2017 Toyota 4Runner Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2017 Toyota 4Runner ranks 18th of 21 model years by complaint volume, with a complaint index of 15 and a Best verdict relative to other 4Runner years. NHTSA lists 36 complaints and 5 recalls, with Brakes the top problem area at 25% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 15/100
- #18 of 21 4Runner years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 36
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 17 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2017 Toyota 4Runner problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other14 (39%)
- Brakes9 (25%)
- Electrical System5 (14%)
- Engine4 (11%)
- Structure & Body4 (11%)
- Airbags3 (8%)
- Fuel System2 (6%)
- Steering2 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
- Seat Belts1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes intermittently lose pedal feel or drop to the floor with little or no warning, sometimes requiring the parking brake to stop.
- Some drivers report the vehicle rolling forward at a stop even with the brake pedal applied.
- Curtain airbags have deployed unexpectedly during normal driving, in one case leading to loss of control.
- Electrical faults have caused stalling, flashing check-engine lights, and sluggish acceleration, with some cases traced to rodent damage to wiring.
- A driver's seat frame reportedly made loud noises and shifted position, requiring repair that later recurred.
2017 Toyota 4Runner recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V753000Oct 25, 2018Other1,295 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota 4Runner vehicles that SET modified to be equipped with a TRD wheel package. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on the certification label may be incorrect, possibly resulting in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and mail them corrected certification labels, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2018. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET18A.
- NHTSA 17V831000Dec 20, 2017Other649 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
- NHTSA 17V763000Nov 29, 2017Structure & Body431 vehicles
Structure:body:hood
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Toyota 4Runner vehicles equipped with an accessory Billet Grille Overlay installed by SET or provided by SET and installed by SET dealers. The U-nut that secures the overlay grille may fracture, allowing the Billet Grille Overlay to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If the Billet Grille Overlay detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the securing U-nuts with upgraded hardware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 26, 2018. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17C.
2017 Toyota 4Runner fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 18 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,600
- 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.
2017 compared with other 4Runner years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
- Among 21 model years of the 4Runner, 2017 has a complaint index of 15 and carries a Best verdict, ranking 18th worst (meaning it's one of the lower-complaint years) with 36 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Toyota 4Runner?
- Brakes are the top complaint area, accounting for 9 of 36 complaints (25%), with a median mileage at failure of 12,945 miles.
- Does the 2017 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2017 4Runner, covering issues like certification labels, a grille overlay fastener, spare tire pressure, and roof rack fasteners; none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2017 4Runner compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 15, 2017 performs better than years like 2005 (index 90), 2006 (100), and 2025 (95), but slightly trails top years like 2013 and 2024, which have lower indexes.