YearToAvoid

2022 Toyota 4Runner Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 4Runner years

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner has a Complaint Index of 80 and ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 39 complaints, 3 recalls, 5 crashes, and 7 injuries, led by Collision Avoidance & Cameras and Suspension issues.

Complaints
39
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
17
16 city / 19 hwy

Top 2022 Toyota 4Runner problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other8 (21%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (18%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (18%)
  4. Airbags6 (15%)
  5. Brakes5 (13%)
  6. Engine5 (13%)
  7. Steering4 (10%)
  8. Seat Belts3 (8%)
  9. Electrical System2 (5%)
  10. Lane Departure2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during head-on or side-impact collisions, sometimes at highway speeds, leaving occupants to hit the steering wheel or window.
  • A right CV joint reportedly loses concentricity once warmed up, causing the steering wheel to shake until the vehicle slows or is shifted into 4WD.
  • Some owners report tires wearing unevenly on the inside despite regular rotations, later traced to sagging front struts on XREAS-equipped trucks.
  • The brake pedal reportedly turns spongey and sinks toward the floor at stops, letting the vehicle creep forward without any warning light.
  • One owner reported the vehicle losing power on the freeway with a 4WD error and smoke coming from under the hood.
  • An oil leak was noticed pooling in the driveway around 22,000 miles, prompting a dealer inspection.
2022 Toyota 4Runner complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2021Aug 2022Mar 2023Jul 2023Dec 2023Jul 2024Aug 2025Feb 2026
50 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2021 to May 2026; peak Feb 2022 (4).

2022 Toyota 4Runner recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 22V310000May 6, 2022Other661 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.

  3. NHTSA 21V963000Dec 13, 2021Electrical System78 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2022 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The driver's side high beam may be inoperable after the installation of accessory fog lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: An inoperable driver's side high beam may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an updated wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 11, 2022. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET21A.

2022 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.

2022 compared with other 4Runner years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2020Good2733117
2021Best2036117
2022Avoid8039317
2023Avoid9332117
2024Best78117

All Toyota 4Runner years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2022 4Runner a Complaint Index of 80, the 4th worst of 16 model years covered, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other 4Runner years.
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Toyota 4Runner?
NHTSA complaints are led by Collision Avoidance & Cameras and Suspension, Wheels & Tires, each at 18% of complaints, followed by Airbags at 15% and Brakes at 13%.
Does the 2022 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2022 4Runner, covering incorrect or fading load-capacity labels and a wiring harness issue affecting the driver's side high beam. None are do-not-drive recalls.
Did the 2022 Toyota 4Runner have airbag deployment problems?
NHTSA logged 6 airbag-related complaints for the 2022 4Runner, tied to 5 crashes, with a median mileage at failure of 50,000 miles.
How does the 2022 4Runner compare to other years?
The 2022 model's Complaint Index of 80 is worse than 2021 (20, Best) and 2020 (27, Good), but better than 2025 (100, Avoid) and 2023 (93, Avoid).

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.