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The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Investigation: Squealing Brakes, Highway Vibrations, and More
Problem analysis of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner found issues including excessive brake squeal, highway speed vibrations, and touchscreen system failures.
Key Points
- Our team studied owner complaints, internal data, and federal safety records to identify the most common problems reported for the 2025 Toyota 4Runner.
- The most frequent problem involves excessive brake squeal and noise, including complaints about loud squealing or howling brakes when braking, especially in reverse.
- Owners also report highway-speed vibration, touchscreen and electrical failures, and a loose or falling front air dam, and ongoing defects may allow them to seek compensation or other remedies.
I see a lot of things as a lemon law attorney. Brake noise and squealing is not completely unheard of, but it is not that common of an issue either. A few years ago we reported heavily on a similar problem in GM models, and now we are seeing it show up in the 2025 Toyota 4Runner.
As part of our ongoing series on year-specific car problems, I reviewed NHTSA complaints, owner feedback, and our own internal data for the 2025 4Runner. The brake noise complaints stood out right away. Loud squealing in reverse, dealers acknowledging the issue but offering no fix, and a technical service bulletin that owners say did not fully resolve the problem.
My name is Sergei Lemberg, and I have over twenty years of experience representing consumers in vehicle defect cases. As always, not all 4Runners will experience these issues. These are simply the most commonly reported defects, likely affecting a small percentage of vehicles.
Let’s get started.
Most Common Problems
My research found that the primary problems based on complaint frequency and severity include:
- Excessive Brake Squeal and Noise: Loud squealing or howling brakes when applying brakes, especially in reverse, causing driver distraction and safety concerns.
- Highway-Speed Vibration: Vibrations and shaking felt at speeds between 55 to 70 miles per hour, often accompanied by rattling or shaking mirrors and windows.
- Touchscreen and Electrical Failures: Intermittent blank or frozen infotainment screen leading to loss of navigation and rear camera display.
- Loose or Falling Front Air Dam: Missing bolts or clips causing front undercarriage components to detach, creating potential road hazards.
2025 Toyota 4Runner Complaint Summary
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Steering | |
| Structure:body | |
| Structure:body:bumpers | |
| Air Bags | |
| Power Train | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
#1: Excessive Brake Squeal and Noise
I found brake noise complaints are the most widespread and urgent problem. Owners frequently report a loud, high-pitched squeal or howl from the brakes when reversing or braking slowly. This noise is so disruptive that many drivers deliberately avoid using the brakes fully to suppress it, which raises serious safety risks.
Symptoms include:
- Loud squealing or grinding sound when applying brakes, especially in reverse
- No warning lights or error messages despite the noise
- Brake pads replaced multiple times with no relief
- Noise worsening over time even after service visits
Owner quotes from NHTSA complaints
“Brakes are extremely loud when going in reverse. Carried to the dealership, they said that they are “aware” of the issue but until a recall is done then their hands are tied.”
“Brakes on the 4Runner are extremely loud when backing up braking. Drivers tend to avoid hitting the brakes properly to avoid the loud noise. Not using the brakes properly due to an abnormal loud noise is a safety hazard.”
“I bought this 2025 Toyota 4runner on March 3rd. Less than a week the brakes have been no stop making noise. It’s loud and noisy. I’m scared that my brakes or rotors will mess up.”
“Loud brake squeal, Toyota and Dealer not willing to perform any repair. It seems like brakes are not functioning properly, especially when cold.”
This problem has resulted in a Toyota technical service bulletin (TSB-0046-25), but owners report it did not fully resolve the issue.
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#2: Highway-Speed Vibration and Steering Shake
Another persistent and common complaint is about a vibration or shimmy felt through the steering wheel and vehicle body between approximately 55 and 70 miles per hour.
Symptoms include:
- Steering wheel shakes noticeably at freeway speeds
- Occasional rattling or vibrating noises from door mirrors or windows
- Vibration worsens or appears suddenly with no prior signs
- Dealer visits for wheel balancing and tire replacements often fail to fully solve it
- Some 4WD models report this as linked to a front differential needle bearing issue
Owner quotes
“While going around turns (left or right) over 30mph the vehicle has knocking that can be felt coming through the steering wheel.”
“Steering wheel creaking and knocking noise when turning the steering wheel left and right.”
#3: Touchscreen and Electrical Failures
Drivers have reported intermittent failures of the multimedia touchscreen, which can freeze, turn black, or disconnect from devices. These electrical glitches create risks by disabling navigation and rearview cameras while driving.
Symptoms include:
- Infotainment screen suddenly goes blank during use
- Loss of audio and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity
- Reverse camera feed disappears without warning
- Issue persists across multiple phones and software versions
- Dealerships unable to replicate or diagnose the problem
Owner quotes
“On at least 3 occasions the multimedia touch-screen display console has gone blank without warning lamps/messages.”
“Intermittently, the center console (navigation) screen and system crash at random. All audio stop and the screen turns black for a few seconds, before resetting to the default view and disconnecting all previously connected devices. This has happened at least 10-20 times while driving during my ownership of the vehicle.”
#4: Loose or Falling Front Air Dam
Several owners have reported their front lower valence or air dam dropping loose due to missing or fallen bolts and clips. This plastic panel can detach while driving, creating road hazards and potential damage to the vehicle.
Symptoms include:
- Front air dam rattling or dragging at highway speeds
- Missing factory fasteners or bolts on inspection
- Dealership denial of warranty claims citing road hazard damage
- Difficulty keeping the component attached without repeated repairs
Owner quotes
“Retaining clips / fasteners missing from front air dam causing the large plastic structure to become dislodged and tangled in steering brakes, suspension or causing unsafe road hazard for other vehicles particularly motorcycles.”
“While driving on the highway yesterday I noticed a vibration and worsening noise. I exited the highway and pulled over into a parking lot. I observed the front air dam/lower valence had come undone.”
“My air dam came loose on a interstate highway with 75 mph speed zones and became entangled in the undercarriage, further investigation revealed that several of the fasteners were missing and no evidence they were ever installed.”
What Should You Do If Your 2025 Toyota 4Runner Is a Lemon?
I define a lemon vehicle as one that has a substantial defect covered by warranty that impairs its use, value, or safety, and that the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts. If your 2025 Toyota 4Runner exhibits any of the issues I outlined — especially persistent brake noise, vibration, or electronic failures — you should begin documenting everything carefully.
Steps to protect yourself include:
- Keep detailed records of all repair orders and communications with the dealer
- Note dates, mileage, and descriptions of each problem occurrence
- File official complaints with the National Highway
- Traffic Safety Administration
- Consult with a lemon law attorney promptly to preserve your legal rights
Lemberg Law offers free consultations and does not get paid unless you win your case. Lemon law claims are time sensitive due to strict filing deadlines. If your 4Runner is still under warranty and experiencing these defects, I encourage you to contact Lemberg Law today for a no-cost case evaluation. I want to help you get the relief and compensation you deserve.
Click 877-795-3666 now to call us.
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About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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