4th gen Toyota 4Runner 2003–2009

Watch out for

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

• Frame rust All years Walk away if found

  What to check: Inspect the frame and the front lower control arm mounts.

  NHTSA found 15 complaints of control arm failure, 13 from road-salt states, and denied a defect petition in 2022. A class action over 2005 and later trucks was dismissed in 2023.

  Sources ^1,2

• Timing belt and water pump V8

  What to check: Ask for records.

  Due every 90,000 miles or 7 years.

  Sources ^3,4

• Air injection fault V8, 2005–2009 One source so far

  What to check: Scan for air injection codes such as P0418 and P2445.

  Toyota traces the fault to debris from the pump.

  Sources ⁵

• Cracked exhaust manifolds V8

  What to check: Listen for a ticking noise.

  Sources ^4,3

• Head gasket V6, 2003–2005 One source so far

  What to check: Watch for a misfire at cold start, most often on cylinder 6.

  Three owners of 2004 V6s in one thread report head gasket leaks at about 150,000 to 210,000 miles, without overheating. Members disagree on the cause: some blame past overheating, others the design.

  About $2,000 in labor

  Sources ⁶

• Cracked dashboard 2003–2005 One source so far

  What to check: Look for cracks.

  Toyota's replacement program ended May 31, 2017.

  Sources ⁷

• X-REAS shock leaks Sport Edition. Optional on SR5 and Limited One source so far

  What to check: Look for oil weeping at each shock.

  Five owners in one thread report leaks in the X-REAS system, at about 50,000 to 66,000 miles where they say. A moderator notes the system is sealed and cannot be recharged.

  About $2,000 to replace. Four standard shocks cost one owner $289

  Sources ⁸

• 4WD actuator 4WD trucks One source so far

  What to check: Confirm it shifts into low range. Look for seepage at the actuator beside the transfer case.

  Two members in one buyer's-advice thread say to check it. One warns that an unused actuator can seize and is costly to fix, and the other calls a leak there a reason to walk away.

  Sources ³

• Rear air suspension Some Limited trucks One source so far

  Two members in one thread warn that the rear air bags are vulnerable: one to damage off-road, the other to wear when the truck is lifted. Neither reports a failure of their own. The thread gives no check.

  Sources ⁹

Complaints by year

• 2003 708 complaints
• 2004 678 complaints
• 2005 425 complaints
• 2006 381 complaints
• 2007 154 complaints
• 2008 96 complaints
• 2009 22 complaints

Counted from NHTSA's complaints on 23 October 2026. A newer year has had less time to draw them.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: V8 All years One source so far

  The only 4Runner generation with a V8. Enthusiasts are said to seek out a clean one.⁴

• Sought after: 2005 and later V8 2005–2009 One source so far

  35 more horsepower. Autotrader prefers a V8 from after the 2006 update.¹⁰

• Sought after: 2009 Trail Edition 2009

  Locking rear differential and Bilstein shocks. Hard to find, and called worth the search. Offered on the V6 4WD SR5 only.^10,11

• Sought after: 2006 and later V6 2006–2009 One source so far

  Five members in one thread believe Toyota changed the V6 head gasket around 2005 or 2006, two citing a part number change. None points to a Toyota bulletin, and one doubts it was fixed.⁶

• Avoid: Frame rust All years Walk away

  Both generations rust at the frame, worst where roads are salted, and rust can leave a frame unsafe. Toyota's frame rust program for its trucks did not include the 4Runner.^12,13,4,1,2

• Avoid: 2003–2005 V6 2003–2005 Less sought after One source so far

  Members of one thread split. Four steer buyers away from 2003–2005 V6s or shop only 2006 and later, while five owners of 2003–2005 V6s report no head gasket trouble, one at about 303,000 miles.¹⁴

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

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