2020 Toyota 4RUNNER: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 33 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes (19% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 2 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Jul 2022
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The door actuator have been replaced a minimum of eight times. Huge safety risk involved since we never know if the vehicle is going to lock. Toyota continues to replace them but not addressing the underlying issue. Not sure if this is all related but the blower motor has been replaced 3- 4 times and the battery has been replaced 4 times”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2026
“Driver side headlight goes out approximately every 6 months. Sometimes the light only has to be "wiggled" in its connection and the light comes back on. Sometimes the light must be replaced. The light has also exploded when my spouse was attempting to replace the lightbulb. A friend has a 2014 Toyota 4 runner and the drivers lightbulb has been replaced approximately 12 times in 6 years. The passenger side headlight is not affected.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Aug 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and reversing, the rearview camera intermittently displayed a blank image. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.”Owner report · Back Over Prevention · Feb 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while reversing, he became aware that the rear-view camera failed to display an image. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 50,000.”Owner report · Back Over Prevention · May 2024
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the front timing cover and found that the part was leaking fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000.”Owner report · Steering · Apr 2024
“System malfunction-the 'brake' alert flashed and chirped when there was NO obstacle on the road. Safety issue-I was about to hit the brakes but I realized in time there was no need. Confirmed? No not at this time. Possibly have it reviewed at next maintenance. No inspection yet. This has occurred infrequently in the past”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Jul 2023
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for a routine inspection, he was informed that the front coil spring was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that 50% of the cost for the repair would be covered. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2023
“I have attempted to use the SOS button 4 times in different days and in different locations, only connecting once and the rep. claimed she couldn't hear me that only time I "connected." The system causes premature battery drain (even while the car is off, it draws power) and doesn't work in its intended way as a safety/rescue tool. This is an expensive feature that fails to work while locked in with an inferior cellular service provider through an exclusive contract between Toyota and AT&T.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · May 2023
“Whenever I strap my child into their car seat and tighten down the straps, the straps will not lock into place and I am able to pull them back out with my hands.”Owner report · Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness · Dec 2022
“While driving down a road a mango fruit fell from a tree and hit the front glass causing it to break. The glass also broke toward the inside there were pieces of glass on the dash inside the vehicle. This could of cause me injuries.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2022
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
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."
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2020 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all 4RUNNER years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact 4RUNNER by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Toyota 4RUNNER reliable?
NHTSA has 33 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2020 Toyota 4RUNNER. The most complained-about area is service brakes (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2020 Toyota 4RUNNER problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 13,000 miles or less.
Does the 2020 Toyota 4RUNNER have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning equipment. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.