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2020 Toyota 4Runner Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering labels. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Steering wheel vibration at highway speed.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

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1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Campaign #22V480000 · Jun 7, 2022

Issue: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Toyota 4Runner.

Reported to NHTSA

Steering wheel vibration at highway speed

STEERING

4 NHTSA complaints · 2020-09 → 2023-09

“The car shakes when going at speeds as low as 48 mph and as high as 68 mph that I know of. Typically, it shakes heaviest from the mid-50 mph range to the mid-60 mph range. I rarely Drive the full speed limit for energy conservation reasons, so I cannot tell you how much higher”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11507249
“Steering wheel shakes at highway speeds (58-64mph). Steering wheel has shaken as much as 1.5 inches back and forth, causing vehicle to shake while driving at high speeds. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer and has been in 6 times to try to fix it with no change. The”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11423369
“STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRIVING 58-62MPH ON HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11355697

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal loss of pressure at low speed

SERVICE BRAKES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2020-09 → 2022-03

“Break problem after letting car sit overnight and coming up to a stop sign or anything slowly pedal goes to the floor If you pump tge pedal the brakes will come back and seem to work fine except when sitting In a drive-through line with your foot on the brake pedal it'll slowly”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11455732
“WHILE SLOWLY SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKING. AS SOON AS PEDAL IS BROUGHT BACK UP AND PUMPED ONCE OR TWICE, BRAKES REGAINED FUNCTION. NO WARNING OR SAFETY LIGHTS WENT OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH 2”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11374875
“BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE PEDAL GOES WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING ANY BRAKES. AT IDLE THE BRAKES SEEM TO FUNCTION FINE, AFTER DRIVING AT ABOUT 10MPH THE BRAKES GO BACK TO NOT WORKING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE BRAKES ARE "NORMAL" AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11362080

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass shattering while driving

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2021-10 → 2022-07

“The sunroof suddenly shattered while driving. The interior glass cracked and rained down on me. The exterior glass cracked. It sounded like a gunshot. It caused cuts, fear from the loud bang and the inability to drive the vehicle out of fear of the remaining glass falling and”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11475549
“I was driving down the road and heard a Loud bang. When I got home I was looking for the source and there was a big hole in the sunroof from the sunroof shattering. There was no contact from anything the sunroof just shattered on its own”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11444957
“Thirteen months ago I purchased a 2020 4 Runner from Parker Toyota. Last week my sunroof exploded for no reason, there were no rocks or debri that caused this. This is clearly a manufacturers defect of the glass used. I am thankful I wasn’t covered in shattered glass or worse,”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11435369

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rearview camera blank image while reversing

BACK OVER PREVENTION

2 NHTSA complaints · 2024-05 → 2026-03

“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and reversing, the rearview camera intermittently displayed a blank image. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11728004
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while reversing, he became aware that the rear-view camera failed to display an image. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11590241

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Suspension component fracture and failure

SUSPENSION

2 NHTSA complaints · 2023-07 → 2024-04

“I am writing to express my deep concern and frustration regarding the X-REAS suspension system in the Limited Edition 4Runner manufactured by Toyota”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11580983
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for a routine inspection, he was informed that the front coil spring was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11532966

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag failure to deploy in crash

AIR BAGS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2020-03 → 2021-11

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, WHEN SHE SLID OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11396684
“I WAS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11378306
“The contact owned a 2020 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while the driver who was her father crashed into another vehicle, the air bags failed to deploy. In addition, the contact stated that the braking alert for getting too close to a vehicle failed to illuminate. A”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11440934

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

21 crashes 1990–2024

How the 21 occupant deaths break down

12

driver deaths

9

passenger deaths

21

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2020 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

4

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2020 Toyota 4Runner reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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