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Toyota 4-RUNNER Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota 4-RUNNER car check

Is the Toyota 4-RUNNER reliable? We analysed 23,015 real MOT tests across 2,646 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 23,015 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.6%
Typical Mileage
131,942mi
Annual Mileage
5,512mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Toyota 4-RUNNER is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases and fog lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota 4-RUNNER.

Toyota 4-RUNNER Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Toyota 4-RUNNER. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Toyota 4-RUNNER MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Toyota 4-RUNNER to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.7%
2017
81.2%
2016
80%
2008
71.6%
2007
74.1%
2006
73.7%
2005
73%
2004
70.8%
2003
69.3%
2002
73.4%
2001
73%
2000
71.3%
1999
69.5%
1998
71.8%
1997
68.1%
1996
68.2%
1995
67.7%
1994
69.6%
1993
72.2%
1992
73.1%
1991

Toyota 4-RUNNER Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Toyota 4-RUNNER fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,155
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 697
fog lamp not working 645
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 601
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 584
Stop lamp not working 543
constant velocity joint gaiter split 530
position lamp(s) not working 512
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 499
wheel bearing has excessive play 451

Toyota 4-RUNNER Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Toyota 4-RUNNER owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,921 mi/yr
Typical
5,512 mi/yr
Average
6,637 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,970 mi/yr

Toyota 4-RUNNER MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota 4-RUNNER year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2017 140 90.7% 17,991 40,350 59,946
2016 85 81.2% 40,959 58,231 86,462
2008 105 80.0% 61,371 89,849 151,405
2007 359 71.6% 94,934 146,530 208,968
2006 405 74.1% 91,989 140,120 180,101
2005 900 73.7% 90,778 128,264 173,589
2004 1,058 73.0% 106,647 150,277 194,186
2003 1,033 70.8% 101,993 139,938 181,667
2002 456 69.3% 96,713 137,317 183,807
2001 128 73.4% 72,473 112,936 180,074
2000 230 73.0% 111,244 137,735 169,161
1999 331 71.3% 107,874 155,574 195,954
1998 259 69.5% 110,785 146,560 178,005
1997 238 71.8% 102,075 127,683 172,363
1996 2,154 68.1% 109,336 135,549 170,625
1995 5,246 68.2% 106,670 131,857 159,724
1994 7,068 67.7% 105,518 130,912 158,334
1993 1,873 69.6% 100,338 127,890 157,384
1992 277 72.2% 99,285 135,029 169,594
1991 108 73.1% 107,090 142,296 178,839

How Long Does a Toyota 4-RUNNER Last?

Based on 2,646 Toyota 4-RUNNER vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.7 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Toyota 4-RUNNER Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Toyota 4-RUNNER MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
131,942 mi
75th Percentile
164,459 mi
95th Percentile
227,483 mi
Max Recorded
994,520 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota 4-RUNNER

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2017

90.7% MOT pass rate from 140 tests

Year to avoid
1990

57.6% MOT pass rate from 66 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota 4-RUNNER is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.7% across 140 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota 4-RUNNER Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota 4-RUNNER THIS CAR 69.6% 23,015 131,942 mi 33 yrs
Toyota Yaris 77.7% 9,038,234 54,896 mi 27 yrs
Toyota Corolla 75.4% 4,239,724 75,409 mi 36 yrs
Toyota Avensis 75% 3,497,866 89,776 mi 28 yrs
Honda Cbf 125 M-a 76.8% 11,553 13,161 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota 4-RUNNER trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Toyota 4-RUNNER?

The Toyota 4-RUNNER has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.6% across 23,015 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota 4-RUNNER are brake pipe excessively corroded (1,155 recorded failures), exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (697), and fog lamp not working (645). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Toyota 4-RUNNER owner drives around 5,512 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Toyota 4-RUNNER models stay on UK roads for around 33 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Toyota 4-RUNNER — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota 4-RUNNER reliable?
Based on 23,015 MOT tests, the Toyota 4-RUNNER has a 69.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota 4-RUNNER?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases, and fog lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota 4-RUNNER do per year?
The typical Toyota 4-RUNNER does around 5,512 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota 4-RUNNER last?
Most Toyota 4-RUNNER models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 2,646 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota 4-RUNNER?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Toyota 4-RUNNER?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota 4-RUNNER is 2017 with a 90.7% pass rate across 140 tests.