2012 Toyota 4Runner

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 ^1,2,3
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 ^4,5
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 ⁶
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 ⁷

Recalls

17V006000 2012
The passenger airbag inflator can rupture in a crash.⁸
18V024000 2010–2013
The passenger airbag inflator can explode after exposure to humidity and temperature swings.^9,10
19V005000 2010–2016
The passenger airbag inflator can explode after years of heat and humidity.^{9,11,8,10,12,13,14}
19V741000 2010–2016
The replacement inflator, of the same design, can explode.^{9,11,8,10,12,13,14}

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

Complaints

Owners filed 96 complaints about the 2012 with NHTSA.

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

The parts named most

Air bags 70
Electrical system 6
Service brakes 6
Unknown or other 6
Engine 5

and 9 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

2012 Toyota 4Runner SUV 2WD Overall 4 of 5. Front: driver 4, passenger 3. Side: driver 5, passenger 5. Rollover: 3.
2012 Toyota 4Runner SUV AWD Overall 4 of 5. Front: driver 4, passenger 3. Side: driver 5, passenger 5. Rollover: 3.

Copied from NHTSA's ratings on 23 October 2026.

Watch out for

Recalls

Complaints

Crash-test stars

Sources