2023 Toyota 4Runner

Showing the 2023 4Runner TRD offroad Prem. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 4.0 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
17 mpgcombined; city 16, highway 19; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$19,110U.S. average; Ohio $17,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
4 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
1over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
33filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2023 4Runner. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 4Runner. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or other12100
Tires4000
Exterior lighting3000
Steering3000
Suspension3000
Air bags2200
Back over prevention2000
Engine2100
Forward collision avoidance2200
Latches/locks/linkages2000
Power train2000
Seat belts2114
4 more parts
Service brakes2101
Lane departure1000
Vehicle speed control1100
Visibility/wiper1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006381
  2. 2007154
  3. 200896
  4. 200922
  5. 2010146
  6. 2011163
  7. 201296
  8. 201336
  9. 201477
  10. 201587
  11. 201680
  12. 201736
  13. 201858
  14. 201965
  15. 202033
  16. 202136
  17. 202239
  18. 202333
  19. 20249
  20. 202562
  21. 20267

Every 4Runner year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2023 4Runner over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Equipment: other

NHTSA campaign 23V680000 · reported Oct 12, 2023 · 13 vehicles potentially affected

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC will mail a new modified label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2023. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET23A.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 96 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2023 4Runner, the latest on Aug 10, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: unknown or other (28), structure (27), electrical system (19), equipment (10), wheels (6).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2023 4Runner.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: standard sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 3 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
4Runner
Rear-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S5)Regular Gasoline16 / 19 / 17
4Runner
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S5)Regular Gasoline16 / 19 / 17
4Runner
All-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S5)Regular Gasoline16 / 19 / 17

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data