2025 Toyota 4runner: Recalls, Complaints & California Lemon Law

My 2025 Toyota 4Runners brakes have a very high pitched squeal. This is most noticeable when backing up but sometimes when applying the brakes going forward, especially in wet conditions. I feel the brakes may fail at some point causing an accident. Twice I’ve had other vehicles slam their brakes on or attempt evasive action thinking I was going to hit them because the noise was so loud they heard it inside their vehicle. This did happen in a parking lot and not on the road. It is my understanding Toyota had a service bulletin to fix the issue under T-SB-0046-25 which was issued in July 2025, however to date, Toyota has not repaired my vehicle. It is my understanding that some vehicles were repaired under the bulletin but the fix did not correct the problem. I was told by my local Toyota dealer this week that Toyota told them to stop all repairs because the TSB was not correcting the issue and they were waiting for Toyota engineers to find a new solution. Request your assistance in getting Toyota to repair all the vehicles affected by this problem before a serious accident occurs because of brake failure or another driver taking evasive action when they hear this noise.

NHTSA #11719546

This vehicle’s brakes loudly squeal when in reverse and when just stopping at a stop sign. After a few weeks of purchase I brought it to the Toyota service team in St. Peter’s to fix since it’s under warranty. They said they do not have a fix for the issue! Driving this vehicle scares me and I don’t feel safe. Please help. This is a major safety hazard. Supposedly, these vehicle was brought in and “fixed” for the same brake issue. It clearly has not been fixed. I have video evidence but your platform won’t allow me to upload a video.

NHTSA #11711748

While backing up the front brakes screech terribly. This problem is constant. Every time you reverse and brake.

NHTSA #11711197

Purchased used car from champion motorsports. I was handed a clean carfax report and was told the sunroof had no issues. 8 days later the seal around the sunroof came off and allowed water into the car. I scheduled a repair and brought it to passionauto body. On June 16th they notified me the car was unsafe to drive due to two support brackets being cutout and not replaced. After some research Toyota of calumet city had top coverage in some service notes. Car was also brought back to the shop on December 15th 2025 due to the sunroof not closing. Of course there were no notes on the service ticket.

NHTSA #11745185

Driving 70 mph on a cloudy 73° day around 6:30 pm no cars immediately around me on I45. I heard a loud gunshot to the point I ducked in my car. Immediately pulled over walked around the car. My Sunroof exploded upwards. Took to Longo Toyota on Monday at 7am. Upon arrival they thought it would be covered under warranty. They brought in a specialist to evaluate and they can’t prove it but something must have hit it and they are denying warranty. The glass moved upward and was shattered but intact upon initial inspection. Upon online review this is a known problem w Toyota but one that needs to be addressed in a bigger scale as this could have caused an accident just from the sound alone or if the sunroof cover had been open glass raining down on passengers and driver.

NHTSA #11731554

Vehicle: 2025 Toyota 4Runner Summary of Issue: The rear tailgate cannot be opened if the rear window is even slightly lowered. This appears to be an intentional design feature; however, it creates a real-world safety concern. Description of Safety Concern: In normal daily use, I needed to quickly access the rear cargo area (to retrieve my child’s belongings) while parked with the vehicle turned off. The rear window was partially lowered, which prevented the tailgate from opening entirely. This resulted in a delay while I attempted to determine why the tailgate would not open and then had to return to the driver’s seat to raise the rear window before accessing the cargo area. During this time, my child was left standing in a parking lot longer than necessary. While the vehicle was stationary, the inability to quickly access the rear compartment created an avoidable safety exposure. Why This Is a Concern: The system does not account for vehicle state (e.g., parked, engine off, zero speed). A more appropriate design would allow the tailgate to open when the vehicle is stationary or automatically raise the rear window when the tailgate is activated. Instead, the current behavior enforces a strict lockout regardless of context, which can delay access in situations where timely access is important for safety. Requested Action: I request that this behavior be reviewed for potential safety implications and that consideration be given to a software update or design change that allows tailgate operation when the vehicle is stationary, or provides an automatic window-close function when opening the tailgate. Additional Notes: This behavior may be present across multiple model years and could affect a large number of vehicles.

NHTSA #11727350

2025 4Runner had loose window glass on driver and passenger side,hood wobbles and rear spoiler loose hoping for a recall.

NHTSA #11688551

Retaining clips / fasteners missing from front air dam causing the large plastic structure to become dislodged and tangled in steering brakes, suspension or causing unsafe road hazard for other vehicles particularly motorcycles. Many owners are reporting this issue and I have verified on my own vehicle missing hardware from recent purchase and vehicle currently has less than 2000 miles. The dealerships are not taking my owner complaints seriously and are refusing to honor warranty claiming that this issue is caused by road hazards when it clearly is not and is easily proven to be a defect or manufacturing issue. My air dam came loose on a interstate highway with 75 mph speed zones and became entangled in the undercarriage, further investigation revealed that several of the fasteners were missing and no evidence they were ever installed. The dealership tried to accuse me of removing or tampering with the hardware which is absolutely ridiculous and potentially criminal to make these unfounded allegations. The attached pictures were taken after temporary repairs were made on side of road but show the place where one of several fasteners should have been installed from factory but are clearly missing.

NHTSA #11667006

Side view mirrors shake to the point you cannot see out of them. Car has 2K miles on it and has been to the dealer 5 times over the past month for resolution. Dealer and toyota have escalated to a more advanced technical team, they took a look at it and informed me it is a normal characteristic of the vehicle with no fix. This is unacceptable and not safe to drive on the highway.

NHTSA #11683354

While going around turns (left or right) over 30mph the vehicle has knocking that can be felt coming through the steering wheel. This is not the driver assist feedback. If the turn are longer (like highway on ramp) you can hear a slight clunk associated with the knocking that is felt.

NHTSA #11722547

Steering wheel creaking and knocking noise when turning the steering wheel left and right.

NHTSA #11697037

Excessive front end vibration causing strain to maintain lane control.

NHTSA #11684929

Digital rear view mirror failure, electrical failure, replaced by Manufacturer.

NHTSA #11702423

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that the AC outlet in the cargo area had an open ground. The contact became aware of the AC outlet failure while on a road trip, when the heated mat for the dog's crate failed to heat after being plugged into the AC outlet. The contact tested the AC outlet with a continuity tester, which showed an open ground fault. The contact was concerned that the failure could cause an electrical shock and fire hazard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the AC outlet was replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 700.

NHTSA #11709851

Intermittently, the center console (navigation) screen and system crash at random. All audio stop and the screen turns black for a few seconds, before resetting to the default view and disconnecting all previously connected devices. This has happened at least 10-20 times while driving during my ownership of the vehicle. I can confirm that it happens when my iPhone is connected to the vehicle via wireless Apple CarPlay, but I am unsure about other circumstances where this may happen. It had happened regardless of which phone is connected or what operating system version is in use - that is, this issue has persisted across several different iPhones and versions of iOS, so it does not appear to be related to the mobile device. When this issue occurs while driving it is very jarring and can be disorienting, as any navigation or other audio ceases. The issue has not been reproduced by a dealer, and the components have not yet been inspected. There were no warnings or other symptoms of this problem. The problem first appeared within 1-2 months of purchasing the vehicle.

NHTSA #11692577

While driving my 2025 Toyota 4Runner in rainy conditions, the vehicle’s stamped hood channels act as a reservoir, trapping and pooling large volumes of standing water. Upon braking or decelerating—even at low, around-town speeds—the pooled water surges forward off the front nose of the hood onto the windshield. The vehicle's forward aerodynamics catch this massive sheet of water and instantly launch it backward across the entire windshield, causing total and sudden loss of forward visibility. This creates an unpredictable, immediate crash hazard that catches the driver completely off guard, as the windshield wipers cannot clear the sudden volume of water fast enough to maintain a safe view of the road. This occurs around town driving (25mph to 45mph) and highway speeds (60mph - 70mph). I understand you can turn the wipers on high, but it catches you off guard when it happens.

NHTSA #11740372

Two separate occasions while driving this car and using the wipers in rain there was been almost zero visibility to the point where we can almost not see while driving in the rain. I have owned three Toyotas and this is the first time I have ever experienced this issue. It almost as if the wipers don't move fast enough to clear the water off the windshield or the wipers aren't making contact the entire time wiping the glass. I took my car to the dealer and the wipers move the same as the exact make model and year. I feel this is a design flaw and could be responsible for a serious crash due to not being able to use this car well in the rain.

NHTSA #11702934

The parking collision assistance feature continues to beep loudly if there is snow on the sensors as it thinks there is something close to the sensor. If driving and unable to clear snow off the sensors in the front a fault will eventually show on the gauge cluster. This is a false reading and needs to be addressed. This is a program issue and needs fixing. As the loud noise while driving is a complete distraction and can cause an accident.

NHTSA #11709641

On at least 3 occasions the multimedia touch-screen display console has gone blank without warning lamps/messages. This causes a hazardous condition for 2 main reasons: 1. The GPS navigation system is not visible and one has to pull over in traffic, find a safe place to park, and then change to one’s cell phone system. 2. When this occurs, the reverse camera is no longer visible, thus increasing the chance to crashing into rear crossing traffic or pedestrians. On [XXX], (odometer 16339 mi) I reported it to SW Toyota in Lawton OK. They said that other owners had reported this problem but that it would take months to receive the replacement display, so I should take it in to the Toyota dealer in my home dealership in MS. I did so on 1/16/25, (odometer 17637mi). This dealership, J. Allen Toyota, Gulfport, MS, inspected the vehicle and said that they could not reproduce the problem. They advised me to return if the display turned off permanently. I asked if there was a TSB or recall on this problem and they replied in the negative. I have just read that Toyota has issued a recall on the 2024 & 2025 Tundra, which according to Gemini AI shares the same part as the 2025 4Runner. Therefore, I strongly recommend that this recall be broadened to include the 2025 4Runner. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11713227

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal squealing coming from the rear brakes. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the driver’s and passenger’s side rear brake pads. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 400.

NHTSA #11697779

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the contact heard a scratching sound coming from the brakes. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The brake pads were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was working on the issue, and opened a case. The case number was not provided. The approximate failure mileage was 1,150.

NHTSA #11684529

The contact owned a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact observed a large piece of debris in the roadway. The contact stated that traffic ahead was maneuvering erratically to avoid the debris, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle left the roadway, struck several trees, and then collided with a brick wall. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy during the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the leg, arm, and back and was transported to a local emergency room for medical treatment. The contact stated that surgery might be required due to the nerve injuries sustained in the crash. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company and was deemed a total loss. The contact believed that the failure may have been related to an improper repair for a battery replacement previously performed by the dealer. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,500.

NHTSA #11742696

The contact was a police officer calling on behalf of the owner of a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while the owner was attempting to park the vehicle in a parking spot, the vehicle began to independently accelerate up a hill. The owner then placed the vehicle into reverse(R) as the vehicle continued to accelerate while in reverse. The contact stated that the owner had their foot firmly pressed on the brake pedal as the vehicle continued to accelerate. The owner then struck two parked vehicles and another moving vehicle that was entering the parking lot. The vehicle continued to accelerate in reverse(R), crossed a side street, and entered a grassy area before the vehicle abruptly shut off. The contact was unaware if any warning lights had appeared on the instrument panel during the failure. The air bags did not deploy at any time during the failure. The officer stated that no injuries were reported and no medical attention was given. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an unknown location. The contact was unaware whether the matter was reported to the dealer or the manufacturer. The whereabouts of the vehicle were unknown. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA #11711250

Was driving along at approximately 25 mph and had a major sudden failure of the right rear tire

NHTSA #11703062

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota 4Runner. The vehicle lost motive power while attempting to access the freeway on three occasions. The reduced power mode message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and initially they were unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer again, where it was diagnosed that the sensor needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was open. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

NHTSA #11737053

We were parked on a slight incline loading items onto a carrier onto the back of the vehicle. We heard the electronic brake release and the vehicle started to roll backwards down the hill towards us. My husband jumped in the driver's seat and slammed on the brake pedal. He confirmed that the vehicle was still in park.

NHTSA #11697046

Brakes- when reversing the brakes make loud grinding / squealing noise. I'm worried at times it will give out by not braking. Electrical- my display panel with the reverse camera turns off which at times can cause an accident.

NHTSA #11691668

Loose window glass on driver and passenger side,hood wobbles,rear spoiler loose.

NHTSA #11688423

Excessive wheel vibration noted at above 65 mph. Took it to dealer and 2 tires were replaced. Toyota rep drove vehicle and stated in repair invoice "disappointing ride quality especially at highway speeds." They have refused to do anything else. If vibrations continue, this may result in suspension failure or other potential safety issues as vibrations can shake bolts loose. Many others are experiencing wheel balance issues as well and Toyota is not addressing the issue correctly. There needs to be a recall and a different tire manufacturer used to replaced the faulty Toyo tires.

NHTSA #11689517