Car Defect Radar

Toyota 4Runner vs Toyota Highlander: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Toyota 4Runner and the Toyota Highlander, with the 14 model years both have (2010–2023) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Toyota 4Runner

Years to avoid
No year stands out
Fewest complaints
202020212023

The typical Toyota 4Runner year has 58 complaints on file, across 15 model years (2010–2025).

Toyota Highlander

Years to avoid
20192021
Fewest complaints
201120122023

The typical Toyota Highlander year has 206 complaints on file, across 15 model years (2010–2024).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 14 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Toyota 4Runner

2.8× its typical year in 2011, its worst year

163 complaints against a typical year of 58.

Years to avoid: none. Fewest complaints: 2020, 2021, 2023.

Toyota Highlander

2.5× its typical year in 2021, its worst year

512 complaints against a typical year of 206.

Years to avoid: 2019, 2021. Fewest complaints: 2011, 2012, 2023.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Toyota 4Runnerno year to avoid · typical year 58avoid zone: 200+0501001502002502010Toyota 4Runner 2010: 145 complaints, 2.5× its typical year2011Toyota 4Runner 2011: 163 complaints, 2.8× its typical year2012Toyota 4Runner 2012: 96 complaints, 1.7× its typical year2013Toyota 4Runner 2013: 36 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2014Toyota 4Runner 2014: 77 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2015Toyota 4Runner 2015: 85 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2016Toyota 4Runner 2016: 79 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2017Toyota 4Runner 2017: 36 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2018Toyota 4Runner 2018: 58 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2019Toyota 4Runner 2019: 65 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2020Toyota 4Runner 2020: 33 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints33fewest2021Toyota 4Runner 2021: 36 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints36fewest2022Toyota 4Runner 2022: 39 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2023Toyota 4Runner 2023: 32 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints32fewest2024none2025Toyota 4Runner 2025: 57 complaints, 1.0× its typical yearToyota 4Runneravoid zone: 200+typical 582025Toyota 4Runner 2025: 57 complaints, 1.0× its typical year572023Toyota 4Runner 2023: 32 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints32fewest2022Toyota 4Runner 2022: 39 complaints, 0.7× its typical year392021Toyota 4Runner 2021: 36 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints36fewest2020Toyota 4Runner 2020: 33 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints33fewest2019Toyota 4Runner 2019: 65 complaints, 1.1× its typical year652018Toyota 4Runner 2018: 58 complaints, 1.0× its typical year582017Toyota 4Runner 2017: 36 complaints, 0.6× its typical year362016Toyota 4Runner 2016: 79 complaints, 1.4× its typical year792015Toyota 4Runner 2015: 85 complaints, 1.5× its typical year852014Toyota 4Runner 2014: 77 complaints, 1.3× its typical year772013Toyota 4Runner 2013: 36 complaints, 0.6× its typical year362012Toyota 4Runner 2012: 96 complaints, 1.7× its typical year962011Toyota 4Runner 2011: 163 complaints, 2.8× its typical year1632010Toyota 4Runner 2010: 145 complaints, 2.5× its typical year145
Toyota Highlander2 years to avoid · typical year 206avoid zone: 412+02004006002010Toyota Highlander 2010: 216 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2011Toyota Highlander 2011: 181 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints181fewest2012Toyota Highlander 2012: 182 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints182fewest2013Toyota Highlander 2013: 206 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2014Toyota Highlander 2014: 135 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2015Toyota Highlander 2015: 191 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2016Toyota Highlander 2016: 110 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2017Toyota Highlander 2017: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2018Toyota Highlander 2018: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2019Toyota Highlander 2019: 480 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid480avoid2020Toyota Highlander 2020: 314 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2021Toyota Highlander 2021: 512 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid512avoid2022Toyota Highlander 2022: 245 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2023Toyota Highlander 2023: 180 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints180fewest2024Toyota Highlander 2024: 42 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2025noneToyota Highlanderavoid zone: 412+typical 2062024Toyota Highlander 2024: 42 complaints, 0.2× its typical year422023Toyota Highlander 2023: 180 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints180fewest2022Toyota Highlander 2022: 245 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2452021Toyota Highlander 2021: 512 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid512avoid2020Toyota Highlander 2020: 314 complaints, 1.5× its typical year3142019Toyota Highlander 2019: 480 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid480avoid2018Toyota Highlander 2018: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2652017Toyota Highlander 2017: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2652016Toyota Highlander 2016: 110 complaints, 0.5× its typical year1102015Toyota Highlander 2015: 191 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1912014Toyota Highlander 2014: 135 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1352013Toyota Highlander 2013: 206 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2062012Toyota Highlander 2012: 182 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints182fewest2011Toyota Highlander 2011: 181 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints181fewest2010Toyota Highlander 2010: 216 complaints, 1.0× its typical year216
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearToyota 4RunnerToyota Highlander
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2023320.6×1Few red flags1800.9×9Few red flags
2022390.7×3Few red flags2451.2×5Some concerns to check
2021360.6×1Few red flags5122.5×4Approach with caution
2020330.6×1Few red flags3141.5×4Some concerns to check
2019651.1×4Few red flags4802.3×3Approach with caution
2018581.0×5Few red flags2651.3×5Few red flags
2017360.6×5Few red flags2651.3×4Few red flags
2016791.4×8Few red flags1100.5×3Some concerns to check
2015851.5×9Some concerns to check1910.9×2Few red flags
2014771.3×7Few red flags1350.7×5Some concerns to check
2013360.6×6Few red flags2061.0×3Some concerns to check
2012961.7×8Some concerns to check1820.9×2Few red flags
20111632.8×10Some concerns to check1810.9×5Few red flags
20101452.5×12Some concerns to check2161.0×10Few red flags

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearToyota 4RunnerToyota Highlander
2023TiresBody and structure
2022AirbagsTransmission and drivetrain
2021SteeringTransmission and drivetrain
2020AirbagsTransmission and drivetrain
2019Fuel systemTransmission and drivetrain
2018SteeringTransmission and drivetrain
2017BrakesTransmission and drivetrain
2016Electrical systemBrakes
2015AirbagsElectrical system
2014Electrical systemElectrical system
2013AirbagsSteering
2012AirbagsSteering
2011AirbagsWipers and visibility
2010AirbagsElectrical system

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Toyota 4Runner

Toyota Highlander

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show