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1997 Toyota 4 Runner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.

About this comparison →
122Owner complaints

Model-year median: 96.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
52
1994125
199589
1996122
1997120
1998110
1999104
2000
Compare all 4 Runner years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
30Service Brakes, Hydraulic
22Tires
15Power Train
14Engine And Engine Cooling
11
All reported categories
Air Bags
8Structure
7Equipment
6Electrical System
5Seat Belts
5Wheels
5Steering
4Unknown Or Other
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Visibility
3Exterior Lighting
2Seats
2Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 21 of 122 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports

Equipment complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
65,000 miles · Aug 11, 2003
EquipmentSeat BeltsSuspensionCrash

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WITH A 1997 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. SHE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE POLICE HAVE EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO TOYOTA TWICE TO REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION FOR A TOYOTA RECALL. BOTH BEFORE THE RECALL AND AFTER THE RECALL …

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MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WITH A 1997 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. SHE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE POLICE HAVE EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO TOYOTA TWICE TO REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION FOR A TOYOTA RECALL. BOTH BEFORE THE RECALL AND AFTER THE RECALL THE REAR END WAS SAGGING AND WAS NOT STABLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS DEFECTIVE. BOTH CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO HER DEATH. *NLM IN SPEAKING WITH INVESTIGATIVE SHERIFF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 38-51 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE ROLLED 2-3 TIMES DOWN A 50-70 FOOT DROP. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS DAMAGED REARWARD AND THE DRIVER SLID OUT OF THE SEAT BECAUSE OF THIS DAMAGE. UPON INSPECTION THE SEAT BELT WAS STILL FASTENED. THE INVESTIGATIVE OFFICER STATED THAT DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH AND DAMAGE TO THE SEAT THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A VEHICLE DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT OR SEAT. CW

NHTSA ODI #10023416

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2002
Equipment

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THICK SMOKE COMING FROM STEREO. CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED BY DEALER AT THIS TIME.*AK *YD

NHTSA ODI #8006951

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1999
Equipment

DRIVER WENT TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE WITH FACTORY JACK WHICH DID NOT GO HIGH ENOUGH. ALSO, IT BENT AND BROKE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ,LANDING AND DAMAGING ROTOR AND AXLE OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852849

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Equipment

RADIO FAILED CAUSING NOISE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #606207

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Equipment

RADIO IS NOT WORKING. YH

NHTSA ODI #606004

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1998
Equipment

JACK THAT IS SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE SIZE OF TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #539362

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.