Toyota 4RUNNER Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 248 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Toyota 4RUNNER across 31 model years. The 2014 model year has the most (24). The words owners use most often: “wiring harness” (7% of reports).
- 248electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $830typical repair cost reported by owners
- 29%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Wiring harness: mentioned in 18 of 248 complaints (7%)
- Door lock: mentioned in 14 of 248 complaints (6%)
- Soy based: mentioned in 13 of 248 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Toyota 4RUNNER at $830, and half of them between $710 and $1,250.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 162 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 248 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 24 a fire, 4 an injury.
Toyota 4RUNNER electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 4RUNNER | 1 | 14% | 300 |
| 2025 4RUNNER | 8 | 13% | 700 |
| 2024 4RUNNER | 2 | 22% | — |
| 2022 4RUNNER | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2021 4RUNNER | 3 | 8% | — |
| 2020 4RUNNER | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2019 4RUNNER | 8 | 12% | 22,000 |
| 2018 4RUNNER | 4 | 7% | 55,110 |
| 2017 4RUNNER | 5 | 14% | 1,100 |
| 2016 4RUNNER | 18 | 23% | 13,500 |
| 2015 4RUNNER | 13 | 15% | 45,000 |
| 2014 4RUNNER | 24 | 31% | 50,000 |
| 2013 4RUNNER | 4 | 11% | 85,000 |
| 2012 4RUNNER | 6 | 6% | 37,000 |
| 2011 4RUNNER | 6 | 4% | 49,300 |
| 2010 4RUNNER | 4 | 3% | 52,853 |
| 2009 4RUNNER | 4 | 18% | 13,250 |
| 2008 4RUNNER | 5 | 5% | 95,500 |
| 2007 4RUNNER | 13 | 8% | 98,000 |
| 2006 4RUNNER | 18 | 5% | 109,404 |
| 2005 4RUNNER | 9 | 2% | 160,000 |
| 2004 4RUNNER | 22 | 3% | 121,000 |
| 2003 4RUNNER | 12 | 2% | 71,778 |
| 2002 4RUNNER | 3 | 1% | 55,779 |
| 2001 4RUNNER | 6 | 3% | 110,500 |
| 2000 4RUNNER | 4 | 1% | 90,500 |
| 1999 4RUNNER | 17 | 5% | 112,111 |
| 1998 4RUNNER | 11 | 4% | 102,560 |
| 1997 4RUNNER | 6 | 2% | 44,350 |
| 1996 4RUNNER | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1995 4RUNNER | 6 | 3% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2025
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On August 29, 2026, I was stopped at a red light with my foot on the brake when I noticed the vehicle moving forward even though I was pressing the brake pedal. I immediately entered a nearby parking lot at very low speed. I had significant difficulty stopping and used the electronic parking brake…
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…
The contact owns a 2026 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, after disconnecting the trailer wiring harness, the message Tow/Haul Mode or a Trailer Coverage Indicator appeared even though the vehicle was no longer hauling the trailer. The…
I am a fire investigator for the Olathe (KS) Fire Department. On July 3, 2026 at 1255 hrs our crews were called to a vehicle fire for the above listed car. The vehicle was reportedly being driven when smoke entered the passenger compartment causing the driver to pull over. He opened the rear…
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the message âHeadlights Onâ was erroneously displayed. The fuel gauge indicated 71 percent. Additionally, the 12-volt charging system malfunctioned with the message âSee the Dealerâ displayed. Several unknown orange warning…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota 4RUNNERs have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 248 owner complaints about electrical system for the Toyota 4RUNNER. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota 4RUNNER electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Toyota 4RUNNER?
Owners report a typical cost of $830 (half paid between $710 and $1,250), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Toyota 4RUNNER?
The most frequent phrase is “wiring harness”, in 18 of 248 complaints, followed by “door lock” (14).
Other Toyota 4RUNNER problems
- Structure problems (1,789)
- Suspension problems (906)
- Air Bags problems (524)
- Power Train problems (405)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (363)
- Steering problems (311)
- Service Brakes problems (286)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (238)
See all Toyota 4RUNNER problems.