Is the Toyota 4Runner reliable?
45% of the 66 we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, with an average of 58/100 — it scores a little below average.
66
Cars inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections58/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/10045%
In good shape (60+)all cars we check: 55%Across 66 used Toyota 4Runners we inspected, this model scores a little below average — average condition 58/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.
What we found
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
55%
Fluid leaks · Steering (hydraulic power)
35%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
35%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
29%
Lights not working · Equipment
24%
Share of inspected Toyota 4Runners where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 24%
Good 21%
Mediocre 35%
Poor 20%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on this model.
83%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
2%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
11%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%
How long does a 4Runner stay good?
Good cars by mileage
Share of Toyota 4Runners in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.
More on Toyota
RAV4
52 cars · 79% good
Prius
61 cars · 67% good
Tacoma
45 cars · 63% good
Highlander
38 cars · 63% good
Corolla
108 cars · 60% good
Sienna
48 cars · 56% good
Tundra
48 cars · 56% good
Camry
98 cars · 53% good
Avalon
26 cars · 50% good
Other Toyota models we've inspected — or see the full Toyota profile.
Straight from recent Toyota 4Runner reports
2011 Toyota 4Runner · 157k mi — flagged: oil leaks, charging voltage, leaking or worn shock absorbers. Inspected Aug 3.
2013 Toyota 4Runner · 122k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared. Inspected Jul 25.
The bottom line
Oil leaks hit 55% of these 4Runners while 83% carry at least one repainted panel, so start under the hood for engine seepage and walk every panel for paintwork before anything else. Next check the hydraulic steering for fluid leaks and pull a full code scan, since both issues appear often. Tires and lights trail those but still need eyes on them. Structural repairs stay rare, which helps, but with condition skewing mediocre or worse you negotiate hard on any leaky example or walk if the undercarriage is already wet.
FAQ
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What are the most common problems on a used Toyota 4Runner?
The items we flag most often are oil leaks (55%), fluid leaks (35%), active error codes (35%). Have these checked before buying.
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Should I worry about cleared fault codes?
On 11% of these cars the ECU codes had been erased shortly before sale, which can hide active faults. Ask for a diagnostic scan and start the engine from cold.
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Based on 66 inspections · updated Aug 12, 2026
