2021 Toyota 4Runner maintenance schedule

Written in plain English and reviewed by the eli5cars editorial team · Last reviewed June 2026

4.0L V6 (270 hp)SR5SR5 PremiumTRD Off-RoadMSRP $37,060

⚠ 1 open recall for this vehicle

A recall means the manufacturer found a safety problem and is required to fix it — these aren't normal wear-and-tear repairs. Check your specific VIN at NHTSA.gov to confirm your car is affected.

✓ Recall repairs are always FREE at any dealer, no matter who currently owns the car or where it was bought.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Why it matters: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.

Reported 06/07/2022 · Campaign #22V480000 — look up your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Jump to a mileage milestone:

30k miles 60k miles 90k miles 120k miles

Full service timeline

Mileage	Service items	Details
5k mi	Tire rotation (4Runner factory schedule calls for tire rotation every 5,000 miles — shorter than the oil interval) Inspect brake pads and rotors — front and rear Check all fluid levels Inspect front differential fluid level (4WD models)
10k mi	Engine oil and filter change — 0W-20 full synthetic (Toyota factory interval: 10,000 miles under normal use for the 4.0L V6) Tire rotation Inspect cabin air filter condition Inspect 4WD transfer case fluid level and engagement mechanism (4WD/4x4 models) Inspect battery terminals and connections
15k mi	Tire rotation Inspect brake fluid color and level Inspect steering linkage — tie rods, drag link, and pitman arm Inspect front and rear driveshaft U-joints (4WD models)
20k mi	Engine oil and filter change — 0W-20 full synthetic Tire rotation Replace engine air filter Inspect spark plugs — iridium (4.0L V6 factory interval: 120k miles; visual inspect at 20k for fouling) Inspect front differential fluid (4WD — Toyota 75W-90 GL-5 hypoid gear oil; change if milky or dark) Inspect transfer case fluid (4WD — Toyota ATF Type T-IV) Inspect rear differential fluid — change every 15k in severe off-road/water-crossing use; standard interval 30k
30k mi	Engine oil and filter change — 0W-20 full synthetic Tire rotation Replace cabin air filter Replace rear differential fluid — Toyota 75W-90 GL-5 (standard-duty interval; TRD Pro/off-road use: every 15k) Inspect front suspension ball joints and steering knuckle pins Inspect driveshaft center bearing and grease U-joints (4WD) Inspect KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) hydraulic lines — TRD Off-Road/Limited equipped models	View →
60k mi	Engine oil and filter change — 0W-20 full synthetic Tire rotation Replace cabin air filter Replace engine air filter Replace brake fluid — DOT 3 (Toyota recommends every 3 years or 60k miles) Replace front differential fluid — Toyota 75W-90 GL-5 (4WD models) Replace transfer case fluid — Toyota ATF Type T-IV (4WD models) Replace rear differential fluid — Toyota 75W-90 GL-5 (friction modifier required for TRD Pro locking rear differential) Inspect serpentine belt — 4.0L V6 Inspect coolant condition (Toyota Super Long Life Coolant pink — first change at 100k or 10 years)	View →
90k mi	Engine oil and filter change — 0W-20 full synthetic Tire rotation Replace cabin air filter Inspect serpentine belt condition — replace if cracked, frayed, or glazed Inspect all CV axle shafts and boots (4WD front axle) Inspect leaf spring bushings and U-bolts (rear suspension) Inspect brake calipers, hardware, and parking brake cables Inspect front differential breather hoses (4WD — common clog point after off-road water crossings)	View →
120k mi	Engine oil and filter change — 0W-20 full synthetic Tire rotation Replace spark plugs — iridium (4.0L V6 factory interval: 120k miles) Replace engine coolant — Toyota Super Long Life Coolant pink (first change at 100k miles or 10 years, then every 50k) Replace automatic transmission fluid — 5-speed automatic: Toyota Genuine ATF WS; change by 60k for towing/severe use, 120k standard use Replace front differential fluid — Toyota 75W-90 GL-5 (4WD) Replace transfer case fluid — Toyota ATF Type T-IV (4WD) Replace rear differential fluid — Toyota 75W-90 GL-5 Replace serpentine belt if not already replaced Full brake system flush — DOT 3 Inspect and service front wheel bearings and hub assemblies	View →

Upgrading your 4Runner's wheels?

See verified wheel fitments for the 2021 Toyota 4Runner — bolt pattern, hub bore, and offset all checked.

Verified 4Runner fitments at AlloyHaus →

AlloyHaus is our sister site — built by the same maker as eli5cars.

Common symptoms for this vehicle

Check engine light on? Get a free code scan

If your check engine light is on, most auto-parts stores (AutoZone, O'Reilly, Advance) will read the code for FREE — no purchase required, just walk in. Bring the code back here and look it up at eli5cars.com/obd2 for the plain-English explanation.

Note: a scan only helps when there's an active fault code. For purely mechanical symptoms (noises, vibrations, leaks), a scan may show nothing — the suspects listed above are your starting point.