob or the buttons on the door. The doors had to be manually locked and unlocked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed to be a known issue, and the locks were replaced. Shortly after the vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 77,000 miles
After adjusting the vehicle lock sound level in the settings, it completely disabled my key fobs and the panic function on the key fob. Had to take to dealer to fix. Dealer had never seen the issue before. Been reported online many many times. Dealers and Toyota refuse to acknowledge a known issue.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Cruise control and acceleration
1 complaintHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
The car just accelerated while during into parking lot. I used brake but did work and hit on to the pole. It accelerated pretty fast. The parking lot store has a video of me coming in slow and the the car accelerated.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Toyota 4Runner complaints by year
Compare the 2023 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2023 midsize SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Toyota 4Runner | Too new to judge | 1 |
| 2023 Toyota Highlander | Too new to judge | 9 |
| 2023 Honda Pilot | Too new to judge | 5 |
| 2023 Kia Telluride | Too new to judge | 6 |
2023 Toyota 4Runner recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2023 Toyota 4Runner, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Equipment Labels
- Risk
- An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC will mail a new modified label, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
2023 Toyota 4Runner questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota 4Runner?
The most reported problem areas on the 2023 Toyota 4Runner are the driver assist systems (5 complaints), the lights, wipers and visibility (4 complaints) and the wheels and tires (4 complaints).
Is the 2023 Toyota 4Runner a good year to buy?
Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older 4Runner year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the driver assist systems. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other 4Runner years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2023 Toyota 4Runner have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2023 Toyota 4Runner. The most recent, from Oct 2023, covers the labels. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
Which Toyota 4Runner years should I avoid?
The 4Runner years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2012. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2013, 2017 and 2020. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
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These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model