Car Defect Radar

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

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Toyota 4Runner and the Toyota Tacoma, with the 15 model years both have (2010–2025) 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 Tacoma

Years to avoid
201020122016
Fewest complaints
201320202023

The typical Toyota Tacoma year has 136 complaints on file, across 16 model years (2010–2025).

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 15 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 Tacoma

2.4× its typical year in 2016, its worst year

323 complaints against a typical year of 136.

Years to avoid: 2010, 2012, 2016. Fewest complaints: 2013, 2020, 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 Tacoma3 years to avoid · typical year 136avoid zone: 273+01002003004002010Toyota Tacoma 2010: 293 complaints, 2.1× its typical year, a year to avoid293avoid2011Toyota Tacoma 2011: 186 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2012Toyota Tacoma 2012: 295 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid295avoid2013Toyota Tacoma 2013: 125 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints125fewest2014Toyota Tacoma 2014: 93 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2015Toyota Tacoma 2015: 101 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2016Toyota Tacoma 2016: 323 complaints, 2.4× its typical year, a year to avoid323avoid2017Toyota Tacoma 2017: 239 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2018Toyota Tacoma 2018: 204 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2019Toyota Tacoma 2019: 218 complaints, 1.6× its typical year2020Toyota Tacoma 2020: 87 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints87fewest2021Toyota Tacoma 2021: 80 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2022Toyota Tacoma 2022: 58 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2023Toyota Tacoma 2023: 54 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints54fewest2024Toyota Tacoma 2024: 148 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2025Toyota Tacoma 2025: 96 complaints, 0.7× its typical yearToyota Tacomaavoid zone: 273+typical 1362025Toyota Tacoma 2025: 96 complaints, 0.7× its typical year962024Toyota Tacoma 2024: 148 complaints, 1.1× its typical year1482023Toyota Tacoma 2023: 54 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints54fewest2022Toyota Tacoma 2022: 58 complaints, 0.4× its typical year582021Toyota Tacoma 2021: 80 complaints, 0.6× its typical year802020Toyota Tacoma 2020: 87 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints87fewest2019Toyota Tacoma 2019: 218 complaints, 1.6× its typical year2182018Toyota Tacoma 2018: 204 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2042017Toyota Tacoma 2017: 239 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2392016Toyota Tacoma 2016: 323 complaints, 2.4× its typical year, a year to avoid323avoid2015Toyota Tacoma 2015: 101 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1012014Toyota Tacoma 2014: 93 complaints, 0.7× its typical year932013Toyota Tacoma 2013: 125 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints125fewest2012Toyota Tacoma 2012: 295 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid295avoid2011Toyota Tacoma 2011: 186 complaints, 1.4× its typical year1862010Toyota Tacoma 2010: 293 complaints, 2.1× its typical year, a year to avoid293avoid
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 Tacoma
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2025571.0×1Few red flags960.7×5Some concerns to check
2023320.6×1Few red flags540.4×4Few red flags
2022390.7×3Few red flags580.4×3Some concerns to check
2021360.6×1Few red flags800.6×0Some concerns to check
2020330.6×1Few red flags870.6×1Few red flags
2019651.1×4Few red flags2181.6×4Some concerns to check
2018581.0×5Few red flags2041.5×3Few red flags
2017360.6×5Few red flags2391.8×5Some concerns to check
2016791.4×8Few red flags3232.4×4Approach with caution
2015851.5×9Some concerns to check1010.7×4Some concerns to check
2014771.3×7Few red flags930.7×4Some concerns to check
2013360.6×6Few red flags1250.9×6Few red flags
2012961.7×8Some concerns to check2952.2×7Approach with caution
20111632.8×10Some concerns to check1861.4×9Some concerns to check
20101452.5×12Some concerns to check2932.1×13Approach with caution

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 Tacoma
2025BrakesBody and structure
2023TiresElectrical system
2022AirbagsTransmission and drivetrain
2021SteeringTransmission and drivetrain
2020AirbagsFuel system
2019Fuel systemFuel system
2018SteeringFuel system
2017BrakesTransmission and drivetrain
2016Electrical systemTransmission and drivetrain
2015AirbagsBody and structure
2014Electrical systemBody and structure
2013AirbagsTransmission and drivetrain
2012AirbagsEngine
2011AirbagsSuspension
2010AirbagsSuspension

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 Tacoma

Recalls

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

What the data can't show