IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
1997 Toyota 4RUNNER
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4RUNNER years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
025–50K
150–75K
175–100K
25100–150K
87150K+
118 reports with mileage · 21 unknown
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.
- Structure. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Structure complaints
69 reportsTO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS CONCERN. I JUST PURCHASED A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 173,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS MADE AWARE BEFORE BUYING THE VEHICLE THAT THERE IS SOME RUST UNDERNEATH AND SO I EXAMINED THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS NOT MAJOR AND IS REPAIRABLE. AFTER PURCHASING TH…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS CONCERN. I JUST PURCHASED A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 173,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS MADE AWARE BEFORE BUYING THE VEHICLE THAT THERE IS SOME RUST UNDERNEATH AND SO I EXAMINED THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS NOT MAJOR AND IS REPAIRABLE. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS QUITE LARGER THAN I INITIALLY ASSESSED. I REALIZE THAT THIS MAKES ME RESPONSIBLE FOR A BAD DECISION BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BRING THESE RUST ISSUES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA WITH THE HOPE THAT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS WILL AFFECT A RESPONSE THAT WILL HOLD THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE. I REALIZE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 15 YEARS OLD AND HAS HIGH MILEAGE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE ROTTING FRAME IS AN ACCEPTABLE DEFECT IN AN 18 YEAR OLD VEHICLE THAT WAS CLEARLY VERY WELL MAINTAINED BY IT'S ORIGINAL OWNER, AND BY THE NUMBER OF SUBMITTED AND UNSUBMITTED COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WHICH POINTS TO A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. IN ADDITION, THIS ROTTING FRAME PROBLEM MUST HAVE STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MUCH YOUNGER BECAUSE THE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH IN TWO PLACES AND IT DOESN'T TAKE A SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT THIS KIND OF DAMAGE TAKES TIME. THE MAIN FRAME ON MY 4RUNNER IS ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE THAT I JUST BOUGHT BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE LESS MECHANICALLY INCLINED PERSONS OUT THERE WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND UNKNOWINGLY PUTTING THEMSELVES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT RISK. PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU. *TR
PURCHASED WITH 165,000 MILES. ALMOST NEW FOR A MODERN VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS NOTIFIED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT, THE REAR END WAS READY TO COLLAPSE, AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND NOTIFIED THE SAME THING. TOYOTA MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE CONTACTED AND NOTIFIE…
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PURCHASED WITH 165,000 MILES. ALMOST NEW FOR A MODERN VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS NOTIFIED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT, THE REAR END WAS READY TO COLLAPSE, AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND NOTIFIED THE SAME THING. TOYOTA MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS. THIS VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED ITS ENTIRE LIFE IN KENTUCKY, NOT MICHIGAN. RUSTING OUT AT 165K IS UNHEARD OF FOR A MODERN VEHICLE IN THESE CONDITIONS. DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO SELL IT TO THE JUNKYARD. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY I DON'T HAVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 261,909. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE REAR END PART THAT CONNECTS TO FRAME BROKE FREE FROM WELD ON FRAME CAUSED SERIOUS SWEARVING ON ROAD AT 65 MPH MY KIDS WERE SCARED TO DEATH COULD OF CAUSED A ROLL OVER BUT KEPT IT ON ROAD
DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PART FROM REAR END THAT CONNECTS TO FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. VIOLENT SHAKING OCCURRED AND FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD. FRAME LOOKS GOOD EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT THE SAME LOCATION ON BOTH SIDE.
THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THREW IN MULTIPLE PARTS OF THE FRAME. SOMEONE HAS ALREADY TRIED WELDING SOME PLATING TO KEEP REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OF THE LOWER FOUR LINK ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR
CARS REAL END STARTED TO SWAY WHEN DRIVING, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH, THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL ISSUED,NOTHING THEY COULD DO!!!!. THIS TOYOTA ONLY HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT!! IT SHOULD BE GOING FOR ANOTHER 100,000, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE BUY TOYOTAS!!…
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CARS REAL END STARTED TO SWAY WHEN DRIVING, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH, THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL ISSUED,NOTHING THEY COULD DO!!!!. THIS TOYOTA ONLY HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT!! IT SHOULD BE GOING FOR ANOTHER 100,000, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE BUY TOYOTAS!! MY SON BOUGHT THIS CAR 3 YEARS AGO, TOOK ALL HIS MONEY NOW HE HAS NO CAR TO DRIVE OR MONEY TO BUY A NEW ONE. TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. SINCE THIS HAPPENED I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. THEY RECALLED THE TACOMA FOR THE SAME REASON.. SAME YEARS. NEED A RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER!!! *TR
THE FRAME HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT, REAR TRAILING ARM. MY SHOP TELLS ME THE FRAME IS TOO RUSTED TO REPAIR IT. *TR
I HAVE A 1997 4RUNNER THAT IS CATASTROPHICALLY RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME AND HAS BEEN A DANGER SINCE PURCHASING. THE AMOUNT OF RUST HAS COMPLETELY EVAPORATED MY INVESTMENT. *TR
Official recalls
102V021000 · Suspension
Jan 18, 2002
ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING (SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.