2011 Toyota 4Runner Problems, Recalls & Reliability

182 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Toyota 4Runner, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 19/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 62,500 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2011 Toyota 4Runner has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

182Complaints
19/100Trouble index
10Recalls
46,720Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2011 sits among all 4Runner years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 112 complaints (62%) · typically ~62,500 miles
“Takata airbags. I just purchased this vehicle and the recall has not been incomplete.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 4Runner
Other 10 complaints (5%)
Body & structure 9 complaints (5%)
Brakes & stability 8 complaints (4%)
Electrical 7 complaints (4%)
Transmission & drivetrain 6 complaints (3%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 58 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 46,720 miles. Half of those reports fall between 10,100 and 70,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (10)

AIR BAGS 19V741000 2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 19V005000 2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama,…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners…

STRUCTURE 17V425000 2017

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to…

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000.…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16V577000 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured September 3, 2009, to December 1, 2014. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers…

Fix: 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 September 15, 2016.…

SEATS 16V396000 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011…

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact…

AIR BAGS 16V340000 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C,…

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag…

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15V515000 2015

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Toyota 4Runner vehicles manufactured March 29, 2010, to July 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers that…

Fix: 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.…

SEATS 14V743000 2014

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4,…

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected…

EQUIPMENT 13V123000 2013

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ…

Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still…

AIR BAGS 13V014000 2013

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and…

Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may…

Federal defect investigations

Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened September 17, 2021 · still open

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade,…

Model years named: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Technical service bulletins

290 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 2011 Toyota 4Runner. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2011 4Runner TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2011peak 73 in 20172026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2011 Toyota 4Runner reliable?

The 2011 Toyota 4Runner drew 182 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 19/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).

What are the most common 2011 Toyota 4Runner problems?

The top reported problems for the 2011 Toyota 4Runner are airbags (112 complaints), other (10), and body & structure (9).

At what mileage do 2011 Toyota 4Runner problems show up?

Owners most often report 2011 Toyota 4Runner problems around 46,720 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 10,100 and 70,000 miles.

Does the 2011 Toyota 4Runner have recalls?

10 recall campaigns apply to the 2011 Toyota 4Runner. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2010 4Runner All 4Runner years 2012 4Runner →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.