4th Gen 4Runner years to avoid, and the best years to buy
Every Toyota 4Runner 4th Gen model year: which ones owners and specialists recommend, which have documented problems, which carry recalls, and what they sell for now.
A 2006–09 V8 is the safest pick. HotCars rates the 2006-on V8 facelift trucks the better buys, Jalopnik says the 2UZ-FE V8 has a reputation for being indestructible (with VVT-i and 270 hp from 2005), and Wikipedia says the V6's revised head gasket arrived late in the 2006 model year. The ones to be careful with are 2003–05 V6s: Autotrader says their head-gasket failures are reported more than average, and Expedition Portal owners put most in 2003–04. Whatever the year, a V8 needs its timing belt at 90,000 miles.
At a glance
4th Gen 4Runner year by year
| YEAR | VERDICT | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | — | Prado 120-based launch: 4.0 1GR-FE V6 (245 hp) or first-ever 4.7 2UZ-FE V8 (235 hp); X-REAS optional; HAC and DAC on 4WD |
| 2003–05 | Beware | V6 head gaskets: Autotrader says failures on 2003–05 V6s are reported more than average, and Expedition Portal owners put most of them in 2003–04. Wikipedia dates the revised gasket to late in the 2006 model year |
| 2004 | — | TPMS standard; optional third-row seat (first seven-seat 4Runner) |
| 2005 | — | V8 gains VVT-i (≈270 hp / 315 lb-ft); five-speed auto standard on the V6 |
| 2006 | Sweet spot | Mid-cycle refresh: new bumpers and grille, projector headlamps, LED tail lamps. HotCars picks the 2006-on V8 trucks as the better buys, and late-2006 V6s get the revised head gasket |
| 2008 | — | Curtain and front side airbags standard; VSC-off switch; Urban Runner package on Sport V6 4x4 |
| 2009 | — | Trail Edition: factory rear e-locker, A-TRAC switch and Bilstein dampers |
“Sweet spot” means owners and specialists recommend those years; “Beware” means documented problems; “Recall” means check the recall was done rather than walk away.
What a 4th Gen 4Runner costs (October 2026)
Mostly still cheap, but low-mile V8s and clean late trucks have broken away from the pack.
| High-mile / needs work | $5k–8k |
|---|---|
| Driver | $8k–23k |
| Excellent / low-mile | $27k–39k |
Based on 23 Bring a Trailer sales from November 2025 to October 2026 (median about $13,750). The top two were low-mile 2006–07 V8 4WD trucks at $35,000–39,000.
Recalls by year
Best years are buyer consensus from owners, specialists and forums, not spec sheets. See all 4Runner years to avoid across every generation.