Toyota 4RUNNER hesitation problems

Filed Aug 4, 2025 · Acceleration, Body · 205,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated and was unable to accelerate, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the catalytic converter. The contact was also made aware that the mechanic discovered excessive corrosion covering the entire subframe of the vehicle. The contact was advised not to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 205,000.

Filed Sep 5, 2023 · Transmission · SC

Stumbling/Studering and hesitation when accelerating took it to dealership and they performed a tune-up and complete fuel system service when to pick it up and still doing the same thing. Dealership rechecked it and said Torque converter was faulty. Had to replace transmission.

Filed Mar 31, 2023 · Electrical · 29,922 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that rodents had chewed through the soy-based wiring. The electrical wiring was replaced out of pocket; however, the failure had recurred twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 29,922.

Filed Sep 30, 2020 · Fuel system · 125,700 miles · AZ

My children and I almost died twice! 4 runner almost caused serious injury or death. 9/24/20, 6:15 pmish, vehicle in motion for approximately over an hour, 70mph cruise control set, beginning to climb up a large mountain westbound interstate 8. Engine hesitates/stalls briefly, steering became difficult, car shuddered, was difficult to maintain control of vehicle, only lasted seconds. At a slower speed engine back up and all was fine, assumed it was not a major issue. Continued driving the vehicle for the next two days at same higher speeds and for long periods of time. 9/26/20, around 6:30 pm, vehicle in motion for over an hour, about 70mph flow of traffic, not in cruise control, flat road, eastbound interstate 8, left lane of 4 lanes of traffic. Engine stalls/hesitates for about 10 long seconds, loss of power steering, almost ran into barricade on left, almost ran into car on right, luckily no one behind us. Saw blackish smoke out rearview mirror. Loud sounds, shaking and grinding. After about 10 seconds and crying/screaming kids, engine no longer stalled and was able to control vehicle to turn on hazards. We are lucky to be alive! Safety exited, contacted toyota service to inform them. Vehicle towed 161 miles to dealership, they see nothing wrong with the vehicle and were ready to release it to us. Back story, most all service performed by toyota dealership and did what was suggested. 8/31/20 toyota poway installed fuel pump safety recall (prior to this I had no issue, this was preventative) a week later engine light on, alexander toyota, finds my safety recalled part was incorrectly secured/installed. They fixed it and returned the car. Since the fuel pump safety recall part was improperly installed we are now experiencing engine hesitation/stalls, our vehicle is unsafe can cause serious injury of death.

Filed Mar 5, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 20,000 miles · MD

The 4runner hesitates at 40mph and 60mph when trying to coast/maintain speed with slight pressure on the gas pedal. At other speeds or while accelerating at 40/60mph there is no hesitation. I took it to the dealership, but they said they can't replicate the problem. It is still happening though.

Filed Jan 14, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 180,000 miles · MD

The vehicle stalls, incosistently, but, on a frequent basis, at any given time, then will be fine for a long period of time. It eats batteries. I've had to replace the battery every year. A local automotive electrical specialist replaced the b+ cable from the battery to the starter, and the problem went away for a year, but, has since returned. I recently upgraded to a battery with more cranking watts, and have een improvement. However. There's the issue of the hesitation, jerking, and loss of power, when taking off after 1st start of the day, replaced plugs, and battery and did a tune - up, but, it made no difference. Very dangerous and have almost been involved in accidents multiple times, as a result, including dying while towing a trailer, smack dab in the middle of a 4-way intersection of a traffic - choked coastal highway in the middle of a popular beach resort, featuring over 200 outlet shops and malls, mid-day, on the 4th of july weekend, and a saturday at that,, and having to contact roadside assistance 5 times, to get it going again, to get to my destination, less than 6 miles away, and having to drive on the road's shoulder the whole way, in case of another break-down,

Filed Jan 27, 2015 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota 4runner. While at a stop light and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a second opinion, who diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 12,000 miles · AR

Upon acceleration, the vehicle hesitates for 2-3 seconds. This happens on starting off, driving down the road, pulling into traffic. I have had it to the dealer 15-20 times and they can't find the cause. They said it had to fail for at least 5 seconds for it to register on the computer module. It never lasts more than 2-3 seconds and, I consider it 'very dangerous'. Dates above are appx. It does it every day.

Filed Apr 28, 2010 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 39,000 miles · MN

Defect occurs during winter conditions only. While stopped & icy conditions exist, the vehicle has excessive hesitation when the gas pedal is depressed. The computer control allows the vehicle to move forward very slowly for at least 5 to 10 seconds after the pedal is depressed. When at a stop sign or light, this condition has lead to close calls while I have inched into the intersection. Not having the ability to accelerate to avoid oncoming vehicles has been problematic. The dealer noted the vehicle is working properly. The mechanics noted another customer had their vehicle in for the same issue & told him the same thing. Note that this condition has occurred each winter since I purchased the vehicle, but there appeared to be little that the dealer would "fix" since they did not believe there was a problem. I have assumed the root problem is with the computer control system, but I am not a mechanic.

Filed Mar 29, 2010 · Transmission · 100 miles · IL

There appears to be something dangerously wrong with the transmission. I have experienced this randomly, maybe a dozen times, over the last week since I have owned the car. It takes up to two seconds for the car to respond after pressing the gas pedal. This has happened when slowing down and then having to give the car gas, again. Other times it has happened from a stop or an idling roll. There is a significant hesitation. This does not happen every time, which makes it that much more dangerous - being unpredictable.