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1999 Toyota 4 Runner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 25 of 110 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.

  • Tires. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports

Power Train complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2005
Power Train

REAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING REAR AXLE GREASE SEALS WHICH THROW GREASE ONTO REAR BRAKE SHOES. CAUSING INCONSISTENT AND UNSAFE BRAKING. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA OF AUBURN CALIFORNIA, REPAIRS SIMILAR TO THIS ARE BEING PERFORMED ON SIMILAR VINTAGE TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER MODELS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THE AVERAGE REPAIR COST IS $850. THIS …

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REAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING REAR AXLE GREASE SEALS WHICH THROW GREASE ONTO REAR BRAKE SHOES. CAUSING INCONSISTENT AND UNSAFE BRAKING. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA OF AUBURN CALIFORNIA, REPAIRS SIMILAR TO THIS ARE BEING PERFORMED ON SIMILAR VINTAGE TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER MODELS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THE AVERAGE REPAIR COST IS $850. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT NOT A STANDARD MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN INJURIES OR DEATH. *JB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143958

79,733 miles · Jun 8, 2005
Power Train

DT: CONSUMER STATED THE REAR AXLE SEAL FAILED TWICE WHICH CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *JB....REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED FLUID. *AK *SB

NHTSA ODI #10121631

72,000 miles · Jul 28, 2003
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING FROM BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON D.C. ON I-95 SPD APPROX 65 MPH. MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD CRASH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I CAUTIOUSLY MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND COME TO FIND THAT MY TR…

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WHILE DRIVING FROM BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON D.C. ON I-95 SPD APPROX 65 MPH. MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD CRASH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I CAUTIOUSLY MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND COME TO FIND THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD LITERALLY FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE 4RUNNER. EVEN THE TRANSFER CASE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL OF MY MAINTANENCE RECORDS, AND THE TOYTA DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED MY VEHICLE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OK, THEN IT BREAKING. EVEN TOYOTA CORP. WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER ANY ASSISTANCE HELPING WITH MY VEHICLE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030247

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN CHANGING GEARS, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, ALSO WHEN PUSHING CLUTCH THE NOISE RETURNED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE THROW OUT BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THAT THIS PART WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, HOWEVER CONSUM…

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WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN CHANGING GEARS, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, ALSO WHEN PUSHING CLUTCH THE NOISE RETURNED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE THROW OUT BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THAT THIS PART WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFATURER WOULD NOT COVER THE PART.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8001945

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2000
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES VIBRATE BADLY BUT ONLY ONCE IN A WHILE. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE REAR AXLE OR REAR END CLUNKS BADLY WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKES, TIRE HAVE CUPPED PREMATURELY EVEN THOUGH BALANCED AND ALIGNED, GAS GAUGE WORKS MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES IS INCORRECT BY AS MUCH AS 50%. ABS KICKS IN EVEN WHEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. *…

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BRAKES VIBRATE BADLY BUT ONLY ONCE IN A WHILE. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE REAR AXLE OR REAR END CLUNKS BADLY WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKES, TIRE HAVE CUPPED PREMATURELY EVEN THOUGH BALANCED AND ALIGNED, GAS GAUGE WORKS MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES IS INCORRECT BY AS MUCH AS 50%. ABS KICKS IN EVEN WHEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W@HH TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #725352

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1999
Power TrainTires

TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WERE OF THE INCORRECT SIZE WHICH CAUSED SPEEDODMETER TO REGISTER INCORRECT SPEEDS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850552

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.