The final V6 4Runner before the redesign — a bulletproof truck whose new gripes are a distracting LED-headlight shadow and a pricey brake-accumulator failure.

The 4Runner's brakes feel soft by design, but the 2023 file carries a few genuinely expensive failures: one owner faced a failed brake accumulator — part of the master-cylinder assembly — at 41k quoted at $3,200 out of pocket, and another reported a stiff-pedal crash at 9k. These are low-frequency, but pricier than the caliper-and-pad wear that's more common on the generation. Test the brakes thoroughly — firm hold at a stop, no sinking pedal, no warning lights — and factor a master-cylinder assembly into your risk math on a higher-mileage example.

The generation's signature shimmy at 55–70 mph continues on 2023 cars, with owners citing forum consensus about a needle bearing and one finding a service bulletin that matched their VIN — the dealer replaced the front differential and the shake persisted. Toyota's tech tips tie much of it to the factory tires; mechanics say a body-on-frame truck on aggressive tires is inherently prone to it, best improved with better tires and a road-force balance. It's a test-drive item, not a safety defect or a drivetrain failure.

Generation-wide items in the 2023 file. The sunroof can shatter spontaneously with no recall (insurance is the backstop). Several owners report the windshield cracking easily or making a cold-weather snapping noise, and the backup camera drawing grainy or dark images. One quirk unique to the newer software: changing the lock-sound-volume setting bricked a key fob. None is a deal-breaker; inspect the glass and test the camera and fob on the drive.

The generation-wide inspection: salt-belt frames rust, and a rotten frame is a walk-away because replacing it costs more than the truck. The rear hatch rusts under its plastic trim. A 2023 is nearly new, but a northern-climate truck still deserves an underside look before you assume it's clean.