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 reports
119,000 miles · Jul 3, 2016
Structure
MY MECHANIC WAS REPAIRING THE REAR SHOCKS AND NOTICED FRAME RUST. HE SAID FRAME RUST HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SOME TOYOTA TRUCKS AND 4RUNNERS. HE KNOWS THIS BECAUSE HE WORKED FOR TOYOTA AT ONE TIME. HE SUGGESTED CALLING TOYOTA AND FILING A COMPLIANT AND REQUEST FOR REPAIR WITH THEM WHICH I DID. THE CASE NUMBER IS 1605101239. …
Read full complaint
MY MECHANIC WAS REPAIRING THE REAR SHOCKS AND NOTICED FRAME RUST. HE SAID FRAME RUST HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SOME TOYOTA TRUCKS AND 4RUNNERS. HE KNOWS THIS BECAUSE HE WORKED FOR TOYOTA AT ONE TIME. HE SUGGESTED CALLING TOYOTA AND FILING A COMPLIANT AND REQUEST FOR REPAIR WITH THEM WHICH I DID. THE CASE NUMBER IS 1605101239. IN THE COURSE OF MY CONVERSATION THE TOYOTA AGENT ADVISED ME THAT TOYOTA TUCOMAS AND TUNDRAS WERE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AND THAT TOYOTA WAS OFFERING "CUSTOMER SUPPORT" ON THOSE VEHICLES BUT EVEN THOUGH THE FRAME RUSTING ISSUE WAS THE SAME ON 4RUNNERS TOYOTA WAS NOT OFFERING ANY " CUSTOMER SUPPORT " OR RECALLS FOR 4RUNNER FRAMES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. FURTHER INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATED THAT RUSTING FRAMES ON 4RUNNERS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS. PLEASE HELP. APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.
NHTSA ODI #10882341
170,000 miles · Jun 28, 2016
Unknown Or Other
THE FRAME RUSTED AND THE SWAY BAR MOUNT BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10881330
120,000 miles · Jun 22, 2016
Unknown Or Other
FRAME RUSTING AWAY. UNSAFE TO DRIVE
NHTSA ODI #10875885
144,000 miles · Jun 5, 2016
Structure
I HAVE A 2000 4RUNNER WITH 144000 MILES AND THE UNDERSIDE IS RUSTING AWAY. I NOW HAVE HOLES IN THE FRAME. TOYOTA HAS ADVISED ME TRY TO REPAIR OR PURCHASE SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION. I HAVE 1994 TOYOTA DLX PICKUP THAT HAS 372000 MILES AND THE UNDERSID…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2000 4RUNNER WITH 144000 MILES AND THE UNDERSIDE IS RUSTING AWAY. I NOW HAVE HOLES IN THE FRAME. TOYOTA HAS ADVISED ME TRY TO REPAIR OR PURCHASE SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION. I HAVE 1994 TOYOTA DLX PICKUP THAT HAS 372000 MILES AND THE UNDERSIDE OF IT IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
NHTSA ODI #10872600
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2016
Structure
THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL ON MY 2000 4-RUNNER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU ON THE SECTION NEXT TO THE MUFFLER. LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF.
NHTSA ODI #10865761
100,000 miles · May 6, 2016
Engine
REPLACED ENGINE WITH A REBUILT ON, BECAUSE ENGINE BAD DESIGN. OIL PASSAGES TOO SMALL . NO HELP FROM TOYOTA WHO DESIGNED AND MADE THE ENGINE. DAMAGED OCCURRED OVER TIME: SLUDGE BUILD UP, GRITTY SLUDGE.
NHTSA ODI #10863646
105,015 miles · Apr 25, 2016
Structure
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/15/16. EXTREMELY CLEAN BOTH INSIDE AND EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE. HAD AROUND 104K MILES. I WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE CHANGING THE OIL AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST INCLUDING ONE AREA WHERE THE FRAME HAD BEEN REPAIRED FROM A HOLE RIGHT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHES FOR THE REAR AXLE. THERE IS ANOTHER…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/15/16. EXTREMELY CLEAN BOTH INSIDE AND EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE. HAD AROUND 104K MILES. I WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE CHANGING THE OIL AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST INCLUDING ONE AREA WHERE THE FRAME HAD BEEN REPAIRED FROM A HOLE RIGHT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHES FOR THE REAR AXLE. THERE IS ANOTHER HOLE STARTING IN THE SAME LOCATION AND SINCE IT IS A BOX FRAME AND SEEMS TO BE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THIS VEHICLE AND PAID CASH FOR IT WITH MONEY WE HAD SAVED. NOW I CANNOT LET MY FAMILY DRIVE THE CAR SINCE I THINK IT IS UNSAFE.
NHTSA ODI #10861323
200,000 miles · Apr 20, 2016
Suspension
FATAL LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET CORROSION-
NHTSA ODI #10860634
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2016
Unknown Or Other
FRAME IS RUSTING THROUGH.
NHTSA ODI #10860627
150,000 miles · Apr 5, 2016
Unknown Or Other
MY WIFE WAS COMING FROM WITH AND WAS GETTING ON INTERSTATE WHEN CAR STARTED SWAYING UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN I LOOKED AT IT THE ARM THAT HOLDS THE REAR END HAD ROTED OFF GOOD THING SHE WAS NOT UP TO SPEED
NHTSA ODI #10853467
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.
2000 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration