NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
139 reports151,000 miles · Apr 28, 2015
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V021000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR DUE TO A RUSTED CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,00…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V021000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR DUE TO A RUSTED CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10713292
165,000 miles · Mar 30, 2015
Suspension
MY SON JARRED WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, HE WAS ALSO LOSING CONTROL OF HIS STEERING, HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. WHEN I DID AN ACTUAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE FRAME I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED OFF THE FRAME BO…
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MY SON JARRED WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, HE WAS ALSO LOSING CONTROL OF HIS STEERING, HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. WHEN I DID AN ACTUAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE FRAME I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED OFF THE FRAME BODY, THUS THE REASON THAT MY SON ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AND FRAME ROTTING OUT. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIAS NOT THE 4-RUNNERS. I'M HOPING THAT TOYOTA DOES THE RIGHT THING AND RECALLS THE 4-RUNNERS. I HAVE PIC'S IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702731
170,000 miles · Mar 16, 2015
StructureSuspension
THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THREW IN MULTIPLE PARTS OF THE FRAME. SOMEONE HAS ALREADY TRIED WELDING SOME PLATING TO KEEP REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OF THE LOWER FOUR LINK ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10694661
121,000 miles · Mar 9, 2015
Structure
CARS REAL END STARTED TO SWAY WHEN DRIVING, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH, THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL ISSUED,NOTHING THEY COULD DO!!!!. THIS TOYOTA ONLY HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT!! IT SHOULD BE GOING FOR ANOTHER 100,000, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE BUY TOYOTAS!!…
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CARS REAL END STARTED TO SWAY WHEN DRIVING, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH, THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL ISSUED,NOTHING THEY COULD DO!!!!. THIS TOYOTA ONLY HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT!! IT SHOULD BE GOING FOR ANOTHER 100,000, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE BUY TOYOTAS!! MY SON BOUGHT THIS CAR 3 YEARS AGO, TOOK ALL HIS MONEY NOW HE HAS NO CAR TO DRIVE OR MONEY TO BUY A NEW ONE. TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. SINCE THIS HAPPENED I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. THEY RECALLED THE TACOMA FOR THE SAME REASON.. SAME YEARS. NEED A RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10693156
220,000 miles · Mar 4, 2015
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
NHTSA ODI #10692108
131,600 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Power TrainSteeringSuspension
VEHICLE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTING OUT AROUND THE REAR SUSPENSION. TRAILING ARM MOUNT FROM AXLE TO FRAME IS SEPARATED FROM FRAME AND VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10678924
158,400 miles · Jan 12, 2015
Unknown Or OtherCrash
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THE DRIVER TOOK OFF. HAVING INSURANCE COVERAGE ON MY 1997, I TOOK IT TO 2 GARAGES FOR REPAIR. THE FRAME WAS BENT AT THE BACK WHEEL, BOTH GARAGES SAID THERE IS NO WAY THIS CAR CAN BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE RUSTED AND ALMOST NON EXISTENT FRAME. IF THE BODY SHOP WERE TO CUT OF…
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WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THE DRIVER TOOK OFF. HAVING INSURANCE COVERAGE ON MY 1997, I TOOK IT TO 2 GARAGES FOR REPAIR. THE FRAME WAS BENT AT THE BACK WHEEL, BOTH GARAGES SAID THERE IS NO WAY THIS CAR CAN BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE RUSTED AND ALMOST NON EXISTENT FRAME. IF THE BODY SHOP WERE TO CUT OFF THE BENT PART OF THE FRAME, THE REMAINDER OF THE FRAME IS SO BAD, THERE IS NOTHING TO WELD THE NEW PART TO. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MINE SINCE 1998, GARAGE KEPT, NO BODY RUST, EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT I CAN NO LONGER GET IT INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THE TOTALLY RUSTED OUT FRAME. OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE FRAME PATCHED AND WELDED JUST TO PASS INSPECTION, I LOST MY GAS TANK ONE DAY, RUSTED BRACKET BROKE, NOW DUE TO THE POOR CONDITION OF THE FRAME, WHEN HIT FROM BEHIND, IT JUST CRUMBLED. INSPECTION IS DUE IN FEBRUARY 2015 AND NO ONE WILL INSPECT IT AND NO ONE WILL FIX IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO FRAME LEFT. HOW CAN THIS BE UNLESS THE FRAMES ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10671914
188,705 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Suspension
LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT ROTTED/SEPARATED FROM FRAME. CONTROL ARM MOUNT IS WELDED TO FRAME FROM FACTORY. MOUNT IS SERVICED WITH FRAME. VEHICLE FRAME HAS OTHER ROTTED AREAS. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FRAME RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10671210
131,000 miles · Nov 21, 2014
Structure
THE FRAME HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT, REAR TRAILING ARM. MY SHOP TELLS ME THE FRAME IS TOO RUSTED TO REPAIR IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10659923
180,000 miles · Oct 2, 2014
Suspension
THE BODY ON THE 4RUNNER IS CLEAN WITH VERY LITTLE RUST. THE FRAME HOWEVER IS RUSTING BADLY AND THE MOUNTS FOR THE REAR CONTROL ARMS ARE ALMOST RUSTED OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640920
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