A durable, low-drama 4Runner whose one real safety item is the fuel-pump recall — verify it's done, then enjoy a truck built to run past 250,000 miles.

As across the generation, some owners report the brake pedal going soft or sinking, and mechanics separately note the 4Runner's brakes feel soft and nose-dive by design. Real master-cylinder and ABS-actuator failures do occur at low frequency, and the front calipers and slide pins seize in salty climates while the smaller rear pads wear fast. Most of this is maintenance and characteristic; a pedal that sinks while stopped is the exception worth chasing. Brake-test from 30 mph and watch for a pull.

On four-wheel-drive 4Runners, a cyclical groan or grind from the front differential heard only in two-wheel drive — and gone in four-wheel drive — is a known issue covered by a Toyota service bulletin, caused by a front-differential needle bearing. Mechanics stress it uses an updated part and is not an expensive repair. A separate, benign rear-differential groan (40–60 mph) is one a master tech says to simply live with and keep the fluid fresh. If you hear the front groan when buying, negotiate; don't panic.

Rodents chew the soy-based wiring insulation and take out harness sections, with owner repairs commonly declined by warranty as rodent damage. Toyota has a bulletin on whether to repair or replace a chewed harness. It's a parking-and-storage matter rather than a design flaw — relevant if the truck sits outdoors.

The generation-wide inspection: salt-belt frames rust, and a rotten frame is a walk-away because replacing it costs more than the truck is worth. The rear hatch rusts under its plastic trim as the trim vibrates through the paint. A southern 2018 avoids the issue; a northern one needs the frame checked from underneath.