RecallMyCar

2001 Toyota 4Runner Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2001 Toyota 4Runner, and owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
154
owner complaints to NHTSA
7 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
16–17
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 2001 Toyota 4Runner

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 05V225000 Reported 768,379 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue in the front suspension lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball of the joint may have been scratched. The ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints free of charge. The recall began on july 5, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

154 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2001 Toyota 4Runner have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 138,797 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 21 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2001 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, there was a thumping and clicking sound coming from the front of the vehicle before the front passen”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 19, 2026 · Suspension

“I bought my 4Runner in 2021 and am just now getting ready to sell it. Did a carfax report and it shows a possible odometer rollback that the previous owner did in 2020. When I bought the vehicle it wa”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 20, 2025 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2001 Toyota 4Runner (4Runner 2WD, 4Runner 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16–17 mpg
City / Highway15–16 / 18–19
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6 cyl, 3.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Toyota 4Runner model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota 4Runner model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1984 Toyota 4Runner02
1985 Toyota 4Runner02
1986 Toyota 4Runner08
1987 Toyota 4Runner05
1988 Toyota 4Runner19
1989 Toyota 4Runner16
1990 Toyota 4Runner178
1991 Toyota 4Runner143
1992 Toyota 4Runner153
1993 Toyota 4Runner151
1994 Toyota 4Runner112
1995 Toyota 4Runner147
1996 Toyota 4Runner272
1997 Toyota 4Runner1139
1998 Toyota 4Runner1130
1999 Toyota 4Runner0220
2000 Toyota 4Runner0379
2001 Toyota 4Runner1154
2002 Toyota 4Runner1192
2003 Toyota 4Runner3527
2004 Toyota 4Runner2612
2005 Toyota 4Runner5410
2006 Toyota 4Runner5381
2007 Toyota 4Runner5154
2008 Toyota 4Runner596
2009 Toyota 4Runner622
2010 Toyota 4Runner12145
2011 Toyota 4Runner10163
2012 Toyota 4Runner896
2013 Toyota 4Runner636
2014 Toyota 4Runner777
2015 Toyota 4Runner986
2016 Toyota 4Runner879
2017 Toyota 4Runner536
2018 Toyota 4Runner558
2019 Toyota 4Runner465
2020 Toyota 4Runner133
2021 Toyota 4Runner136
2022 Toyota 4Runner339
2023 Toyota 4Runner132
2024 Toyota 4Runner19
2025 Toyota 4Runner159
2026 Toyota 4Runner27

Checking a specific 2001 Toyota 4Runner

How do I know if my 2001 Toyota 4Runner has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2001 Toyota 4Runner; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V225000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.