2008 Toyota 4Runner problems and complaints

Owners have filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota 4Runner. The most-reported areas: Power Train (27), Vehicle Speed Control (16), Structure (16).

Key takeaways

  • 96 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 10 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 9 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Power Train2728%
Vehicle Speed Control1617%
Structure1617%
Service Brakes1516%
Unknown Or Other1213%
Suspension1111%
Engine77%
Electrical System55%
Steering55%
Hydraulic55%
Air Bags44%
Wheels44%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2008 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Power Train,electrical System - filed 2026-03-16

DIAGNOSIS FOUND TRANS FLUID WICKING UP HARNESS TO ENGINE ECM CONTAMINATING HARNESS AND ECU GIVEN FALSE/ABNORMAL READINGS AT ECM. EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NECESSARY W/ INTERNAL TRANS WIRE REPLACEMENT, ENGINE HARNESS REPLACEMENT & ENGINE ECU REPLACEMENT. OTHER CLEANING MAY BE NECESSARY OR OTHER HARNESS REPLACEMENT NECESSARY [Ot...

Vehicle Speed Control - filed 2025-05-07

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while pulling out of a parking spot and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that she might have shifted into park(P) and stopped the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while at a complete stop in an inters...

Air Bags - filed 2024-08-27

On August 11th 2024 at approximately 8:30PM I was hit on the passenger side of my vehicle. As a result both passenger doors were smashed in. And had also been shoved into the car and causing the passenger seat to be stuck between the doors and center console. There was ZERO airbag deployment. There are 3 known airbags ...

Diagnose it yourself

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

More for the 2008 Toyota 4Runner

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.