6th gen Toyota 4Runner 2025–2027

Watch out for

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

• Transmission overheating on off-road climbs All years

  What to check: Ask whether a transmission temperature warning has ever come on, and on what kind of climb.

  Seven owners in two threads report transmission temperature warnings or lost power on long or slow dirt climbs, mostly in 2WD or 4Hi, and several say 4Lo kept temperatures down. No dealer in the threads offered a fix.

  Sources ^1,2

• Clunk on the 1-2 shift All years One source so far

  What to check: Drive it from a cold start and feel for a clunk or hunting between first and second gear.

  Owner reports with no bulletin or recall, per one news site. Members say it is worst when cold and often fades.

  Sources ³

• Front brake squeal Early production, 2025–2026 One source so far

  What to check: Listen for brake noise, and ask whether bulletin TSB-0006-26 was done.

  The news site reports a Toyota bulletin for front brake noise on early trucks, repaired under warranty.

  Sources ³

• Hood flutter All years One source so far

  What to check: Watch the hood at highway speed and over bumps.

  Thirteen owners in one thread report it, on the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro and Trailhunter. Most call it slight, two say theirs does not do it, and no dealer offered a fix.

  Sources ⁴

• Rattles and loose trim All years

  What to check: Drive on rough pavement and listen at the rear window, the doors and the rear spoiler.

  Members of one thread report a loose rear spoiler, a rear window rattle and creaking door panels. One says the dealer fixed a rattle and a vibration. Cars.com's long-term hybrid had a front air dam that kept coming off and an early moonroof leak.

  Sources ^5,6

• Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto drop out All years

  What to check: Pair a phone and confirm it connects again after a restart.

  Cars.com's testers call the connection finicky on both phone types. Members report the same, some only with a low phone battery.

  Sources ^7,5

Complaints by year

• 2025 60 complaints
• 2026 0 complaints
• 2027 0 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: TRD Off-Road Premium All years One source so far

  Edmunds calls it the best value of the lineup.⁸

• Sought after: TRD Sport Premium for pavement All years One source so far

  Edmunds suggests it for buyers who stay mostly on pavement, and points serious off-roaders to the TRD Off-Road or TRD Pro.⁸

• Sought after: Non-hybrid i-FORCE Non-hybrid

  Three members in two threads suggest the non-hybrid over the hybrid, for simplicity, less weight and more cargo room. Two others prefer the hybrid.^2,9

• Avoid: Hybrid cargo space Hybrid Less sought after One source so far

  Edmunds counts lost cargo room as a con of the hybrid.⁸

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

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