The Toyota 4Runner is a popular mid-size SUV that has been a continuously popular and strong seller in the North American market since 1983.
It’s an SUV known in particular for its reliability and relatively few problems in normal operation.
It is also very sturdy, strongly built, and is relatively fuel-efficient compared to others in its segment.
This article explains “13 Toyota 4Runner Features Not Working”…
Table of Contents
Toyota 4Runner Rear Windshield Wiper Not Working
One thing that causes this is the rear window not going back all the way up.
It may look like it’s gone all the way up, but even a very slight amount down it will stop working the rear wiper.
If the window is up, then you might have an issue with the motor, and unfortunately, the motor replacement can cost as much as $300 with parts and labor.
If you can fix it yourself, you can save about $80 on labor.
One more thing you can look at is the washer fluid reservoir. Sometimes, when it’s empty, the wiper won’t work either. Top up the reservoir and try again.
Toyota 4Runner Interior Lights Not Working
One strange thing is when the interior dome light is not working, either when you open the door or when you activate it individually, or possibly just when you open the door and it usually comes on automatically.
One possible issue is the switches near the door latch on the car body might be faulty.
These can be replaced at a cost of about $60 altogether for all four including parts and labor, but you’ll likely only need to replace 1.
The switches may not need replacing, but just cleaning. Sometimes the contacts get gunked up but you can clean them with an alcohol solution.
If the dome light isn’t working with any door, then it’s more likely something else.
Most likely the dome light is not set to door mode, you should push the switch all the way over to the right (passenger side) to get that to work.
Toyota 4Runner Keyless Entry Not Working
When the keyless entry doesn’t work on your 4Runner, the first thing to think about and try is replacing the battery in your key fob.
The batteries should last about 3 years, but you never know.
A replacement battery is very cheap (less than $5, usually) and you can easily open up the fob and swap the batteries out, there’s no need to consult a dealership about that.
If the battery is fine and there’s enough power in the key fob, then the issue could be solved by reprogramming the key fob.
If you replace the key fob at the dealership it can cost up to $300.
You could try programming it yourself with this procedure, which works for older models:
- Key in and out of the ignition (no turning) twice
- Open and close the driver’s door twice
- Key in and out of ignition (no turning) once
- Open and close the driver’s door twice
- Put the key in the ignition
- Close driver’s door
- Turn ignition on, and then off, then remove the key
- Door locks with cycle, indicating the 4Runner is now in programming mode
- Hold down lock and unlock together for 2 seconds
- Press the lock button and hear the door lock cycle to indicate completion
Toyota 4Runner Remote Start Not Working
Some users have reported following the procedure to perform a remote start, only to see lights come on but no starting happening. What’s going on here?
It seems that the problems with remote start are traced back to problems within the Toyota app.
The company designed the feature to work primarily with the app, and with the key fob as a backup method.
The result however has been many complaints from customers saying it worked once or twice but never again, and almost never through the app.
The feature is quite new and Toyota is yet to confirm any cause of this issue.
One way around it if you want remote start is to install an aftermarket kit, which ranges from $200-300 to purchase and you can usually install them yourself with minimal fuss.
They are designed to be plug-and-play.
Toyota 4Runner Gas & Temperature Gauges Not Working
In the case of both gauges, they rely on sending units and sensors to feed information on both fuel and coolant to help the gauges read accurately.
If they are not working completely, then it could be because the sending unit is faulty and might need replacing.
If you need to replace either sending unit/sensor, then it’s an extremely complex job and requires the removal of key parts, including the fuel tank.
It’s therefore not for those with a lack of experience in these matters.
The fuel sending unit will cost $780, plus about $200 in labor costs if you get it done professionally.
For the coolant sensor, it’s cheaper, about $80 for the new part but another $200 or so in labor.
Toyota 4Runner Trailer Lights Not Working
If and when you discover your trailer lights are not working, the first thing is to get a test light and try it on the trailer first.
Quite often the problem is in the trailer and not in your 4Runner.
If you determine that the trailer is not the problem, then the most likely problem in your 4Runner is a blown 30-amp fuse.
Check the fuse box for blown fuses and chances are you will find one 30-amp one that isn’t working.
It should be fuse number 9 marked “Towing Tail.”
Toyota 4Runner Intermittent Wipers Not Working
Have you noticed your wipers working on high or medium speeds, but not on the intermittent setting?
First, try disconnecting and reconnecting the battery to make sure it isn’t just a random fault that is causing the malfunction.
If the battery disconnect/reconnect doesn’t work, then the fault most likely lies in the switch.
If you are handy, you can get in there and fix it with some soldering and perhaps looking to see if the resistor is broken.
If not, you may have to face a bill of up to $200 to get it replaced. The part is surprisingly expensive at around $130, plus labor costs come to $200.
Toyota 4Runner Instrument Cluster Not Working
One situation in which the instrument cluster in the Toyota 4Runner has stopped working is after people have installed aftermarket equipment, especially sound gear.
It can actually cause an overload on the ECU which can knock out the entire instrument cluster.
If you have shorted or damaged the ECU, the replacement can be $1000 or more depending on the exact circumstances.
It wouldn’t be covered by any warranty because it would be caused by your own modification.
Connecting up aftermarket equipment can cause too powerful a draw on the car’s power supply. You might be able to fix it with a battery disconnect and reconnect, but this isn’t guaranteed.
The most likely precise culprit is a corroded grounding wire.
When the ground wire has been corroded and damaged anyway, and then it is severed during modification or repair work (e.g., replacing the head gasket), then it can cause further damage and completely ruin the connection.
In this case, the ground wire has to be repaired or replaced.
Depending on the amount of rewiring that has to be done, you could be looking at professional costs of $1,200-1500.
If you do it yourself you will save a lot of money but there are many things that can go wrong.
Toyota 4Runner 120V Outlet Not Working
For this problem, the first thing you should do is check to make sure the switch is powered on.
There’s a button on the left side of the steering wheel on the dash under your gauges. You need to push this to turn the switch on, it should be labeled.
If you’ve confirmed that it’s switched on, then you should check the fuse box for any blown fuses. Check 15A in particular.
If you find one, this is the cause and you can replace the fuse with one of the spares that are typically stored in the fuse box itself.
If all fuses appear in order, then something else could be wrong. It’s most likely a damaged relay. It will most likely cost $50 to $100 to repair.
Toyota 4Runner Garage Door Opener Not Working
Owners of 4Runners have sometimes reported having trouble with garage door openers, especially those connected to Homelink.
The first thing to check is whether your remote control has a low battery. Programming it becomes very difficult when the remote battery isn’t working.
Another reason it might not be working is that you have too many devices connected to the system.
If so, it will automatically delete some. The limit is 6 devices.
If you have multiple cars with door openers, as well as other devices, then your own 4Runner device might have been deleted.
This problem is most likely not linked to your 4Runner, but to the system you are using. You should contact their customer service to solve this one.
Toyota 4Runner Speakers Not Working
When speakers suddenly stop working, but the radio or other entertainment components appear to be working normally, the most likely cause is a loose or broken wire.
Since the speakers don’t always have protective covers, or at least not very adequate protective covers, it’s easy to disrupt the wiring retainers when you put large and heavy objects into and out of the trunk of your 4Runner.
If the speakers suddenly stop working, the most likely culprit is a wire that has come loose from its retainer.
Fixing the speaker wire shouldn’t be expensive. If you know where to look and know about the electronics you can fix it yourself. To get it done professionally will cost $25-40.
Toyota 4Runner Headlights Not Working
Some owners experienced headlight issues with their 4Runner. One problem that occurred was the high beams and fog lights would work, but not the low beams.
In the case where one specific light isn’t working, it’s most likely the light socket that has been damaged and might need replacing and resoldering.
The socket will cost you about $20, and if you get it installed professionally perhaps another $30-40 in labor costs.
Toyota 4Runner Radio Volume Not Working
If you discover that neither the wheel controls nor stereo knob is able to adjust the volume, the first thing you should do is turn the truck off and restart it.
This typically gets the volume out of the way, but it won’t fix the root of the problem. It’s just as useful to start to remove any noise in the cabin.
This problem was most common with 4Runners fitted with the JBL sound system, but it can happen in the conventional sound system, too.
The problem lies in the head units. If you replace or upgrade the head units in the stereo, it should solve this problem.
The specific component causing the issue is usually the variable resistor in the head units. That’s why replacing and/or upgrading them usually does the trick.
If your mechanic thinks they can repair the resistor, then you won’t need to replace the entire head unit.
A typical head unit replacement for the 4Runner will cost $450 with parts and labor. Fixing the resistor might cost as little as $120, but it may not work and/or the problem may re-emerge.
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