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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

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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

Steering complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2002
Steering

WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS VEHICLE SLIDES ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER HAS HAD FIVE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8006229

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Electrical SystemSteering

WHENEVER VEHICLE HAS SAT A LONG TIME WOULD FAIL TO START UP. IGNITION WOULD LOCK UP. THE BATTERY IS FINE. BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER AT LEAST 20 TIMES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER NO PROBLEM WITH IGNITION OR STARTER. WAS INFORMED WHAT TO DO BUT SOLUTION DO NOT WORK . *AK THE CAUSE FOR THE VEHICLE FAILING …

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WHENEVER VEHICLE HAS SAT A LONG TIME WOULD FAIL TO START UP. IGNITION WOULD LOCK UP. THE BATTERY IS FINE. BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER AT LEAST 20 TIMES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER NO PROBLEM WITH IGNITION OR STARTER. WAS INFORMED WHAT TO DO BUT SOLUTION DO NOT WORK . *AK THE CAUSE FOR THE VEHICLE FAILING TO START UP IS INDICATED TO BE DUE TO THE BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM. *YH

NHTSA ODI #873209

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

CAR ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, POWER STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND SLOW, AND POWER BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717030

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 1995
Steering

THE SECTOR SHAFT BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA ODI #969258

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.