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
104,000 miles · Mar 17, 2012
Structure
FRAME RAILS BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR WHEELS RUSTED THROUGH. NOT LITTLE HOLES BUT SECTIONS 1 TO 2 FEET LONG AND BIG ENOUGH TO PUT YOUR HAND INTO. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, AND BOTTOM, HAD RUSTED. FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BACK TO THE REAR TIRE. UPDATED 0…
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FRAME RAILS BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR WHEELS RUSTED THROUGH. NOT LITTLE HOLES BUT SECTIONS 1 TO 2 FEET LONG AND BIG ENOUGH TO PUT YOUR HAND INTO. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, AND BOTTOM, HAD RUSTED. FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BACK TO THE REAR TIRE. UPDATED 05/12/2012 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10452062
140,000 miles · Mar 1, 2012
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RUST AND THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TO THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RUST AND THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TO THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE RUST FAILURE AND SENT THE PICTURES FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO REVIEW. THE DEALER DEEMED THE VEHICLE NON-REPAIRABLE AND UN-DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10449916
87,435 miles · Jan 23, 2012
Structure
WE TOOK OUR TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2000 SUV TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE ON A REPAIR. MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT FRAME PERFORATION ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY A FTS AND DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED BY THE DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD TO CALL TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFERRE…
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WE TOOK OUR TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2000 SUV TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE ON A REPAIR. MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT FRAME PERFORATION ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY A FTS AND DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED BY THE DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD TO CALL TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFERRED US BACK TO THE DEALER.WE ESCALATED THE ISSUE TO THE DIVISION SALES MANAGER AND WE TOLD THAT THERE NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TOYOTA NO LONGER MAKES THE FRAME USED IN OUR VEHICLE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND WE FIND IT DISTURBING THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE LIKE THE TACOMA & TUNDRAS OF THE SAME YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10444982
167,200 miles · Jan 13, 2012
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 167,200.
NHTSA ODI #10443698
245,000 miles · Dec 29, 2011
Structure
PASS SIDE REAR FRAME RUSTED THROUGH! *KB
NHTSA ODI #10441577
90,000 miles · Dec 24, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE, GIVES MISLEADING INFORMATION, MAY BE TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE FUEL REMAINING. THIS LEADS TO FREQUENT, UNNECESSARY, GAS STATIONS STOPS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10441163
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2011
StructureSuspension
PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL IS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE INSIDE OF THE RAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10438651
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2011
StructureSuspension
FRAME IS RUSTING. PERFORATION. I WAS HAVING REAR SHOCKS REPLACED AND WHEN MECHANIC PULLED HIMSELF UNDER THE VEHICLE ON HIS ROLLER CART HIS FINGERS WENT THRU THE FRAME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436882
141,230 miles · Oct 17, 2011
Structure
I AM WRITING TO REPORT A DEFECT IN THE FRAME OF MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE FRAME EXHIBITS EXTENSIVE RUSTING. THE FRAME HAS HOLES AND HAS SEPARATED ALONG THE BOTTOM WELD. TOYOTA HAS DECLARED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO OPERATE, YET WILL DO NOTHING TO COMPENSATE FOR OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430431
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2011
Structure
THE FRAME IS RUSTED/CORRODED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE PLACES WHERE IMPORTANT PARTS ARE ATTACHED. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, HOWEVER IT IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430093
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