Safety and Reliability Ratings?

[Powerband]

I'm researching a new SUV and the 2015 4Runner is at the top of my list. Such a great looking truck.

I've always imagined that Toyotas score at the top for reliability and safety, but I'm surprised the 2015 4Runner doesn't have top scores in these areas. As an example, for reliability it scores "About Average," which is the 3rd category from top.

And the small-overlap front crash puts it at "Marginal." Overall scoring for NHTSA is 4 out of 5.

I value reliability and safety in an automobile, especially when I put my family in it. How much faith should I put into these ratings (the process and mechanics of which I'm mostly unfamiliar)? What are your opinions and insights on these ratings for the current 4Runner?

Thank you for any insight you might share. I'm cross-shopping with a 2015 Highlander, but really like the aesthetics of the 4Runner -- I just want to stay out of the shop and have a higher chance of coming out of an accident in one piece.

 

[marshal]

I'm researching a new SUV and the 2015 4Runner is at the top of my list. Such a great looking truck.

I've always imagined that Toyotas score at the top for reliability and safety, but I'm surprised the 2015 4Runner doesn't have top scores in these areas. As an example, for reliability it scores "About Average," which is the 3rd category from top.

And the small-overlap front crash puts it at "Marginal." Overall scoring for NHTSA is 4 out of 5.

I value reliability and safety in an automobile, especially when I put my family in it. How much faith should I put into these ratings (the process and mechanics of which I'm mostly unfamiliar)? What are your opinions and insights on these ratings for the current 4Runner?

Thank you for any insight you might share. I'm cross-shopping with a 2015 Highlander, but really like the aesthetics of the 4Runner -- I just want to stay out of the shop and have a higher chance of coming out of an accident in one piece.

Sounds like the 4runner isn't for you

 

[mo_mo]

I'm researching a new SUV and the 2015 4Runner is at the top of my list. Such a great looking truck.

I've always imagined that Toyotas score at the top for reliability and safety, but I'm surprised the 2015 4Runner doesn't have top scores in these areas. As an example, for reliability it scores "About Average," which is the 3rd category from top.

And the small-overlap front crash puts it at "Marginal." Overall scoring for NHTSA is 4 out of 5.

I value reliability and safety in an automobile, especially when I put my family in it. How much faith should I put into these ratings (the process and mechanics of which I'm mostly unfamiliar)? What are your opinions and insights on these ratings for the current 4Runner?

Thank you for any insight you might share. I'm cross-shopping with a 2015 Highlander, but really like the aesthetics of the 4Runner -- I just want to stay out of the shop and have a higher chance of coming out of an accident in one piece.

The testers can answer your 'faith' question, as they perform these tests and witness them with their own eyes. We're a group of random people on the internet, so we can preach about 'faith', but when it comes to crashes I haven't witnessed any 2015 4Runners crashes. One thing to keep in mind is that most, but not all, of these tests are the vehicle vs. a stationary object. So the vehicle if it were to hit a heavier or lighter vehicle than itself will perform worse or better based upon it's own mass (big football line backer vs. the kicker...no offense kickers). I've got to ask, how bad of a driver are you The Highlander and the 4Runner seem to do about the same from the NHTSA website with the primary difference being the 4Runner getting 3 stars instead of 5 for rollover. It is a classically built SUV with a body on frame which is the primary contributor (higher CG).

According to the 'long-term quality index', the 4Runner has a higher reliability score over the Highlander even though the Highlander apparently has fewer problems. This might be due to the additional 20k miles that the 4Runners have averaged. Of course if you think the 4Runner is going to give you problems then there are plenty of other vehicles that you'll have to make your own judgement of reliability on and take a lottery ticket when you buy. Maybe your builder had too much beer the previous night!

The Highlander has lots of advantages over the 4Runner and they are very different vehicles. Good luck in your vehicle selection.

 

[Greenamphibious]

you should get a grand cherokee then

 

[Powerband]

The testers can answer your 'faith' question, as they perform these tests and witness them with their own eyes. We're a group of random people on the internet, so we can preach about 'faith', but when it comes to crashes I haven't witnessed any 2015 4Runners crashes. One thing to keep in mind is that most, but not all, of these tests are the vehicle vs. a stationary object. So the vehicle if it were to hit a heavier or lighter vehicle than itself will perform worse or better based upon it's own mass (big football line backer vs. the kicker...no offense kickers). I've got to ask, how bad of a driver are you The Highlander and the 4Runner seem to do about the same from the NHTSA website with the primary difference being the 4Runner getting 3 stars instead of 5 for rollover. It is a classically built SUV with a body on frame which is the primary contributor (higher CG).



According to the 'long-term quality index', the 4Runner has a higher reliability score over the Highlander even though the Highlander apparently has fewer problems. This might be due to the additional 20k miles that the 4Runners have averaged. Of course if you think the 4Runner is going to give you problems then there are plenty of other vehicles that you'll have to make your own judgement of reliability on and take a lottery ticket when you buy. Maybe your builder had too much beer the previous night!



The Highlander has lots of advantages over the 4Runner and they are very different vehicles. Good luck in your vehicle selection.

mo_mo, thank you for the helpful reply. It's exactly the thoughtful insight I had hoped for. I figured there are variables in these crash-test procedures -- I appreciate you bringing them up. Although there are plenty of electronic nannies to mitigate accident risks, I know it comes down to physics, or mass, and the 4Runner has decent mass behind it. Statistically, there's a higher chance of an impact between myself and a smaller car, but like most things in the universe this is unpredictable. I'll take comfort that the 4Runner doesn't score the worst.

As for my driving skill: I've driven for 30 years, and have driven mostly small, light sports cars and have used 3 in autocross races. One of my earlier vehicles was a CJ5 and we did a lot of mud-bogging on a Pepco property (had lots of fun) in the east coast; now I drive mostly on smooth, civilized pavement in the west coast.

Other than being rear-ended once, I've never been in an accident. My reason for looking at a 4Runner is because I love how it looks and its longevity; but, longevity with frequent mechanical repairs is undesirable. And, I'm looking for safety only because I have a family who'll be in the 4Runner, too.

In the end, I know it's at attentive and defensive driving which lowers the risk of a vehicle accident, but I feel my many years of being accident-free is statistically getting shorter!

Continuing to think this through. Thanks to anyone for your thoughtful answers.

 

[invisible4Runner]

I've always found reliability numbers to be a total crapshoot. I've owned cars that on paper seem like they should be terrible, yet I have had years of trouble-free reliability with them. And on the flip side, I've had cars with good reliability ratings, that have had major issues (requiring an engine replacement in one case).

4Runners have legendary reliability in my view, and the fact that this forum is not riddled with "My XX broke!" should speak to that. Go to any other car forum and that is what you will hear most of.

The thing I always say to be people is "next time you see Al-Qaeda / ISIS on TV driving through a desert with rocket launchers hanging out the windows, look at what they are driving. Probably a Toyota. And I guarantee you they are not doing the recommended oil and filter changes". These vehicles are built to last.

For safety ratings, I've been somewhat disappointed it did not score higher. But the sad truth is that in most accidents it comes down to who has the most weight, and what part of each vehicle is being hit.

 

[Powerband]

I've always found reliability numbers to be a total crapshoot. I've owned cars that on paper seem like they should be terrible, yet I have had years of trouble-free reliability with them. And on the flip side, I've had cars with good reliability ratings, that have had major issues (requiring an engine replacement in one case).



4Runners have legendary reliability in my view, and the fact that this forum is not riddled with "My XX broke!" should speak to that. Go to any other car forum and that is what you will hear most of.



The thing I always say to be people is "next time you see Al-Qaeda / ISIS on TV driving through a desert with rocket launchers hanging out the windows, look at what they are driving. Probably a Toyota. And I guarantee you they are not doing the recommended oil and filter changes". These vehicles are built to last.



For safety ratings, I've been somewhat disappointed it did not score higher. But the sad truth is that in most accidents it comes down to who has the most weight, and what part of each vehicle is being hit.

"Toyota 4Runner. If it's good enough for an Al-Qaeda and his rocket launcher, it's good enough for me and my fishing rod."

You have a logical point about the context in which the vehicle sustains an impact. The 4Runner didn't score well with the "slight off-set crash," but did well with all others. I hope to avoid a head-on collision with the zit-faced teen texting in his '98 Impala. But it's small chance the crash may be a "slight off-set." And if it's a total head-on, then most cars probably wouldn't do well, no matter the scoring they achieved.

It comes down to size in combination with attentive, defensive driving... and a little luck as to the context of an impact, if it does occur.

Regarding reliability, have you seen much trouble with electrical and smaller component failure? I've searched through the forum but happily found such reports are sparse. (Cannot say the same about the VW GTI R32 and Porsche forums.)

Thanks again.

 

[Powerband]

According to the 'long-term quality index', the 4Runner has a higher reliability score over the Highlander even though the Highlander apparently has fewer problems.

By the way, great website. Thanks for posting the link.