2020 Toyota 4Runner Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 4Runner years
The 2020 Toyota 4Runner has 33 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 27, and 1 recall, ranking 12th out of 16 model years — a Good result compared to other years. Brakes are the top problem area with 6 complaints.
- Complaints
- 33
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 16 city / 19 hwy
Top 2020 Toyota 4Runner problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other9 (27%)
- Brakes6 (18%)
- Airbags5 (15%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (15%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (15%)
- Steering4 (12%)
- Electrical System3 (9%)
- Structure & Body2 (6%)
- Fuel System1 (3%)
- HVAC1 (3%)
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in multiple frontal and side-impact crashes, including one reported at 4,000 miles and another after sliding off the road at 40 mph.
- Brake pedal reportedly sinks toward the floor with little braking response at low speeds shortly after driving, even though it feels normal at idle.
- Rearview camera intermittently shows a blank image when reversing, with no warning light illuminated.
- Steering wheel shake occurs at various speeds despite repeated tire balancing and rotation attempts by the dealer.
- Electric power steering reportedly loses assist at highway speed, requiring extra effort to turn the wheel.
- Door actuators, blower motor, and battery have been replaced multiple times, raising concern about doors failing to lock.
2020 Toyota 4Runner recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V480000Jul 6, 2022Other280 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.
2020 Toyota 4Runner fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 19 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 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.
2020 compared with other 4Runner years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
- NHTSA lists 33 complaints and a Complaint Index of 27 for the 2020 4Runner, ranking it 12th out of 16 model years with a 'Good' verdict relative to other 4Runner years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2020 Toyota 4Runner?
- Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 6 of 33 complaints (18%), with a median mileage at failure of 4,000 miles.
- Does the 2020 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 22V480000) covers incorrect load carrying capacity labels on 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2020 4Runner compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 27 is lower than 'Avoid' years like 2011 (87), 2022 (80), 2023 (93), and 2025 (100), placing it among the better years for the 4Runner.
- Were there any airbag deployment issues in the 2020 4Runner?
- Airbags account for 5 of 33 complaints (15%), including reports of airbags failing to deploy in crashes at speeds around 35–40 mph, with 4 crashes and 4 injuries tied to this model year overall.