Is the 2011 Toyota 4Runner a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 4Runner years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Toyota 4Runner are in line with other 4Runner years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 4Runner owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 68,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 112 (69%) | 57k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 8 (5%) | 4k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 68,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 163 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 3 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2011 Toyota 4Runner: 10
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle. If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers that may contact people and possibly burn them while they are standing behind the vehicle. Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles may be equipped with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers that may contact people and possibly burn them while they are standing behind the vehicle. Contact with an exhaust tip may result in personal injury.
The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 126
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Toyota 4Runner. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power…
Some vehicles may exhibit a cyclical grinding or groaning noise coming from the front differential in 2WD that goes away when operated in 4WD
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2010 4Runner: 147 complaints, keep it · 2012 4Runner: 96 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota 4Runner year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All 4Runner years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Toyota 4Runner a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 4Runner years. At 68,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota 4Runner?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (112), brakes (8), body structure (9), electrical system (6), engine (6).
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota 4Runner have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-741), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-005), Body structure (NHTSA 17V-425), Exhaust (NHTSA 16V-577) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.