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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

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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

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

What owners actually said

139 reports
1,000 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4X4, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN1997. WITHIN IN WEEKS OF OWNING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHILE BRAKING AS I DROVE OVER IRREGULAR ROAD, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT GRABBING, L AND THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING, COMMENSURATE WITH THE DEM…

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I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4X4, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN1997. WITHIN IN WEEKS OF OWNING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHILE BRAKING AS I DROVE OVER IRREGULAR ROAD, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT GRABBING, L AND THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING, COMMENSURATE WITH THE DEMAND THAT I WAS PUTTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME! AFTER SEVERAL SUCH EXPERIENCE, IN JUNE OR JULY OF 1997, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I STILL OWN AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS UNCHANGED. BECAUSE I AM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER IRREGULAR ROAD SURFACES, BUMPS OR EXPANSION JOINTS I KEEP A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I STILL DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKE ISSUE HAS NOT CHANGED. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH THE 4RUNNER WAS THE SHIFTING OF THE BACKEND OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER IRREGULAR ROAD SURFACES. HOWEVER, TOYOTA RECALLED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE A REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE FIX REDUCED THE SEVERITY OF THE SHIFTING OF THE BACKEND, IT DID NOT TOTALLY ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320119

219,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Structure

THE SUB-FRAME OF MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUV HAS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE SUSPENSION BOX HAS RUSTED FREE FROM THE FRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RENDERED UNSAFE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. TOYOTA WANTS $3,000 + LABOR TO REPLACE THE FRAME. THIS IS THE SAME SUB-FRAME TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY REPLACING ON THEIR 1995 - 2010 TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS A…

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THE SUB-FRAME OF MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUV HAS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE SUSPENSION BOX HAS RUSTED FREE FROM THE FRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RENDERED UNSAFE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. TOYOTA WANTS $3,000 + LABOR TO REPLACE THE FRAME. THIS IS THE SAME SUB-FRAME TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY REPLACING ON THEIR 1995 - 2010 TACOMA PICKUP TRUCKS AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE. MY SUB-FRAME HAS THE SAME TYPE AND DEPTH OF RUST DAMAGE AS THE TACOMA TRUCKS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE SUB-FRAMES ON THEIR SUV'S AS WELL AS THEIR TACOMA TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319970

127,534 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4X4. WHILE BRAKING AND GOING OVER BUMPS, POTHOLES, SEPARATIONS IN ROADWAYS, THE BRAKES WILL MOMENTARILY FAIL MUCH LIKE IT IS ACTIVATING THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319967

210,000 miles · Mar 11, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ENTER THE MEDIAN AND ROLL OVER. THE DRIVER INVOLVED IN THE ROLL OVER CRASH WA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ENTER THE MEDIAN AND ROLL OVER. THE DRIVER INVOLVED IN THE ROLL OVER CRASH WAS AIR LIFTED TO A HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ODI #10319011

195,942 miles · Mar 5, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE . SHE ALSO STATED THAT ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE GROUND WIRES WERE BURNT AND THE VEHICLE WAS T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE . SHE ALSO STATED THAT ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE GROUND WIRES WERE BURNT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT SHORTED OUT, THERE WERE NO REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 195942.

NHTSA ODI #10317080

107,038 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN UP TO 100 MPH. HE BEGAN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL GEAR TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT AN AFTER MARKET ALARM BOX WAS TUCKED BEHIND THE PEDAL. T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN UP TO 100 MPH. HE BEGAN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL GEAR TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT AN AFTER MARKET ALARM BOX WAS TUCKED BEHIND THE PEDAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BOX MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. ANOTHER DEALER TOLD HER THAT A CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,038.

NHTSA ODI #10316303

140,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE, BUMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315643

149,112 miles · Feb 26, 2010
SteeringSuspensionCrash

WE WERE SOUTHBOUND ON I25, EXT 261,STATE OF COLORADO, GOING ABOUT 45 MPH IN LANE #1 WHEN MY VEHICLE, A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE LEFT LANDING ON THE MEDIAN HITTING THE GUARDRAIL AND CAUSING A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. THE WEATHER WAS A LITTLE SNOW AND THE FWY SURFACE APPEARED CLEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314615

95,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

1N AUGUST OF 2004 I OWNED A 1997 TOYTOA 4 RUNNER. IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 95 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYTOA DEALERSHIP AFTER 2MONTHS THERE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS CAUSED BY AMLFUNCTION IB THE CRUISE CONTROL EVEN THOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON THE REPAIR COST ME OVER 15OO DOLLARS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN…

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1N AUGUST OF 2004 I OWNED A 1997 TOYTOA 4 RUNNER. IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 95 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYTOA DEALERSHIP AFTER 2MONTHS THERE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS CAUSED BY AMLFUNCTION IB THE CRUISE CONTROL EVEN THOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON THE REPAIR COST ME OVER 15OO DOLLARS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATTER I THEN BRROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS AGAIN CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT SAID THE SIMPLE ANSWER WAS TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH COST ME 40 DOLLARS AND I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. I WROTE TO TOYTOA BUT THERE NEVER ANSWERED ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313515

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

MY CAR WAS RACING WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. ALSO, I WAS GOING THROUGH MY GAS PRETTY QUICKLY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONICS - THEY SAID I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED, I COULD NOT DRIVE OFF THE LOT BECAUSE IT WAS SO DANGEROUS. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS CAR BUT I WANTED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE IT IS A T…

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MY CAR WAS RACING WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. ALSO, I WAS GOING THROUGH MY GAS PRETTY QUICKLY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONICS - THEY SAID I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED, I COULD NOT DRIVE OFF THE LOT BECAUSE IT WAS SO DANGEROUS. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS CAR BUT I WANTED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE IT IS A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. VIN NUMBER ATTACHED FOR MAINTENANCE LOOKUP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313442

Official recalls

1

02V021000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.