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
175,000 miles · May 30, 2018
Power TrainStructure
MY 2000 4RUNNER IS RUSTING OUT NEXT TO THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. I TAKE IT FOR REGULAR WASHES--AND THIS STILL HAPPENED. I PURCHASED MY 2000 4RUNNER BRAND NEW WITH AN ADDITIONAL UNDERCOATING PROTECTION--BUT YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT THE RUST DAMAGE. THIS IS THE TELLTALE SP…
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MY 2000 4RUNNER IS RUSTING OUT NEXT TO THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. I TAKE IT FOR REGULAR WASHES--AND THIS STILL HAPPENED. I PURCHASED MY 2000 4RUNNER BRAND NEW WITH AN ADDITIONAL UNDERCOATING PROTECTION--BUT YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT THE RUST DAMAGE. THIS IS THE TELLTALE SPOT, IT SEEMS, FOR 4RUNNERS RUSTING OUT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TOYOTA!!
NHTSA ODI #11098854
289,900 miles · May 1, 2018
Structure
PROGRESSIVE SEVERE REAR FRAME CORROSION LEADING TO STRUCTURAL FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #11091144
35,000 miles · Apr 23, 2018
Structure
MY FRAME ROTTED FROM RUST
NHTSA ODI #11089721
265,000 miles · Apr 19, 2018
Unknown Or Other
THE FRAME ON MY 2000 4 RUNNER IS RUSTED THROUGH. I BROUGHT IT TO GET WORK DONE IT BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE WOULDN'T PUT IT ON THE LIFT BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SO ROTTEN.
NHTSA ODI #11088987
266,000 miles · Apr 1, 2018
Unknown Or Other
TOYATA SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTING SEVERE RUSTING OF THE FRAME ON THE 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, RENDERING VEHICLE UNSAFE.
NHTSA ODI #11082384
63,000 miles · Jan 11, 2018
Power TrainSteeringStructureCrash
DRIVING IN MILD WINTER CONDITION (LIGHT WET SLUSH) ON A MAINTAINED HIGHWAY MY 4RUNNER BEGAN TO FISH TALE. WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CORRECT THE FISH TALE NO CONTROL INPUT FROM THE DRIVE WOULD CORRECT THE SLIDING MOTION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE TOWARD THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD THE VEHICLE BE…
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DRIVING IN MILD WINTER CONDITION (LIGHT WET SLUSH) ON A MAINTAINED HIGHWAY MY 4RUNNER BEGAN TO FISH TALE. WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CORRECT THE FISH TALE NO CONTROL INPUT FROM THE DRIVE WOULD CORRECT THE SLIDING MOTION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE TOWARD THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW TO ALMOST A STOP, HOWEVER, THE REAR END WAS FAR ENOUGH OFF THE SHOULDER THAT IT BEGAN TO BE PULLED BY GRAVITY DOWN HILL. WHILE IT SLID DOWN HILL THE REAR WHEEL HIT A ROCK CAUSING THE AXLE TO SNAP NEAR THE CONTACT POINT OF THE WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL ONE AND A HALF TIMES ENDANGERING FOUR LIVES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER NONE WERE INJURED. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED AND NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN.
NHTSA ODI #11062119
164,000 miles · Dec 29, 2017
Structure
FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS CORRODED AND I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS PICKING UP SPEED, I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING.
NHTSA ODI #11057261
166,000 miles · Dec 20, 2017
StructureSuspension
JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER FROM A DEALER. BEGAN SWAYING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PRODUCING A FAINT CLICKING SOUND. THE SWAYING WAS NOTICEABLY PREVALENT WHEN ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR, DRIVING OVER SMALL TERRAIN FEATURES (RAILROAD TRACKS, ROAD SEAMS ETC.) SWITCHING LANES AND COMING TO COMPLETE STOPS. UPON INSPECT…
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JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER FROM A DEALER. BEGAN SWAYING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PRODUCING A FAINT CLICKING SOUND. THE SWAYING WAS NOTICEABLY PREVALENT WHEN ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR, DRIVING OVER SMALL TERRAIN FEATURES (RAILROAD TRACKS, ROAD SEAMS ETC.) SWITCHING LANES AND COMING TO COMPLETE STOPS. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN FRAME. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS FATALITIES. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IT APPEARS THAT 17 YEARS WAS THE MAGIC NUMBER.
NHTSA ODI #11055684
145,000 miles · Dec 15, 2017
Structure
THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL SPOTS.
NHTSA ODI #11054907
144,100 miles · Nov 20, 2017
Structure
SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THE FRAME AFFECTING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE
NHTSA ODI #11047619
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
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