YearToAvoid

2023 Toyota 4Runner Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 4Runner years

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner has a Complaint Index of 93, the second-worst among 16 model years covered, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other 4Runner years. Suspension, wheels & tires lead its 32 complaints, with 1 recall filed.

Complaints
32
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
6 / 1
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
17
16 city / 19 hwy

Top 2023 Toyota 4Runner problems

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

  1. Other12 (38%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (19%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (13%)
  4. Electrical System3 (9%)
  5. Engine3 (9%)
  6. Airbags2 (6%)
  7. Brakes2 (6%)
  8. Seat Belts2 (6%)
  9. Steering2 (6%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (6%)

What owners report

  • Seat belts have simultaneously unbuckled during a rollover crash, letting passengers strike the roof.
  • The brake pedal has become stiff and failed to slow the vehicle at low speed, leading to a collision.
  • Steering has suddenly become hard to turn with no warning light or dashboard alert, diagnosed as a power steering failure.
  • Airbags have failed to deploy during a side-impact crash, followed by a later dashboard warning of airbag system malfunction.
  • The vehicle has shaken at highway speeds of 60 to 70 mph, felt through the steering wheel, pedals, and seats, persisting after realignments and tire rebalancing.
  • The engine has raced above 5,000 RPM and disengaged from the transmission after being struck from behind.
2023 Toyota 4Runner complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2023Aug 2023Nov 2023May 2024Nov 2024May 2025Jan 2026May 2026
42 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Apr 2023 (3).

2023 Toyota 4Runner recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V680000Oct 12, 2023Other13 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC will mail a new modified label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2023. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET23A.

2023 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.

2023 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
2021Best2036117
2022Avoid8039317
2023Avoid9332117
2024Best78117
2025Avoid10057122

All Toyota 4Runner years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
Compared with other 4Runner model years, 2023 ranks poorly: it has a Complaint Index of 93, the second-highest of the 16 years with data, and carries an Avoid verdict relative to those other years.
What is the top problem area for the 2023 Toyota 4Runner?
Suspension, wheels & tires is the top problem area, accounting for 6 of 32 complaints (19%), with a median mileage at failure of 11,501.5 miles.
Does the 2023 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2023 4Runner, campaign 23V680000, covering an incorrect load carrying capacity label on the modification plate. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2023 4Runner compare to the 2022 and 2025 model years?
The 2022 4Runner also carries an Avoid verdict with a Complaint Index of 80, and 2025 has the highest index of all years at 100 and an Avoid verdict, while 2023 sits between them at 93.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Toyota 4Runner?
EPA rates the 2023 4Runner at 17 mpg combined (16 city / 19 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.

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.