Research · Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2020 Toyota 4RunnerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 33 owner complaints for the 2020 Toyota 4Runner. Most complaints involve service brakes (5) and air bags (5). The EPA rates it 17 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Combined MPG
17mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Jul 2022
Owner complaints
33
Top: service brakes
Fuel cost / yr
$3,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

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."

EquipmentReported Jul 6, 2022NHTSA 22V480000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

33 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2020 – Aug 2026
  1. Service brakes5
  2. Air bags5
  3. Steering4
  4. Suspension4
  5. Back over prevention3
  6. Forward collision avoidance3
  7. Exterior lighting2
  8. Wheels2
  9. Structure2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each 4Runner model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996165
1997264
1998264
1999332
2000493
2001190
2002251
2003708
2004678
2005425
2006381
2007154
200896
200922
2010147
2011163
201296
201336
201477
201586
201681
201736
201860
201965
202033
202136
202239
202333
202410
202560
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes

5 reports
“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 lose brake pressure and you'll start creeping forward until the pedal starts going lower and lower And requires excessive pressure to hold vehicle stopped. It doesn't happen all the time but it is fairly consistent. Especially through the drive thru line is when you notice it Took to dealership dealership said there was nothing wrong with it”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2022Service brakesODI 11455732

Air bags

5 reports4 crashes
“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 police report was filed. The contact stated that the driver sustained two injuries and the contact sustained two injuries. Medical attention was sought. The contact was unaware of the other passengers from the other vehicle sustained any injuries. The vehicle was damaged and towed to a tow lot. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2021Air bags, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11440934

Steering

4 reports
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the front timing cover and found that the part was leaking fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2024SteeringODI 11587722
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
4.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S5)
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
4Runner 2WD
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 4.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
161917$3,800503
4Runner 4WD
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 4.0 L, Part-time 4WD · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
161917$3,800515
4Runner 4WD
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 4.0 L, AWD · All-Wheel Drive
161917$3,800515
  • 4Runner 2WD
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 4.0 L
    16 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • 4Runner 4WD
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 4.0 L, Part-time 4WD
    16 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • 4Runner 4WD
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 4.0 L, AWD
    16 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Toyota 4RUNNER SUV 2WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
3 of 5
Rollover risk
24.6%
Overall
4 / 5
Toyota 4RUNNER SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
3 of 5
Rollover risk
24.6%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 14724Vehicle 14692
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2020 4Runner questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota 4Runner have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2020 Toyota 4Runner problems?

Owners filed 33 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (5), air bags (5), steering (4). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2020 Toyota 4Runner get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Toyota 4Runner at 17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2020 Toyota 4Runner?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2020 Toyota 4Runner 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026