The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Toyota 4Runner electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Toyota 4Runner have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 50,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 4Runner | 6 |
| 2012 4Runner | 3 |
| 2013 4Runner | 4 |
| 2014 4Runner | 24 |
| 2015 4Runner (this page) | 12 |
| 2016 4Runner | 17 |
| 2017 4Runner | 5 |
| 2018 4Runner | 4 |
| 2019 4Runner | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 12 electrical complaints filed for the 2015 Toyota 4Runner, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
DP: The Data Communication Module (DCM) in the subject vehicles are equipped with software to identify the location of the vehicle using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to support features of the Safety Connect system. Due to incorrect programming in the DCM software, after November 2nd, 2019, the GPS coordinates for this system will be calculated incorrectly. This will cause the system to use incorrect vehicle coordinates if one of the system?s features is activated.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TI: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN K0P CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM 19TE12 SAFETY CONNECT SYSTEM ? VEHICLE LOCATION INACCURATE CERTAIN 2013 ? 2019 MODEL YEAR 4RUNNER 2011 ? 2017 MODEL YEAR LAND CRUISER 2013 ? 2017 MODEL YEAR PRIUS 2012 ? 2017 MODEL YEAR PRIUS V 2016 ? 2017 MODEL YEAR MIRAI Updated 010/25/2023
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to reset a vehicle Immobilizer or Smart Key system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB This Service Bulletin includes guidelines meant to help determine whether to repair or replace a wire harness assembly based on damage type. This Service Bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Electronic Wiring Diagram (EWD) and/or Repair Manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a pattern of electrical failures across multiple systems. Door lock actuators are the dominant complaint: multiple owners report sequential or simultaneous failure of all four door locks between 36,000 and 50,000 miles, leaving doors inoperable via key fob or interior buttons while keys work only on driver and rear doors. One owner had all five door actuators fail, severely limiting passenger access in emergencies.
The Entune infotainment system crashes repeatedly during navigation and music playback, forcing drivers to reset it while driving—a stated safety concern. One owner documented the issue across multiple forums, indicating it's widespread.
Broader electrical faults also surface: one owner experienced complete system shutdown while driving, with all lights, dash, and radio cutting out and restarting multiple times daily. Another reported dashboard warning lights (ABS, VSC, check engine, gas gauge) illuminating randomly, with the speedometer spiking abnormally. A rear-view camera displays persistent blur, shake, and static distortion in reverse. One rear-view camera issue required two years and a corporate escalation before Toyota approved a free computer replacement after the owner videotaped the malfunction.
A single complaint describes rodent damage to injector wiring; dealer-applied deterrent tape failed to prevent subsequent chewing.
Same Toyota 4Runner electrical reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Rear-view camera malfunction
Camera display becomes blurry, shakes rapidly, displays static and neon-colored distortion lines when vehicle is in reverse, making rear-camera view unreliable.
When: Over 2 years of intermittent occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: blurry camera image; rapid image shaking; static with neon lines distorting footage; unusable rear-camera display
Repairs/costs cited: Computer replacement performed free of charge under warranty after owner documented issue across multiple service visits and provided video evidence. Dealer initially offered computer chip updates without success.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota corporate approved computer replacement at no cost after acknowledging the problem had been reported at multiple dealerships.
Entune radio/navigation system crashes
Infotainment system continually crashes and stalls during operation, especially when navigation is engaged. System becomes unresponsive and resets without user input.
When: Random occurrence while driving
Symptoms owners cite: system crashes and stalls; navigation instructions interrupted; unable to change stations or control volume; random reboots during music playback; safety hazard requiring driver intervention while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report no available solution; issue appears widespread across multiple customer forums.
Door lock actuator failure
Door lock actuators fail, preventing doors from locking or unlocking via key fob or interior controls. Multiple doors can fail sequentially or simultaneously, creating entrapment and access hazards.
When: Between 36,000–50,000 miles, though failures reported at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: door will not lock remotely; door will not unlock remotely; key fob signal received but actuator does not respond; key cannot unlock door from outside; manual door operation required; inability to lock vehicle; inability to access passenger doors from exterior
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger and driver-side lock actuators require replacement. Owner reports high repair cost; manufacturer contacted and referred owner to NHTSA.
Complete electrical system shutdown while driving
Entire electrical system shuts down while driving as if ignition were turned off, then restarts automatically. All dash lights, instrumentation, headlights, and radio cut out simultaneously.
When: Multiple times daily, typically below 55 mph in city driving
Symptoms owners cite: all dash lights extinguish; instrumentation goes dark; headlights shut off; radio powers off; vehicle appears to stall and restart; system reboots automatically
Instrument panel warning light anomalies
Multiple warning lights (ABS, VSC, check engine, gas gauge) illuminate randomly on the instrument panel. In one instance, speedometer needle jumped abnormally high.
When: Random occurrence while driving under normal conditions
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminates randomly; VSC light illuminates randomly; check engine light illuminates randomly; gas gauge light illuminates randomly; speedometer reading spikes abnormally
Rodent wire damage
Rodents chewed through fuel injector wiring. Dealer repair used rodent deterrent tape, but rodents subsequently chewed through additional unrelated wires.
When: Initial damage required repair; follow-up damage occurred 4 days after first repair
Symptoms owners cite: injector 3 wire chewed through; multiple additional wires chewed through after initial repair; rodent deterrent tape did not prevent subsequent damage
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid for initial injector wire repair. Subsequent rodent damage occurred despite deterrent tape application.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The front passenger side door will not lock or unlock. I am sure you can understand the safety hazards with this issue. This door will not lock or unlock with key fob or with the locking system inside the car.
Entune radio/navigation system continually crashes and stalls while driving causing safety hazard if driver has to continually reset the radio power while driving. This usually happens more so when the navigation system is engaged. It will crash out of no where, use to just happen with instructions were being given through the speaker now its random. Happens also when with just music…
2015 Toyota 4runner - door lock actuators. At around 36,000 miles the rear driver's side door actuator began to fail intermittently. Within a couple months it failed completely and the rear passenger door lock actuator began to display the same problems. At 40,000 mileages all of the door lock actuators have failed. This is a non-problem and a major safety issue. It is also very expensive to…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 Toyota 4Runner?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2015 Toyota 4Runner?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 36,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Toyota/4Runner.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.