The 2009 4Runner is mechanically solid, but the 4.0L V6 has a catastrophic piston skirt failure problem around 100k-150k miles, and both engines suffer from secondary air injection system failures. The 4.7L V8 is generally more reliable but drinks fuel.
Symptoms: Metallic knocking on cold start that disappears when warm, Sudden catastrophic knocking and loss of power, Metal shavings in oil, Check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: Piston skirts crack and disintegrate, aluminum debris circulates and destroys bearings. Requires complete engine rebuild or replacement. 20-30 hours labor for used engine swap, 40+ for rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000
Secondary Air Injection System Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: P0410, P0418, P0419 codes, Check engine light on cold starts, Air pump rattling or seized, Smog test failure in states requiring it
Fix: Air pump motor fails or check valves stick. Many owners delete system where legal since it only runs briefly on cold start for emissions. Repair involves pump, valves, and sometimes hoses. 2-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Corrosion and Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid dripping from radiator area, Pink fluid puddles under vehicle, Low transmission fluid warning, Burnt transmission smell if run low
Fix: Steel cooler lines rust through where they connect to radiator, especially in salt states. Replace both lines preventively when one fails. 2-3 hours labor plus fluid flush.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Lower Ball Joint Wear
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps, Wandering steering, Excessive tire wear on inside edges, Play in wheel when lifted and pushed/pulled
Fix: Lower ball joints wear, especially with lifted vehicles or aggressive offroad use. Failure can cause wheel to separate. Replace both sides with OEM or quality aftermarket. 3-4 hours labor for both sides.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Front Driveshaft Center Support Bearing Failure (4WD models)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration at highway speeds, Clunking when engaging 4WD, Squealing from underneath while driving, Vibration worse under acceleration
Fix: Center support bearing on two-piece front driveshaft wears out. Entire driveshaft typically replaced as assembly. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Exhaust Manifold Cracking (4.0L V6)
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Ticking noise from engine bay on cold start, Exhaust smell in cabin, Failed emissions test, Visible cracks in manifold castings
Fix: Cast iron manifolds crack between ports from heat cycling. Both sides eventually crack. Aftermarket headers or OEM replacements. 6-8 hours labor for both sides due to access issues.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Dash and A-Pillar Cracking
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Cracks across top of dashboard near windshield, A-pillar trim cracking near airbag cover, Squeaks and rattles from dash area, Visible stress fractures in sunlight
Fix: Poor quality plastic on dash and A-pillar trim cracks from UV exposure and temperature cycling. Cosmetic issue but expensive to fix properly. Dash replacement requires complete removal. 8-12 hours labor for dash.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,500
Owner tips
If buying a 4.0L V6, have a mechanic listen for cold-start piston knock before purchase — walking away is often cheaper than repair
Change transmission fluid every 30k miles instead of Toyota's 'lifetime' recommendation, especially if towing
Inspect ball joints annually if lifted or used offroad frequently
Budget for secondary air system delete or replacement around 100k miles
Undercoat the frame and suspension components if in salt states — rust can be aggressive on these
Buy the 4.7L V8 if you can afford the fuel; avoid high-mileage 4.0L V6 models unless engine has been replaced or verified knock-free.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE · 13V014000
2013-01-16
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: THE REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN EARLY APRIL 2011. THE REMEDY WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 10V035000
2010-02-03
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 10V036000
2010-02-03
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
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