Toyota 4Runner Rollovers

Is the Toyota 4Runner a safe car? Many consumers are asking this question as they look to purchase one of these high riding and long-lasting SUV’s. While the 4Runner has certainly come a long way and includes safety equipment such as side curtain airbags and electronic stability control (ESC), it still ranks as one of the worst vehicles on the market for rollover risk.

The Toyota 4Runner body style has not been updated in over 11 years. The upcoming 2021 4Runner appears to be the same frame on body design that Toyota has been producing for decades. These are overall great vehicles in terms of performance, long-lasting, and holding their resale value, but fail pitifully in the event of a rollover accident.

Toyota 4Runner Rollover Rating

Rollover resistance testing is performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to measure the risk of a rollover in one-vehicle, loss-of-control situations. The 4Runner earned a 3 star (out of 5) rating from NHTSA with a 24.6% rollover risk. That is near the top of the list of vehicles most likely to roll in an accident. Unfortunately, the vehicle has been known to rollover at speeds under 40mph when the driver performs an evasive maneuver. A high center of gravity is one of the main culprits in a vehicles tendency to roll.

Why 4Runners Roll Over

Most vehicles on the road today will rollover if put into a high-speed evasive maneuver. But taller and narrower vehicles, like the Toyota 4Runner, are much more at risk of rolling over than a traditional car. Their higher center of gravity equates to being top-heavy. Toyota 4Runner rollovers often occur when the vehicle gets “tripped” – for example, a tire blow out or defective tire de-treads, causing the driver to swerve and then over correct. The pendulum effect of this swinging or steering of the SUV causes then causes the vehicle to roll. If a vehicle begins to move sideways, there is an increased risk the side wall of the tire will deform, allowing the rim of the vehicle to strike the pavement and trip the car into a roll. Rollovers remain amongst the deadliest types of accidents to be involved in.

Preventing Toyota 4Runner Rollovers

The best way to survive a rollover accident is to avoid one in the first place. The risk of severe injuries and deaths from rollovers is so extreme that consumers and automakers need to take care to avoid ever being involved in a roll over crash. Here are some ways to reduce the risk of rollovers:

• Only a drive a car or SUV produced after 2015 when the roof crush and roof strength standards were raised nationally. The increase in these standards has been pivotal in protecting consumers in the event they experience a roll over and keeping the roof above their head instead of collapsing down on the occupant.
• Wear your seat belt. We get many inquiries from victims of a rollover accident who were not seat belted. One of the worst possible ways to be hurt in a rollover crash is by not wearing your seat belt. You could be ejected from the vehicle or thrown about the cabin.
• Do not drive old or worn out tires. Tire failures, tire defects, and old tires are prone to blow outs at highway speeds which is a leading cause of many accidents.
• Do not lift your SUV. The higher the center of gravity, the more likely an SUV rollover will occur.
• Do not swerve to avoid a small animal at high speeds. This happens all to often and leads to 4Runners rolling over when instead, the driver should just hit the brakes and hit the animal rather than sacrificing themselves and putting passengers at risk.

Toyota 4Runner Rollover Lawsuit

The Willis Law Firm has represented hundreds of victims of rollover accidents. We know how to investigate your case and take the fight to the vehicle manufacturer who decided to save a few dollars in roof reinforcements over saving your loved one’s life. We are experienced rollover lawyers who you can count on for justice for you or your loved ones. If you or a family member experienced a rollover crash and sustained severe injuries or loss of life, please contact us today using the form on this page or by giving us a call at 1-800-883-9858. Our team will quickly be able to determine if a Toyota 4Runner rollover lawsuit is right for you. All case consultations are strictly confidential and at no cost to you. Contact us today.