Recall 15V515 affects 2,530 2010-2015 Toyota 4RUNNER SUVs for accessory exhaust tips that can burn people. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 2,530 2010-2015 4RUNNER SUVs under recall 15V515 because accessory exhaust tips installed before sale can burn people standing behind the vehicle. Contact with the exhaust tip can cause personal injury, and Toyota dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The accessory exhaust tip on the 2010-2015 Toyota 4RUNNER is the visible metal outlet at the end of the exhaust system. Its normal job is to direct hot exhaust gases out behind the SUV while staying recessed behind the rear bumper, away from people loading cargo or standing near the liftgate.
On affected 4RUNNER SUVs, the accessory exhaust tip can sit close enough to the rear of the vehicle that a person standing behind the SUV or reaching into the cargo area touches the hot metal. The recall repair uses a smaller exhaust tip that sits farther behind the bumper, reducing the chance of contact during normal use around the cargo area.
There is no warning sign before failure. The exhaust tip looks like a normal accessory, but it gets hot during operation and can burn someone who contacts it after driving.
Who's affected?
This is a multi-year, single-model scope with the same exhaust-system component listed for each model year.
| 2010 Toyota 4RUNNER | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
|---|---|
| 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2011 Toyota 4RUNNER | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2014 Toyota 4RUNNER | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2015 Toyota 4RUNNER | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2013 Toyota 4RUNNER | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| Units affected | 2,530 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific SUV.
What's the safety risk?
The safety risk is contact injury from the exhaust tip. Keep people clear of the exhaust outlet until the redesigned tip is installed, and schedule the recall repair soon. There is no warning sign listed for this hazard, so use extra care around the rear bumper. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2015 Toyota 4RUNNER is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the free redesigned exhaust-tip replacement, which moves the accessory tip farther behind the bumper.
- Reference recall number 15V515 when you call, and bring the owner notice if you have it.
- Keep people away from the rear exhaust tip until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Toyota technician replaces the accessory exhaust tip with a redesigned tip that is smaller in diameter and sits farther behind the bumper. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Toyota says it does not anticipate owner reimbursement claims, but it will provide reimbursement instructions if a claim arises. Contact Toyota customer service with prior repair paperwork so the service team can explain the claim process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 11, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| August 12, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 13, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
| September 21, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 22, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V515?
Recall 15V515 covers 2,530 2010-2015 Toyota 4RUNNER vehicles with accessory exhaust tips installed by SET or SET dealers. The exhaust tip can contact people standing behind the vehicle and cause personal injury. Dealers install a redesigned exhaust tip for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2015 Toyota 4RUNNER is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific 4RUNNER is included in recall 15V515. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the redesigned exhaust tip installation. Reference recall number 15V515 or SET15D when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost, and the remedy states that dealers will install a redesigned exhaust tip free of charge. Toyota owners can also contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is personal injury from contact with the accessory exhaust tip. The affected exhaust tip sits where people standing behind the vehicle can touch it, creating a burn hazard. Keep people clear of the exhaust area until the redesigned tip is installed.
What if I bought my Toyota 4RUNNER used?
The free recall repair still applies. A used vehicle owner can miss the original owner letter, so the VIN check matters. Confirm your specific 4RUNNER is included, then call a franchised Toyota dealer and reference recall 15V515 or SET15D.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V515000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-866-405-4226 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V515 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V515000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →