2012 Toyota 4Runner problems and complaints
Owners have filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota 4Runner. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (70), Service Brakes (7), Electrical System (6).
Key takeaways
- 96 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 5 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 9 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 70 | 73% |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 7% |
| Electrical System | 6 | 6% |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 | 6% |
| Steering | 5 | 5% |
| Engine | 5 | 5% |
| Fuel System | 4 | 4% |
| Gasoline | 3 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 2% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% |
| Structure | 2 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Toyota 4Runner SUV 2WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| 2012 Toyota 4Runner SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering - filed 2026-03-13
Consistent steering wheel shake between 60-65 mph. This is a very well known issue on the 2010-2024 4Runners and it drives me and many others crazy, and feels unsafe to drive with. Will happen almost anytime I’m on the highway. My vehicle only has 48k miles. This needs to be addressed.
Engine - filed 2022-07-13
Vehicle radiator light came on, shortly thereafter (5-10 min) vehicle overheated. Waited for vehicle to cool down, then drove home. The following day drove the vehicle to dealership. After an inspection the dealer stated the heads are cracked and needed to be replaced. When I asked how this could happen to a car ...
Fuel System, Gasoline - filed 2022-06-03
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The Police Department called and arranged for the vehicle to be towed to an authorized dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump h...
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More for the 2012 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.