2022 Toyota 4RUNNER Headlight Recall (21V963)

Recall 21V963 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2022 Toyota 4RUNNER in recall 21V963?

The driver's side high beam may be inoperable after the installation of accessory fog lights.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2022 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The driver's side high beam may be inoperable after the installation of accessory fog lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Is it safe to drive a 2022 4RUNNER with recall 21V963?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An inoperable driver's side high beam may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An inoperable driver's side high beam may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the headlights.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V963?

Recall 21V963 covers 78 vehicles: 2022 Toyota 4RUNNER.

NHTSA lists 78 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the 4RUNNER headlight recall?

Yes. Dealers will install an updated wiring harness, free of charge.

Dealers will install an updated wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 11, 2022. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET21A.

When was recall 21V963 announced?

Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 21V963 to NHTSA on December 13, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 11, 2022.

This recall was filed 58 months ago. If your 4RUNNER was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my 4RUNNER is part of recall 21V963?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V963 is open on your 4RUNNER, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V963000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should 4RUNNER owners do about recall 21V963?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V963000 applies to your 4RUNNER.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Toyota dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any headlights symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are 4RUNNER owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the lighting and visibility.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the lighting and visibility have been filed since recall 21V963 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 39 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2022 Toyota 4RUNNER: 39 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility

Can recall 21V963 make my 4RUNNER a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V963