YearToAvoid

2008 Toyota 4Runner Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 27 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2008 Toyota 4Runner, 28% of all 96 complaints for this model year. That is #2 highest transmission complaint count among 21 4Runner model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 23,678 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
27
28% of 96
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
23,678 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Toyota 4Runner transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 1, 2008, latest Mar 16, 2026.

2008 Toyota 4Runner transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2008Nov 2009Feb 2010Jun 2012Aug 2013Sep 2017Nov 2018Feb 2023
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2008 to Mar 2026; peak Feb 2010 (4).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2008 Toyota 4Runner

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by 4Runner model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200525 (6%)
  2. 200630 (8%)
  3. 200711 (7%)
  4. 200827 (28%)
  5. 200910 (45%)
  6. 20105 (3%)
  7. 20116 (4%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20131 (3%)
  10. 20141 (1%)
  11. 20154 (5%)
  12. 20166 (8%)
  13. 20171 (3%)
  14. 20183 (5%)
  15. 20194 (6%)
  16. 20201 (3%)
  17. 20211 (3%)
  18. 20221 (3%)
  19. 20232 (6%)
  20. 20240 (0%)
  21. 20252 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Toyota 4Runner have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 27 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2008 Toyota 4Runner, 28% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 23,678 miles.
Which Toyota 4Runner year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2006 Toyota 4Runner has the most transmission complaints (30), compared with 27 for the 2008.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2008 Toyota 4Runner?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Toyota 4Runner is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.