2011 Toyota 4Runner

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What changed

Four-cylinder dropped.^1,2

What it came with

4.0L V6 1GR-FE^1,2

270 hp

Gearbox
5-speed automatic²

Drivetrains: 2WD^2,1, Part-time 4WD^2,1, Full-time 4WD^2,1
Trims: SR5^2,1,3, Limited^2,3,4, Trail (2010–2016)^2,1,3
Packages: KDSS^1,4, Third-row seat^5,3, X-REAS suspension^5,6,4

Also in the 5th gen, years not known: Limited Nightshade Special Edition^7,8, Venture Special Edition^9,8, Pull-out cargo deck⁵

Fuel economy

4Runner 2WD 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, Rear-Wheel Drive 18 city, 21 highway, 19 combined MPG
4Runner 2WD 6 cyl, 4.0 L, Automatic (S5), Rear-Wheel Drive 17 city, 23 highway, 19 combined MPG
4Runner 4WD 6 cyl, 4.0 L, Automatic (S5), 4-Wheel Drive 17 city, 22 highway, 19 combined MPG
4Runner 4WD 6 cyl, 4.0 L, Automatic (S5), Part-time 4-Wheel Drive 17 city, 22 highway, 19 combined MPG

The EPA's ratings, copied from fueleconomy.gov on 23 October 2026. The EPA restated its figures for 1984 to 2007, so that years compare.

Colors

Also in the 5th gen, years not known: Blizzard Pearl^5,3, Classic Silver Metallic^5,3, Magnetic Gray Metallic^5,3,10, Black^5,3, Shoreline Blue Pearl⁵, Salsa Red Pearl⁵, Super White^3,8, Attitude Black Metallic³, Barcelona Red Metallic^3,10, Nautical Blue Metallic³, Midnight Black Metallic^7,10

Interiors

Also in the 5th gen, years not known: Graphite (Fabric)^5,3, Sand Beige (Fabric)^5,3, Black (Fabric)³, SofTex (SofTex)^3,10, Sand Beige (Leather)^5,3, Black (Leather)^5,3, Redwood (Leather)³

Compare with another year

Buy

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Failed door lock actuator All years

What to check: Unlock with the fob, then open every door from outside.

The outside handle stops opening the door. Trail4Runner's writer calls it common among owners, and CarComplaints lists broken door locks among the worst 2010 and 2014 problems.

Sources ^11,12,13
X-REAS shock leaks Limited

What to check: Look for wet, oily shocks.

Two owners of 2011 4Runners in one thread had leaking shocks, at about 86,000 and 125,000 miles. CarComplaints ranks X-REAS leaks third among 2016 problems.

Sources ^14,15
Rust All years One source so far

What to check: Look at the frame, the door bottoms, the liftgate and the door sills.

Three members in one thread agree that salted roads will rust any 4Runner that is not undercoated and washed. They name the door bottoms, liftgate and sills as places to look.

Sources ¹⁶
Slow or freezing touch screen All years One source so far

What to check: Switch between screens and sources, and watch for lag or a freeze.

Autotrader reports complaints that the Entune system freezes or is slow.

Sources ¹

Recalls

16V340000 2010–2011
The passenger airbag inflator can rupture when it deploys.^17,18
18V024000 2010–2013
The passenger airbag inflator can explode after exposure to humidity and temperature swings.^17,19
19V005000 2010–2016
The passenger airbag inflator can explode after years of heat and humidity.^{17,18,20,19,21,22,23}
19V741000 2010–2016
The replacement inflator, of the same design, can explode.^{17,18,20,19,21,22,23}

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

Complaints

Owners filed 163 complaints about the 2011 with NHTSA.

4 said there had been a crash and 1 a fire.

The parts named most

Air bags 112
Structure 9
Unknown or other 9
Electrical system 6
Engine 6

and 14 other parts

Counted from NHTSA's complaints on 23 October 2026. These are owners' own reports, counted by the parts they named; one complaint can name several. NHTSA's list

Crash-test stars

2011 Toyota 4runner SUV AWD Rollover: 3.
2011 Toyota 4runner SUV RWD Rollover: 3.

Copied from NHTSA's ratings on 23 October 2026.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Sought after: 4.0L V6 V6 One source so far

Autotrader's writer ranks it among the best V6 engines ever built. The 5th gen is the last 4Runner to use it.¹
Avoid: 2010 to 2012 model years 2010–2012 Less sought after One source so far

Autotrader reports owner complaints about brakes, electrical faults, rust and peeling paint on these years, and says to take care rather than to stay away.¹

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.