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
What owners actually said
139 reports
226,000 miles · Mar 1, 2014
Suspension
VEHICLE DEVELOPED SERIOUS REAR END SWAY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN ROAD. LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE VICINITY OF THE REAR AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE FRAME RAIL HAD RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL AREAS. ADDITIONALLY THE FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM THE LOWER TRACK ARM MOUNTING PLATE …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE DEVELOPED SERIOUS REAR END SWAY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN ROAD. LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE VICINITY OF THE REAR AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE FRAME RAIL HAD RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL AREAS. ADDITIONALLY THE FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM THE LOWER TRACK ARM MOUNTING PLATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RESULTING IN FORWARD AND BACKWARD MOVEMENT IN THE MOUNTING PLATE. THE VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE VIRTUALLY RUST FREE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566643
110,000 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Structure
RUST. THE FRAME HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, AS HAS THE REAR FENDER. 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH MAJOR RUST ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563636
133,000 miles · Feb 8, 2014
StructureSuspension
EXTENSIVE RUST ON FRAME AROUND WELD OF THE CONTROL ARM OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO DETACH MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT APPEARS THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT FRAME RUSTING FOR TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563519
175,000 miles · Jan 3, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILU…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10558356
173,000 miles · Dec 26, 2013
Structure
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CLOSE TO HOME WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED SWAYING. PULLED OVER AND BEGAN TO DRIVE SLOWLY ON SIDE OF ROAD, NO TRAFFIC, TIL I GOT HOME. SHOP OWNER SAID FRAME BROKE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. TRUCK IN GREAT SHAPE, NOBODY EVER GAVE ME AN INDICATION SOMETHING WAS WRONG UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE POSS…
Read full complaint
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CLOSE TO HOME WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED SWAYING. PULLED OVER AND BEGAN TO DRIVE SLOWLY ON SIDE OF ROAD, NO TRAFFIC, TIL I GOT HOME. SHOP OWNER SAID FRAME BROKE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. TRUCK IN GREAT SHAPE, NOBODY EVER GAVE ME AN INDICATION SOMETHING WAS WRONG UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CRASHED IF GOING FASTER AND MORE TRAFFIC, I WAS VERY LUCKY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557339
150,000 miles · Nov 4, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED.…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #10550732
189,500 miles · Oct 17, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SWAY BAR OF SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SWAY BAR OF SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,500. ...UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10548221
163,000 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE HEARD A CRACK. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE HEARD A CRACK. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10522571
170,000 miles · May 13, 2013
SteeringStructureSuspension
FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY IS FINE BUT THE FRAME IS ROTTED. THERE ARE HOLES RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SPOTS INCLUDING SUSPENSION MOUNTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10511769
202,000 miles · May 2, 2013
Structure
FRAME IS RUSTING OUT ALONG FULL LENGTH. THE OUTSIDE LOOKS FINE IN MOST PLACES BUT THE INSIDE IS FLAKING OFF. IF YOU HIT IT WITH A HAMMER IT WILL GO RIGHT THROUGH AND MAKE A HOLE. I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAMES ON INTERNET SITES. *TR
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.
1997 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration