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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

What owners actually said

122 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IS INADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT PLUS THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM DOESNT HELP EITHER IT ONLY CAUSES MORE LOST OF BRAKING POWER ESPECIALLY ON DOWN HILL STOPS.TOYOTA MADE THESE VEHICLES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SIZE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS.UNFORTUNATLY I HAVE THE SMALLEST ONE WHICH JUST DOES DO A GOOD JOB STOPPING SUCH A LO…

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THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IS INADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT PLUS THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM DOESNT HELP EITHER IT ONLY CAUSES MORE LOST OF BRAKING POWER ESPECIALLY ON DOWN HILL STOPS.TOYOTA MADE THESE VEHICLES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SIZE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS.UNFORTUNATLY I HAVE THE SMALLEST ONE WHICH JUST DOES DO A GOOD JOB STOPPING SUCH A LOAD.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #704468

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1999
Wheels

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50-55 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE RIM ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPLIT IN HALF. THE TIRE REMAINED INTACT. DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER MAKING RIGHT TURNS ABOUT 3 MONTHS OR MORE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE TRUCK IS BEING INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. …

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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50-55 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE RIM ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPLIT IN HALF. THE TIRE REMAINED INTACT. DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER MAKING RIGHT TURNS ABOUT 3 MONTHS OR MORE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE TRUCK IS BEING INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833473

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Suspension

FRONT STRUTS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607807

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Tires

THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ( GOODYEAR WRANGLER P265/70R16 ) *YC

NHTSA ODI #607742

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior Lighting

TAILGATE LIGHT BULB FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606383

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 · Dec 17, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN RED LIGHT & WAS HIT BROADSIDE. UPON IMPACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #832415

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL RESISTS, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . ALSO WHEN TRAVELING DOWN AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE SLID ABOUT 50 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830966

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1998
Seat Belts

THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON THE 1997 4RUNNER ARE TOO SHORT. THE ALR ENGAGES ONCE THEY ARE FULLY RETRACTED. ONCE THE ALR IS ENGAGED THE SEAT BELT WILL ONLY RETRACT AND NO LONGER PERMIT FORWARD TRAVEL. THE BELT MUST BE REMOVED AND FULLY RETRACTED BEFORE THE ALR DISENGAGED. REAR OCCUPANTS MUST NOW BELT AND UNBELT SEVERAL TIMES DURIN…

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THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON THE 1997 4RUNNER ARE TOO SHORT. THE ALR ENGAGES ONCE THEY ARE FULLY RETRACTED. ONCE THE ALR IS ENGAGED THE SEAT BELT WILL ONLY RETRACT AND NO LONGER PERMIT FORWARD TRAVEL. THE BELT MUST BE REMOVED AND FULLY RETRACTED BEFORE THE ALR DISENGAGED. REAR OCCUPANTS MUST NOW BELT AND UNBELT SEVERAL TIMES DURING A TRIP. I FEEL THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANAGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HE DISPLAYED THAT THE 1998 MODELS ALSO HAVE VERY SHORT REAR BELTS. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT ALSO HAS ALR, BUT IT HAS TWICE AS MUCH SEATBELT LENGTH BEFORE THE ALR ENGAGES.

NHTSA ODI #700445

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.