2021 Toyota 4runner — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving in a snow storm, your brake system suddenly failed—you saw a low braking power warning and ABS malfunction alert with loud beeping, and your brakes stopped responding. You had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid hitting another vehicle. A complete brake failure is a serious safety issue that requires immediate inspection of your brake system and ABS components.

Your brake pedal went to the floor without warning while slowly driving into your garage, causing the vehicle to hit a bench. After pumping the brakes and waiting, they appeared to work normally again, with no fluid leaks visible. Despite being under warranty and investigated by the dealer and Toyota corporate (including data recorder review), the problem was never diagnosed or repaired over nearly two months.

Your brake pads and rotors are wearing out unusually quickly — you've needed replacements three times in just 45,000 miles despite only commuting short distances on regular streets. You mentioned the brakes felt off from the moment you bought the vehicle, but the dealership says they've inspected the system and found nothing wrong. The brake system may have an underlying issue causing premature wear, such as a caliper problem, brake fluid contamination, or a stuck component.

Your backup camera works intermittently or fails completely, and you've developed a habit of relying on it when backing up. You hit a parked car while reversing in your driveway because you expected the camera to be working and didn't see the vehicle behind you in time. The dealership won't inspect or confirm the problem without charging you first, and there were no warning lights when the issue started in April 2023. Fixing this will likely require the dealership to diagnose the camera system and replace any faulty wiring, connectors, or the camera unit itself.

Your backup camera works intermittently — sometimes it shows objects behind your vehicle, but other times the screen goes black. The problem started about 6-8 months ago and has gotten worse, failing more often than it works. Cleaning the camera didn't help. A fix may involve inspecting the camera connection, replacing the camera unit itself, or updating the display system software.

Your steering wheel shakes excessively, especially at highway speeds between 60-70 mph, and the front end feels unstable. The dealership replaced your tires and had them balanced, but the problem persists. This appears to be a known issue with this model that Toyota hasn't officially addressed. A mechanic may need to inspect your wheel alignment, suspension components, or have the wheels rebalanced by a different method.

When driving faster than 45 mph, your steering wheel shakes or vibrates, which makes it unsafe to drive. You've already had the wheel alignment checked and new tires balanced, but the problem hasn't gone away. The issue likely involves worn suspension components or a steering system problem that needs professional inspection.

Your 4Runner's FOX shocks are making a clunking sound at low speeds. Toyota has replaced three shocks under warranty, though they charged you labor on the third replacement. The clunking noise has returned, suggesting this may be a recurring issue with these shocks on TRD Pro models. A repair or replacement of the faulty shock absorbers will likely be needed to resolve the noise.

You received a recall notice for your 2021 Toyota 4Runner's suspension (Campaign 23E051000), but Toyota hasn't yet made the replacement parts available. You haven't experienced any actual suspension failure, but the delay in getting parts has exceeded what you consider a reasonable timeframe. The repair will likely involve replacing the affected suspension component once Toyota makes the parts available.

Your vehicle displayed an "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" warning after starting. The dealership diagnosed a faulty front passenger Occupant ECU (the computer controlling the passenger airbag system), which costs approximately $1,000 to replace. You discovered that Toyota has issued recalls for this same issue on other models, but Toyota indicated the repair cost is your responsibility rather than covered under warranty or recall.

Your 2021 4Runner shut off completely while driving on the highway at 35 mph, then restarted after about 15 seconds—and this happened three times in one trip. You couldn't accelerate or steer while it was shut off. A few days later, warning lights and check engine lights started appearing repeatedly, and when they do, your transmission loses 2nd gear and lurches forward, making the vehicle very difficult to control. You've taken it to the Toyota dealer over six times, but they've only reset the computer and haven't found or fixed the underlying problem.

While driving on Route 80 East with cruise control engaged, you attempted to exit and pressed the brake pedal, but it went to the floor with no braking response. The cruise control did not disengage and the collision warning system did not activate. You lost control of the vehicle, crashed off the roadway, and slid down a bridge embankment, resulting in a total loss and requiring emergency extraction. A complete inspection of the brake system, cruise control, and collision avoidance system will be needed to determine what caused this simultaneous failure.

Your 4Runner shakes severely at highway speeds (55-65 mph), making it feel like you're losing control and causing you to drift between lanes. The problem occurs at any speed over 50 mph and persists even after multiple tire balancings and replacing wheels and tires entirely. The dealership has been unable to replicate or fix the issue, though it may involve the steering column, suspension, or drivetrain components working together.

Your 4Runner won't start because it has no fuel pressure, even though there were no warning signs beforehand. With 135,000 miles on the odometer, this appears to be a fuel pump issue similar to recalls Honda has issued. A Toyota dealer will need to inspect and diagnose the problem.

Your door lock actuators are failing prematurely — your front passenger door locks stopped working in summer 2024, your driver's side door locks failed a few months later, and your liftgate locks failed about 4 months ago. This is a safety concern because you may not be able to quickly exit or enter your vehicle in an emergency. Your Toyota dealership has acknowledged the issue but hasn't offered a repair solution. A potential class action lawsuit has been filed regarding this defect.

Your 4Runner's steering wheel shakes and the front end feels unstable when driving on highways at speeds above 60 mph. The dealership aligned and balanced your tires, but the problem persists even though they couldn't identify a specific cause during their inspection. The issue may require further diagnosis of steering or suspension components to find the root cause.

Your Yokohama Geolander tires are losing air pressure every 7-10 days and failing prematurely in cold weather. One tire developed a sidewall failure at only 28,000 miles during normal driving on paved roads. Your Toyota dealer reports this is a common problem with these specific tires on 4Runners in cold climates, where the rubber becomes brittle and fails when exposed to sand and salt from road treatment — even though these tires are rated for mud and snow. Replacing all four tires with a different manufacturer's brand will likely be necessary to resolve the issue.

Your steering wheel vibrates heavily when you drive at speeds up to 60 mph. Even after taking your 4Runner to the dealer for repairs, including wheel balancing, rotation, and alignment, the vibration returned within 2 days. The fix likely involves inspecting suspension components, brake rotors, or wheels for warping or damage that's causing the vibration.

Your sunroof suddenly shattered while you were driving at highway speeds (around 70 mph), scattering glass into the cabin of your vehicle. This happened at just 2,800 miles, very early in the vehicle's life. A dealer diagnosed that the sunroof assembly needs to be replaced, though the repair wasn't completed at that time.

When you carry cargo in your 4Runner, the LED headlights aim higher than they should, blinding oncoming drivers. Your vehicle doesn't have an automatic headlight leveling system, and there's no easy way to adjust them from inside the car—you'd have to manually adjust them under the hood every time your load changes. This causes other drivers to flash their lights at you or switch to high beams, creating potential road rage situations and safety concerns at night.