2011 Toyota 4Runner Seats
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I TURNED IN THE IGNITION AND WASN'T EVEN AROUND THE BLOCK FROM MY HOME, WHEN I NOTICED MY SEAT OVERHEATING ALONG WITH A STRONG BURNING ELECTRICAL/WIRE SMELL. THE HEAT WAS HOTTER THAN THE HIGHEST SETTING BECAUSE IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE TO REMAIN SEATED. I CHECKED THE POWER SWITCH, WHICH WAS OFF, THEN TOGGLED IT ANYWAY TO SEE IF IT WOULD TURN OFF. I HAD TO PULL OVER AS THE SEAT WAS TOO HOT AND FEARED IT INJURE ME AND/OR WOULD IGNITE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, THE HEATING STOPPED. HOWEVER, I GOT BACK IN AND STARTED TO DRIVE, IT HEATED UP AGAIN. I RETURNED HOME TO LOOK UNDER THE SEAT BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL, EXCEPT FOR THE STRONG BURNING WIRES SMELL. ALSO, MY SKIN WAS RED WITH A LINGERING STING IN TWO AREAS WHERE THE HEAT WAS MORE INTENSE. I CONDUCTED ON ONLINE SEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE ABRUPT OVERHEATING SEATS.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND THE SEAT STARTED GETTING HOT. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE SWITCH WAS OFF. IT WAS, BUT I TURNED IT ON THEN OFF, JUST TO MAKE SURE. THE SEAT HEATER STAYED ON AND GOT HOTTER, AND I STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I STOPPED, GOT OUT, AND CHECKED UNDER THE SEAT BUT COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNDER THERE. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, BUT HAD TO ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN THE SMELL WAS SO BAD...AND THE SEAT WAS UNPLEASANTLY HOT! MY HUSBAND DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. HE PULLED THE FUSE THIS MORNING...I'LL SEE IF THAT FIXED THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING, HE NOTICED THAT THE LUMBAR SUPPORT ON THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD CRACKLE AND MAKE NOISE WHENEVER HE MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2011 Toyota 4Runner has 3 Seats complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.