2015 Toyota 4Runner Problems And Complaints

Toyota 4Runner user complaints and problems

Engine problems

• Sudden loss of power: Two owners complained about a sudden power loss issue with their 2015 4Runners. One owner faced a sudden loss in power while driving while the other owner stated that the vehicle went into limp mode. The exact reason for the failures was not determined by the dealerships either.
• Rolling away while parked: One owner complains about this problem. During the incident, the SUV was parked on a gradient and it rolled away suddenly, crashing into another idle vehicle. The exact reason was undetermined.
• Fuel pump failure: Several owners have reported fuel pump failures in their 2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The reports state that due to the failures, the engines failed to start or experienced low pickup problems. There has been a recall for this issue as well, having NHTSA ID: 20V012000.
• Transmission malfunction: A couple of complaints related to transmission malfunctions were reported. In one case, the transmission malfunction resulted in the 4WD system of the vehicle not engaging when required. In another case, the transmission fault resulted in the powertrain being unable to accelerate despite the gear selector slotted to drive mode.

Electrical problems

• Entune system failure: A few reports mention the Entune system malfunction. During the failures, the entire system crashes and distracts the drivers while driving, posing a safety issue as well. 
• Door actuator failure: Several owners have reported this issue. The reports state that the door lock actuators would fail, resulting in the doors not closing or opening through remote keys. 
• Complete electrical failure: One owner complains about a complete electrical system failure. The report further mentions that the entire dashboard and the electrics of the vehicle would shut down and restart. The problem occurs intermittently and has troubled the owner multiple times.

Safety problems

• Airbag failure: Numerous owners have faced airbag failures with their 2015 Toyota 4Runner. During crashes, the airbags of the affected vehicles failed to deploy. There is an active investigation regarding the failures as well. 

Miscellaneous problems

• Vibration and shaking steering wheel: Vibration from the front wheels and shaking of steering wheel issues have been reported by a single owner. The report further states that the owner changed the front tires of the vehicle but the problem recurred,
• Suspension issues: Suspension issues were reported by some owners against the 2015 4Runner. Due to the faulty suspensions, the affected owners faced problems such as the premature wearing of tires and misaligned front wheels.

2015 Toyota 4Runner recalls

S.No.	Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Issues noticed	Additional remarks	Remedy
1	December 30, 2014	14V828000	Vehicle Accessories May Detach	Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.	SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began on February 23, 2015.
2	August 13, 2015	15V515000	Accessory Exhaust Tips May Burn People	Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.	SET will notify owners, and dealers will install a re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is more recessed behind the bumper, free of charge. The recall began on September 22, 2015.
3	April 20, 2016	16V228000	Incorrect Weight Calculations on Label/FMVSS 110	An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.	Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will install an accurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 1, 2016.
4	August 3, 2016	16V577000	Accessory Exhaust Tip May Contact and Burn People	Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.	SET will notify owners, and dealers will install a re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is more recessed behind the bumper, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2016.
5	July 3, 2017	17V425000	Accessory Hood Scoop may Detach	If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.	SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017.
6	November 29, 2017	17V763000	Billet Overlay Grill may Detach from Vehicle	If the Billet Grille Overlay detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.	SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the securing U-nuts with upgraded hardware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 26, 2018.
7	January 9, 2019	19V005000	Passenger Frontal Airbag Inflator May Explode	An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.	Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger airbag inflator, or replace the airbag assembly. The recall began on February 15, 2019.
8	October 17, 2019	19V741000	Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode	An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.	Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began on November 20, 2019.
9	January 13, 2020	20V012000	Fuel Pump May Fail	If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.	Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2020.

Should you buy a used Toyota 4Runner?

The Toyota 4Runner is the go-to option for those who want a daily driver that is always ready to venture off the roads without a moment’s delay. Yes, the on-road dynamics of the SUV might not be appealing for some buyers but the ruggedness offered by the vehicle is almost unmatched in its class. The SUV has seen issues with its reliability in the recent past and with the current model too but the numbers are on the lower side. Opting for a used 4Runner is absolutely fine if you can live with its rugged nature. Furthermore, do perform a thorough checkup of the used example to rule out the suspension issues, airbag issues, and electrical issues.