Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: it scores well across the board with no single weak engine.
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 18 | 32% |
| Unknown or other | 7 | 13% |
| Structure | 6 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 7% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 4% |
| Back over prevention | 2 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
On August 29, 2026, I was stopped at a red light with my foot on the brake when I noticed the vehicle moving forward even though I was pressing the brake pedal. I immediately entered a nearby parking lot at very low spee
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The steering system malfunctioned. The vehicle is at the dealer for inspection/repair. When driving the steering is loose, when you go over bumps there is an audible thump in the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle is at t
NHTSA complaint: Steering
As a capable Vehicle of towing 6000 lbs off road. The spare is a temporary spare with warnings to drive at max 50 mph no longer 50 miles. This a truck body on frame. The Limited 4runner is equipped with the Temporary whi
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
I am a fire investigator for the Olathe (KS) Fire Department. On July 3, 2026 at 1255 hrs our crews were called to a vehicle fire for the above listed car. The vehicle was reportedly being driven when smoke entered the
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The LKA system steers the vehicle into the oncoming lane of travel under specific and repeatable conditions. The defect occurs as follows: While the vehicle is traveling and the LKA system is following the left lane mark
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the message “Headlights On” was erroneously displayed. The fuel gauge indicated 71 percent. Additionally, the 12-volt charging system malfunctioned with the
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
The driver’s side window rattles in its tracks when open 2-3”, and when all the way down. Any rough roads will induce the rattle. Toyota master technician has confirmed the rattle in my vehicle and a new 4Runner, which d
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Traveling on highway with no other cars anywhere around. Going 80 mph on an 80 degree day when sun roof on 2025 Toyota 4 runner exploded. Sun roof was closed at the time, but could have had devastating consequences if i
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2025 Toyota 4Runner. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it
| Reliability raw | 98 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 88 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 81 | excellent |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 42 | below average |
| Safety | 73 | good |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 18 of them (32%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 98/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 88/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2025 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: buy, because it scores well across the board with no single weak engine. Its overall ownership score is 81/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.