Are there open safety recalls?
1 open
Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.
FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
The 2021 Toyota 4Runner has 1 NHTSA safety recall on file, 34 owner complaints, and gets about 17 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA
2021 Toyota 4Runner
- Engine 6-cyl 4L
- Drive Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Regular
- Body Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Should you worry?
Look closer
Something in the public record needs a closer look before you buy.
What do owners report?
1 injury reported
Out of 34 owner reports. Reports are tips, not proof every car has the problem.
How did it score in crash tests?
4 out of 5 stars
5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.
Open recalls · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2021.
- 20194recalls
- 20201recall
- 2021 · this car1recall
- 20223recalls
Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked August 23, 2026.
SAFETY
Will it protect people in a crash?
These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.
- Overall
- 4 / 5 stars
- Frontal
- 4 / 5 stars
- Side
- 5 / 5 stars
- Side pole
- 4 / 5 stars
- Rollover
- 3 / 5 stars
Factory safety & driver-assist equipment
- Stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane-departure warning
- Standard
Tested as: 2021 Toyota 4RUNNER SUV AWD · 2 versions tested
Open safety recalls
1 openA recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.
-
Equipment
06/07/2022
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."
How they fix it: SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.
The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.
From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked August 23, 2026.
OWNERS
What problems do owners report?
People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.
Owner reports · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2021.
- 201964reports
- 202031reports
- 2021 · this car34reports
- 202239reports
34 owner reports on file
3 crash mentions 1 fire mentions 1 injury mentions
Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 34 total reports.
- STEERING 12 of 34
I just had the tires road force balanced on a haweka with lug-centric balance, and the steering wheel persists shaking from 55-65 mph. From what I have seen is this is a design flaw on this generation of 4 runners called the shimmy. For a n
- SERVICE BRAKES 4 of 34
Today while I was driving home from work, in a snow storm, suddenly a low braking power notification and ABS malfunction popped up on my console with loud beeping and my brakes completely stopped working. In order to avoid hitting the car i
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 of 34
Several door lock actuators have prematurely failed. The first to do so was front passenger door in summer 2024; front driver door lock failed a few months after. Most recently, approximately 4 months ago, the lock actuator for liftgate fai
- SUSPENSION 3 of 34
TRD PRO MODEL Clunk at low speeds. FOX shocks on TRD PRO make clunking sound at low speeds. Toyota replaced 3 shocks under warranty. The 3rd one they charged me labor but covered the shock. Car has highway miles and very little time spen
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 of 34
The interior of both headlights have the interior coating peeling in the first 20k miles
- BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 of 34
My backup camera does not work consistently. It will sometimes come on and show objects behind me; other times it is a black screen. I have read where Toyota models from 2022 to newer, but not including the 4 Runner, are having major iss
Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.
From NHTSA owner complaints · checked August 23, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.
FUEL COST
What does it cost to drive?
EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.
Combined MPG · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2021.
- 201918mpg
- 202017mpg
- 2021 · this car17mpg
- 202217mpg
$3,600
estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles
Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.
City driving 16 mpg
Highway driving 19 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 17 mpg
Over 5 years, compared to an average new car
This model is estimated to cost about $7,000 more on fuel.
Spends more Saves more
From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked August 23, 2026.
HOW IT WAS BUILT
Factory details
What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.
Engine
6-cyl 4L
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (S5)
Fuel
Regular
See all factory details (7)
- Engine
- 6-cyl 4L
- Cylinders
- 6
- Displacement
- 4 L
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (S5)
- Body
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Fuel
- Regular
From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked August 23, 2026.
What this free check does not include
We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recall was fixed
This model has 1 open NHTSA recall (including the equipment). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Have a mechanic check the steering
Owners report problems with the steering more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
-
Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
-
Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
-
Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
FOR SALE NEAR YOU
2021 Toyota 4Runner listings
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2021 Toyota 4Runner? +
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 2021 Toyota 4Runner, including the equipment. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota 4Runner get? +
The EPA rates the 2021 Toyota 4Runner at 17 mpg combined (16 city / 19 highway), about $3,600 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2021 Toyota 4Runner? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2021 Toyota 4Runner 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2021 Toyota 4Runner? +
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota 4Runner, including 3 involving a crash. The most-reported area is steering.
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