Toyota 4RUNNER Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 286 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Toyota 4RUNNER across 28 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (57). The words owners use most often: “master cylinder” (7% of reports).
- 286service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 22mention a crash
- 12mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $4,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%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.
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 20 of 286 complaints (7%)
- Brake calipers: mentioned in 15 of 286 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the Toyota 4RUNNER at $4,200, and half of them between $2,950 and $4,650.
Based on 18 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2026), 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 service brakes problems happen?
Based on 192 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 286 complaints, 22 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 12 an injury.
Toyota 4RUNNER service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 4RUNNER | 24 | 40% | 5 |
| 2024 4RUNNER | 2 | 22% | — |
| 2023 4RUNNER | 2 | 6% | 9,000 |
| 2022 4RUNNER | 5 | 13% | — |
| 2021 4RUNNER | 6 | 17% | — |
| 2020 4RUNNER | 5 | 15% | 3,450 |
| 2019 4RUNNER | 5 | 8% | 1,631 |
| 2018 4RUNNER | 6 | 10% | 23,500 |
| 2017 4RUNNER | 9 | 25% | 12,945 |
| 2016 4RUNNER | 5 | 6% | 25,000 |
| 2015 4RUNNER | 4 | 5% | 31,000 |
| 2014 4RUNNER | 5 | 6% | 71,000 |
| 2013 4RUNNER | 5 | 14% | 28,000 |
| 2012 4RUNNER | 6 | 6% | 3,025 |
| 2011 4RUNNER | 6 | 4% | 14,829 |
| 2010 4RUNNER | 6 | 4% | 55,435 |
| 2008 4RUNNER | 10 | 10% | 103,000 |
| 2007 4RUNNER | 19 | 12% | 103,000 |
| 2006 4RUNNER | 19 | 5% | 107,553 |
| 2005 4RUNNER | 14 | 3% | 106,500 |
| 2004 4RUNNER | 57 | 8% | 137,000 |
| 2003 4RUNNER | 45 | 6% | 123,112 |
| 2002 4RUNNER | 10 | 4% | 172,500 |
| 2001 4RUNNER | 1 | 1% | 198,000 |
| 2000 4RUNNER | 1 | 0% | — |
| 1999 4RUNNER | 7 | 2% | 180,000 |
| 1998 4RUNNER | 1 | 0% | 218,206 |
| 1996 4RUNNER | 1 | 1% | 150,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists service brakes for the Toyota 4RUNNER. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
So first off I had a Ford Escape and one day it wouldnât crank up and started beeping loud so I called and got it towed it sat in the shop for 3 days and they told me it was fixed they fixed the abs lights and was told it was ready and I didnât even make it out of shop and the car was running…
The front brakes emit a very loud, embarrassing screeching or howling sound. This noise happens most severely when backing up/shifting into reverse.
The brakes make a loud squealing noise especially in reverse. This is concerning and not what I expect from a brand new car!
There is a known issue, under recall T-SB-0006-26. My brakes squeal VERY loudly when I move in reverse. Toyota acknowledges that 2025 4Runners are affected, but claim my specific VIN is not covered.
We were traveling down the mountain of Mt. Nebo in Dardanelle, AR, around 1:08pm on Friday, May 22, 2026. It had been misty rain for a few hours. As we were traveling down the switchbacks of the mountain, we pressed on the brake to slow the vehicle; however, the vehicle did not slow down any. Since…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota 4RUNNERs have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 286 owner complaints about service brakes 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 service brakes?
No recall currently lists service brakes for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes problems on the Toyota 4RUNNER?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,200 (half paid between $2,950 and $4,650), from 18 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Toyota 4RUNNER?
The most frequent phrase is “master cylinder”, in 20 of 286 complaints, followed by “brake calipers” (15).
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)
- Electrical System problems (248)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (238)
See all Toyota 4RUNNER problems.