2006 Toyota 4Runner Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2006 Toyota 4Runner ranks worst of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 100 and 381 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Structure & Body issues dominate at 39% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 125,000.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 21 4Runner years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 381
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 28
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 18
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16.5
- 15 city / 18.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 18 / 0
Top 2006 Toyota 4Runner problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body149 (39%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires79 (21%)
- Other75 (20%)
- Brakes38 (10%)
- Engine31 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain30 (8%)
- Airbags24 (6%)
- Steering22 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers21 (6%)
- Electrical System19 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into reverse or rolling on its own while parked with the engine running.
- Some describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speed, causing the vehicle to lunge forward into curbs, medians, or fences.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during frontal or rear-end collisions, leading to injuries.
- Owners describe the vehicle fishtailing or skidding during turns, sometimes resulting in rollovers.
- One owner reported the 4-wheel drive engaging unexpectedly at highway speed, causing loss of control and a rollover.
2006 Toyota 4Runner recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Structure & Body7,749 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
- NHTSA 16V065000Feb 5, 2016Airbags320,409 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
- NHTSA 11V113000Feb 24, 2011Engine1,363,244 vehicles
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Remedy: The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early april 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any toyota all-weather floor mat. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
2006 Toyota 4Runner fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 18.5 MPG
- Combined
- 16.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,925
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other 4Runner years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Toyota 4Runner a good year?
- No. Among 21 model years of the 4Runner, 2006 ranks worst with a complaint index of 100 and 381 NHTSA complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota 4Runner?
- Structure & Body complaints make up 39% of all reports, followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 21% and Brakes at 10%. Structure & Body issues showed a median failure mileage of 125,000.
- Does the 2006 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2006 4Runner, covering seat heaters, airbag control module programming, accelerator pedal sticking, and tire/rim labeling compliance. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2006 4Runner compare to other years?
- The 2006 model has the highest complaint index (100) of any 4Runner year in the data, worse than 2005 (90) and far worse than the best-ranked 2013 and 2024 models, both at a complaint index of 0 and 5.
- Were there any airbag issues reported in the 2006 4Runner?
- Yes, NHTSA received 24 airbag-related complaints, including reports of airbags failing to deploy during crashes, and a related recall (16V065000) addressed airbag control module programming.