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2000 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

308 reports with mileage · 71 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 255 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 97 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Structure complaints

255 reports
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99,200 miles · Feb 5, 2020
Structure

FRAME IS REALLY RUSTING BAD AS IS THE CASE WITH 100S OF OTHER 4RUNNERS. T4R.ORG WILL SHOW HUNDRED UPON HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 99K MILES AND THE FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY WRECKED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ON THESE TRUCKS FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS IT'S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #11307381

10 miles · Jan 19, 2020
Structure

2000 4RUNNER WITH FRAME RUST/ROT, REAR PASSENGER SIDE RAILING ARM FELL OFF. LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST ON A HIGHWAY, IT WAS JUST A SLOW SPEED STREET. TOOK TO TWO FRAME SHOPS, ONE SAID WOULD NOT WORK ON IT SINCE IT'S SO BAD. OTHER SAYS I NEED A NEW FRAME COSTING ABOUT $3400. BODY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. MY DAD'S 1984 GM BLAZE…

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2000 4RUNNER WITH FRAME RUST/ROT, REAR PASSENGER SIDE RAILING ARM FELL OFF. LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST ON A HIGHWAY, IT WAS JUST A SLOW SPEED STREET. TOOK TO TWO FRAME SHOPS, ONE SAID WOULD NOT WORK ON IT SINCE IT'S SO BAD. OTHER SAYS I NEED A NEW FRAME COSTING ABOUT $3400. BODY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. MY DAD'S 1984 GM BLAZER FRAME IS STILL SOLID AND HAVE A LOT THICKER FRAME!

NHTSA ODI #11300361

194,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
StructureSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED WITH HOLES. THE CONTACT ALSO FOUND THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONCTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED WITH HOLES. THE CONTACT ALSO FOUND THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONCTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #11244434

201,000 miles · Jul 18, 2019
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON SOME SECTIONS OF THE SUBFRAME, THERE WERE THREE INCH HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON SOME SECTIONS OF THE SUBFRAME, THERE WERE THREE INCH HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.

NHTSA ODI #11233094

217,957 miles · Jul 8, 2019
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE CHANING THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR FRAME DETTACHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE CHANING THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR FRAME DETTACHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA OF ASHEVILLE (777 BREVA ROAD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, (828) 585-5825) AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1907010686. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,957.

NHTSA ODI #11230034

130,000 miles · Jun 14, 2019
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED A SUPPORT BAR TO FRACTURE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED A SUPPORT BAR TO FRACTURE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (GREENS TOYOTA OF LEXINGTON, 630 E. NEW CIRCLE RD, LEXINGTON, KY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #11220003

199,000 miles · May 29, 2019
Structure

FRAME IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTY AND SEVERELY CRACKED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT BECAME APPARENT WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY DANGEROUSLY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SLOWING DOWN DID NOT HELP REDUCE SWAY. SWAY WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION WERE FORCEFULLY BANGING AGAINS…

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FRAME IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTY AND SEVERELY CRACKED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT BECAME APPARENT WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY DANGEROUSLY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SLOWING DOWN DID NOT HELP REDUCE SWAY. SWAY WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION WERE FORCEFULLY BANGING AGAINST STEERING COLUMN, AND STOPPING DRIVING IMMEDIATELY WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING OVER. FRAME IS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES, ONE SIDE SEVERELY. PHOTOS INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI #11210672

210,000 miles · May 1, 2019
SteeringStructureSuspension

"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NO…

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"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.

NHTSA ODI #11205008

200,000 miles · May 1, 2019
SteeringStructureSuspension

"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NO…

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"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.

NHTSA ODI #11204965

200,000 miles · May 1, 2019
SteeringStructureSuspension

"RUSTED FRAME" MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHILE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT…

Read full complaint

"RUSTED FRAME" MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHILE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTILL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.

NHTSA ODI #11204951

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.