TSB: Some 2014 ? 2019 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a whine/groan noise from the rear of the vehicle. This condition may occur while driving at approximately 40 ? 60 mph at a consistent speed, slight acceleration, or slight deceleration. This condition may be caused by rear differential vibration transferring through the chassis and body. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to improve this condition
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Toyota 4Runner suspension problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Toyota 4Runner have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the suspension at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 4Runner | 7 |
| 2016 4Runner (this page) | 9 |
| 2019 4Runner | 4 |
| 2020 4Runner | 3 |
1crash
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 9 suspension complaints filed for the 2016 Toyota 4Runner, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 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 suspension 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.
TSB: Some 2014 ? 2019 model year 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a whine or groan noise from the rear of the vehicle. This condition may occur while driving around 40 ? 60 mph at a consistent speed, slight acceleration, or slight deceleration. This condition may be caused by rear differential vibration transferring through the chassis and body. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to improve this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2016 - 2018 model year 4Runner vehicles equipped with the TRD Pro suspension kit may exhibit a tight clearance or contact condition between the LH rear shock absorber remote reservoir and the inner wheelhouse body panel. A ?knock? or ?clunk? noise may be heard from the LH rear of the vehicle over bumps. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: SOME 2015 2016 MODEL YEAR TRD PRO EDITION 4RUNNERS MAY EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CLUNK TYPE NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OVER CERTAIN ROAD SURFACES. THE CONDITION MAY ALSO BE MORE EVIDENT IN COLDER CLIMATES. THE TRD PRO SHOCK ABSORBER HAS BEEN UPDATED TO PREVENT THIS NOISE FROM OCCURRING. FOLLOW THE REPAIR PROCEDURE IN THIS BULLETIN TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2015 - 2016 model year TRD Pro Edition 4Runners may exhibit an abnormal clunk type noise when driving at low speeds over certain road surfaces. The condition may also be more evident in colder climates. The TRD Pro Shock Absorber has been updated to prevent this noise from occurring. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Whenever I go over potholes and bumps my car makes clunking noises and sounds horrible.
X-REAS sport enhancement system is failing in a vehicle (2016 Toyota 4 Runner) with 58,000 miles that has always been driven on city streets. Front struts and rear shock absorbers are both leaking and require replacement.
The 2016 4runner trd pro is a limited production model. Toyota source the suspension components from an outside vendor. My right front spring failed, breaking I four places. The car has 41,000 miles and has only been used in normal highway driving -- no off-road. The front spring design is deficient. There is no taper at either end of the coil spring, leaving a knife edge touch the…
75 MPH impact on interstate, 4 runner complete loss. Engine protruded into foot well and not a single airbag was deployed. Injuries include - concussions, broken nose, head lacerations, head and neck problems.
Had suspension trouble with your 2016 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 suspension problem on the 2016 Toyota 4Runner?
It's a meaningful issue. 9 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 9 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 30,361 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/2016/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.