Illustration4RUNNER HAS 142,000 MILES AND I WAS JUST TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO CORROSION O FRAME. THERE IS A 2FT SECTION THAT IS NON-EXCITANT. ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED JUNK.
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.
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
50–25K
425–50K
650–75K
1975–100K
127100–150K
147150K+
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
What owners actually said
379 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT A HOLE DEVELOPED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000. UPDATE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT A HOLE DEVELOPED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000. UPDATED 02/22/2017*CT
THE FRAME OF MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED- TO THE POINT WHERE PARTS OF IT ARE BREAKING OFF. THE REST OF THE BODY/ENGINE ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 3RD GENERATION TOYTOA 4RUNNERS (YEARS 1998-2002). TOYOTA DID A RECALL ON THE 1998-2002 TACOMA …
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THE FRAME OF MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED- TO THE POINT WHERE PARTS OF IT ARE BREAKING OFF. THE REST OF THE BODY/ENGINE ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 3RD GENERATION TOYTOA 4RUNNERS (YEARS 1998-2002). TOYOTA DID A RECALL ON THE 1998-2002 TACOMA FRAMES WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE 4RUNNER. THE CAR IN UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND TOYOTA WILL TAKE NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM.
THE FRAME CORRODED, MAKING LOT OF HOLES IN THE FRAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK.
FRAME RUST TO THE POINT THE PASSENGER REAR CONTROL ARM IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF BC OF THE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST
ROTTING FRAME! UN DRIVABLE. STABILIZER BAR POPPED OFF.
FRAME RUST EXCEEDS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. FRAME RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. BOLTS RUSTED. THE FRAME ABSOLUTELY DISINTEGRATING. ENTIRE FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES THE ABS INITIATES AT NEARLY EVERY STOP. WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
EXCESSIVE FRAME RUSTING AND WEAKENING OF SUSPENSION MOUNTING POINTS.
THE STEEL FRAME IS ROTTING THROUGH ON MY 4RUNNER. I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF CARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A FRAME ROT PROBLEM LIKE THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE MOVED SIDE TO SIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED, RUSTED, AND THE TRAILING ARM ANCHOR WAS RUSTED AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE MOVED SIDE TO SIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED, RUSTED, AND THE TRAILING ARM ANCHOR WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.