IllustrationISSUE IS WITH THE VEHICLE FRAME. VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS INSPECTION DUE TO UNSAFE RUSTING (DEFECTIVE) OF THE VEHICLE FRAME. 4 RUNNER FRAME SHOWING RUST PATTERNS COMPARABLE TO TACOMA AND TUNDRA, BUT 4 RUNNER WAS NEVER RECALLED LIKE OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS. *TR
1999 Toyota 4RUNNER
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4RUNNER 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
00–25K
225–50K
750–75K
1475–100K
46100–150K
111150K+
180 reports with mileage · 40 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 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 17 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 reports6 injury reports
Structure complaints
111 reportsTHE FRAME ON MY 4RUNNER SHOWS EXCESSIVE RUST ESPECIALLY AT THE WELDED JOINTS AND WHERE THE SUSPENSION ATTACHES. THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS CONSIDERING THE BODY LOOKS GREAT AND THE FRAME ISN'T. *KB
FRAME CORROSION! ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND IT'S ALREADY 'PANDORA'S BOX", HELP US OUT LIKE YOU HELPED ALL THE CUSTOMERS WITH RUSTED OUT TOYOTA PICKUPS PLEASE! I'M GETTING KILLED, GOING TO BE HOMELESS BY THE END OF THIS REPAIR! *TR
I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, WITH AN IMMACULATE BODY, HOWEVER THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED OUT SO BADLY THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE RAIL IN SOME PLACES. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND A FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOST SEVERE LOCATION OF THE ROT IN JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRIN…
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I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, WITH AN IMMACULATE BODY, HOWEVER THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED OUT SO BADLY THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE RAIL IN SOME PLACES. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND A FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOST SEVERE LOCATION OF THE ROT IN JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. TOOK IT FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A WELDER TO SEE IF IT CAN EVEN BE REPAIRED. THINKING OF FILING A CLAIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NY STATE. THE THING IS IT PASSED INSPECTION AT THE SMALL CAR BUSINESS I BOUGHT IT FROM( D AND D AUTOSALES IN BINGHAMTON NY-DON'T GO THERE!!!!!!) AND THERE IS NO WAY IT ROTTED LIKE THIS IN LESS THAN A YR SO I'M THINKING THEY PASSED IT JUST TO GET THE SALE. HAVEN'T CONTACTED TOYOTA BUT THEY MOST LIKELY WONT DO A THING FOR ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS RUST AND HOLES THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
FULL BLOWN FRAME RUST MECHANIC STATES IS 100% INVASIVE AFFECTING STEERING, ALIGNMENT, BRAKING, AND CHECKING OF DIFFERENTIAL AND REAR-END FLUIDS DUE TO SEIZED COMPONENTS. FRAME IS TOTALLY COMPROMISED, NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND RECTIFIED. *TR
TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST. THE 4RUNNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS STORIES DOCUMENTED WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES. MY TRUCK HAS HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU AND TOYOTA HAVE BEEN PU…
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TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST. THE 4RUNNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS STORIES DOCUMENTED WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES. MY TRUCK HAS HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU AND TOYOTA HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR *KB
FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH (COMPLETELY PERFORATED). RUST HOLE IS OVER 6 INCHES LONG AND 2 INCHES HIGH. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR
DURING THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION, THE MECHANICS AT DEALER FOUND A RUST THROUGH HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL. THE HOLE MAY AND/OR WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BODY ACCORDING THE MECHANICS. THERE ARE ALSO CONSIDERABLE RUSTING ACROSS THE FRAME OF THE BODY, INCLUDING REAR BUMPER (REPLACED 4 YEARS AGO), …
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DURING THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION, THE MECHANICS AT DEALER FOUND A RUST THROUGH HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL. THE HOLE MAY AND/OR WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BODY ACCORDING THE MECHANICS. THERE ARE ALSO CONSIDERABLE RUSTING ACROSS THE FRAME OF THE BODY, INCLUDING REAR BUMPER (REPLACED 4 YEARS AGO), FRONT BUMPER, SWAY BAR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM (STAINLESS STEAL EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER ARE REPLACED). ALL THE RUST RELATED REPAIR COST OVER THE YEARS IS ABOUT $5,000. WHAT CONCERNED ME THE MOST IS THAT HOW LONG I CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR WITH RUSTING PROBLEM GETTING WORSE?
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.