IllustrationRECALL 02V021000/ REAR SUSPENSION. PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK
1997 Toyota 4 Runner
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4 Runner 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
Limited mileage data: 21 of 122 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Suspension. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports
Suspension complaints
30 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRUCK HAS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB THE RIGHT REAR SEAT WILL NOT FOLD. THE BRACKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE SEAT IS STILL HALF WAY FOLDED. ALSO THE DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND DOES NOT GO OFF AND THE LOCKS WILL NOT L…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRUCK HAS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB THE RIGHT REAR SEAT WILL NOT FOLD. THE BRACKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE SEAT IS STILL HALF WAY FOLDED. ALSO THE DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND DOES NOT GO OFF AND THE LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. THEY WERE INSPECTED AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR IS FALLING. THE BRAKES NEEDED REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE FRONT ROTORS HAD EXCESSIVE ROUT OUT. *JG
WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER RAN OVER A SMALL OBJECT ON ROAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
MFR'S# SSC & NHTSA# 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: CONSUMER STATES DEALER (ANDY DODGE TOYOTA; SAINT ALBANS, VT; PHONE# 802/527-7512) WANTS TO CHARGE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR RECALL WITHOUT CHARGE. NLM IN ORDER FOR RECALL REPAIRS TO TAKE PLACE, THE DEALER HAS TO TAKE APART TH…
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MFR'S# SSC & NHTSA# 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: CONSUMER STATES DEALER (ANDY DODGE TOYOTA; SAINT ALBANS, VT; PHONE# 802/527-7512) WANTS TO CHARGE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR RECALL WITHOUT CHARGE. NLM IN ORDER FOR RECALL REPAIRS TO TAKE PLACE, THE DEALER HAS TO TAKE APART THE SWAY BARS. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLES SWAY BARS ARE RUSTED AND FROZEN AND THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO CUT THEM OFF. SINCE THE SWAY BARS AREN'T A PART OF THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER IS EXPECTED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. *JG
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE SNOW, VEHICLE LOST DIRECTIONAL STABILITY AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING A ROLL OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER HAS JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR REAR SUSPENSION.*AK. THERE WERE 2 INJURIES.*JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE GREASE LEAKS ON TO THE BRAKE PAD CAUSING BRAKE TO MALFUNCTION. NLM
THE VEHICLE HAS SPUN OUT ON THREE OCCASIONS. NLM
FRONT STRUTS FAILED.
VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATES AFTER MULTIPLE TIRE AND WHEEL REPLACEMENTS.
REAR SUSPENSION DROPS WHEN REAR OF VEHICLE IS OCCUPIED..
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.