2016 Toyota 4Runner — should you buy one?

Why people love the 2016 Toyota 4Runner

Owners love the 5.7L V8 engine paired with the five-speed automatic transmission—it delivers 270 horsepower and pulls a boat or trailer without strain, which matters for people towing trailers uphill on weekends. The body-on-frame construction and available multi-mode all-wheel drive let you ford through standing water or climb steep rocky terrain that would stop a sedan cold, and that capability stays reliable past 150k miles if you change the oil on time.

Common complaints and known issues

The transmission can develop a shudder or hesitation between 80k and 130k miles—dealers have issued a technical service bulletin for this, and some owners have paid $3,000–$4,500 for a flush or valve body replacement. The sunroof drains clog frequently around 100k miles, leading to water pooling inside the headliner and rotting the foam backing. Paint peeling on the hood and roof appears as early as 60k miles, especially on silver and gold metallic finishes, because the clearcoat application that year was thin.

Typical asking price

Under 80k miles: $24,000–$32,000. 80k–140k miles: $18,000–$26,000. Over 140k miles: $12,000–$18,000. Clean title and service records, especially proof of transmission service, add $2,000–$3,000 to asking price; accident history or frame damage drops prices by $4,000–$6,000.

Ranges are typical 2026 asking prices, not appraisals. The actual fair offer depends on this specific car's title history, accident record, and open recalls — which is what EstimateProof tells you.