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1997 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

118 reports with mileage · 21 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 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

2 reports
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145,000 miles · Dec 7, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension

I OWN A 1997 4RUNNER. DURING MY DRIVING THE VEHICLE FEW WEEKS AGO, THE CHASSIS LOCATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPLIT APART AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WITH MY FAMILY. THIS FAILURE, HOWEVER, IS PURELY AN ENGINEERING DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING FAILURES.HENCE, THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UN-DRIVABLE. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOT…

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I OWN A 1997 4RUNNER. DURING MY DRIVING THE VEHICLE FEW WEEKS AGO, THE CHASSIS LOCATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPLIT APART AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WITH MY FAMILY. THIS FAILURE, HOWEVER, IS PURELY AN ENGINEERING DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING FAILURES.HENCE, THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UN-DRIVABLE. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND ITS DEALERSHIPS, THEY SAID TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WILL COST ME $8,100.00. HENCE, I FEEL THAT, IN COMPARISON TO OTHER VEHICLES FROM DIFFERENT BRAND OF CARS COMPANIES, THEREWITH, WHEREBY, THEY ARE STILL ON SOME PART OF THE WORLD, ARE STILL DRIVABLE AND USEFUL. HOWEVER, FOR THE KIND OF MONEY SPENT ON THE PURCHASE, THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE IS THAT OLD THEY ARE LIABLE FOR A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487677

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT (60 MPH), THE VEHICLE SURGED/JOLTED FORWARD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE CAUSING ME TO MERGE INTO THE DIRECTION OF A TRACTOR TRAILER. I TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM TRACTOR TRAILER TO AVOID COLLISION. MY VEHICLE HIT THE REAR TIRE OF THE TRACTOR TRAI…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT (60 MPH), THE VEHICLE SURGED/JOLTED FORWARD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE CAUSING ME TO MERGE INTO THE DIRECTION OF A TRACTOR TRAILER. I TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM TRACTOR TRAILER TO AVOID COLLISION. MY VEHICLE HIT THE REAR TIRE OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER AND I BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL. MY BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP EITHER, THEY DIDN'T FUNCTION. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER 3+ TIMES, THE CAR WAS TOTALED. ALL PASSENGERS WERE HOSPITALIZED BUT NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE WERE HURT FROM THE ACCIDENT. MY CONCERN IS REGARDING THE PERIODIC ENGINE SURGE AND/OR JOLTING AND LACK OF BRAKE CONTROL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER TO AVOID FUTURE INCIDENTS. WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED IN THIS AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276395

Official recalls

1

02V021000 · Suspension

Jan 18, 2002

ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING (SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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.