repaired · 2017 Q4
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
2006 Toyota 4RUNNERProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 381 owner complaints about the 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER, most often about the structure. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-396 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER has problems
381 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
143Structure3 crash/fire/injury
65Suspension4 crash/fire/injury
30Power train5 crash/fire/injury
24Air bags
22Steering
19Service brakes
18Electrical system
17Vehicle speed control
14Service brakes, hydraulic
8821 other systems11 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 143 | 3 |
| Suspension | 65 | 4 |
| Power train | 30 | 5 |
| Air bags | 24 | 8 |
| Steering | 22 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 9 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 14 | 2 |
| 21 other systems | 88 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2006 Toyota 4RUNNER recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Air bags: side/window
Risk. If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
no report yet
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk. A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR…
no report yet
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do structure problems start?
127kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 96 structure complaints. 32% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles31under 100k miles65100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other 4RUNNER year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 4RUNNER median. How we score
'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2006 Toyota 4RUNNER safety ratings
2006 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (20.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2006 Toyota 4RUNNER, and the recalls they led to.
- Frame corrosionNo recall
- Unintended and Uncontrolled AccelerationLed to recall 11V-112
In owners' words
What 4RUNNER owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Frame is rotting away. The tacomas, tundras, sequoia were recalled for this issue. The tacomas frame is very close in design to the 4runner. The main difference is the 4runner uses coil springs whereas the tacoma used leaf springs. Toyota stated that because the 4runner was made in Japan unlike the…
The frame under the car rusted so much that the gas tank literally fell through the frame to the ground. This put my son at risk and fortunately he was able to pull over in a residential area and exit the vehicle. A mechanic and welding company both assessed the vehicle and acknowledged the u…
We took the vehicle in for inspection and it failed due to the exhaust leaks, and more importantly the frame rusting out. We never received the recall notice for this issue. We have owned this vehicle for many years, so there is no reason we would not have been notified for the recall of the frame.…
Own a 2006 4RUNNER?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.