The Lemon Index2000 Toyota 4Runner.
The 2000 Toyota 4Runner is better than average by owner complaints: 79 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 64, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 16 to 19 mpg combined. The best Toyota 4Runner year is 2013.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 483 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota 4Runner year. 2000 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 119K to 179K miles on the car (327 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- body structure complaints mostly came at 126K–176K miles
- suspension complaints mostly came at 130K–196K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 85K–159K miles
Recalls 2
- lights 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 82 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Front brake vibration
- Subject regarding new front brake pad kits to reduce the possibility of front brake vibration
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.4L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Warped rotors on my 2000 Toyota 4 runner 2wd sr5 causing vibrations problems at 37,000 miles. This very common problem should be fixed at Toyota's expense.
2000 Toyota 4Runner owner · NHTSA complaint 10037372
More owner reports
Rotors overheat, warp. Dealer states it is because I live where few roads are straight.
NHTSA complaint 764107
Service dept. Said rotors overheat and warp because of where I live.
NHTSA complaint 764087
Quick answers
Is the 2000 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 64; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota 4Runner year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2000 Toyota 4Runner problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (28%), tires (14%) and visibility (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2000 Toyota 4Runner have?
2 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2000 Toyota 4Runner get?
16 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2000 Toyota 4Runner problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 119,000 and 179,000 miles. The middle report was at 143,500 miles, from 327 complaints.
Does the 2000 Toyota 4Runner have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 9% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2000 Toyota 4Runner cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2000 Toyota 4Runner have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 3.4L 6-cyl.
What Toyota 4Runner year is better than the 2000?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2017 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works