NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
220 reports100,000 miles · Jan 16, 2009
SteeringCrash
-STARTED THE VEHICLE. -MOVED FORWARD A FEW FEET -STARTED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT, NOTICED STEERING WAS HEAVIER THAN NORMAL AS WELL AS UNUSUAL NOISE -CAR JERKED AND SHOT LEFT... TRIED TO STEER TO AVOID HITTING OBSTACLES BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAVINESS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DUE TO THIS INCIDENT THE VEH…
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-STARTED THE VEHICLE. -MOVED FORWARD A FEW FEET -STARTED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT, NOTICED STEERING WAS HEAVIER THAN NORMAL AS WELL AS UNUSUAL NOISE -CAR JERKED AND SHOT LEFT... TRIED TO STEER TO AVOID HITTING OBSTACLES BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAVINESS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DUE TO THIS INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS -MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY NOTICE UNUSUAL SEPARATION OF THE RACK AND PINION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255373
170,000 miles · Oct 15, 2008
Fuel System, Other
RAN OUT OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WE NEARLY GOT REAR ENDED! FUEL GAUGE SHOWED PLENTY OF GASOLINE. FUEL GAUGING SYSTEM FAILED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10245523
143,000 miles · Aug 21, 2008
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE BOX FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME. WATER SEEPS IN THROUGH THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THEY INFORMED HER OF THE FAILURE. T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE BOX FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME. WATER SEEPS IN THROUGH THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THEY INFORMED HER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000. UPDATED 09/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/29/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10239136
132,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
#1 STARTER STUCK TWICE-EVEN REMOVED KEY AND ENGINE KEPT CRANKING. #2 FUEL GUAGE REAES FULL WHEN EMPTY AND VISE VERSA. #3 P0171 ENGINE CODE KEEPS THROWING #4 BRAKES FADE WHEN APPLIED HARD. HAVE REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS AND STILL FADE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238740
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2008
Power Train
THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IN 4 YEARS THAT MY 4RUNNER HAS HAD A LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT, SO THIS PROBLEM ARISES ABOUT EVERY 11- 15K MILES. EACH TIME THE SEALS AND BREAKS HAVE TO BE CHANGED. THE AXLE SHAFT WAS REPLACED LAST TIME, BUT I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE TONS OF PE…
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THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IN 4 YEARS THAT MY 4RUNNER HAS HAD A LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT, SO THIS PROBLEM ARISES ABOUT EVERY 11- 15K MILES. EACH TIME THE SEALS AND BREAKS HAVE TO BE CHANGED. THE AXLE SHAFT WAS REPLACED LAST TIME, BUT I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS VERY EXPENSIVE RECURRING PROBLEM AND ITS RIDICULOUS THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT DON'T DO ANYTHING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237940
Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2008
Structure
BODY IS RUSTING SEVERELY. REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. BUMPERS HAVE DISINTEGRATED. FRAME RUSTED AWAY FROM BODY AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231279
83,000 miles · May 26, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
MY GAS GAUGE HAS FAILED LIKE MANY OTHERS I HAVE READ ABOUT ON THE INTERNET. SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH HAS CAUSED MANY WRECKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228930
135,000 miles · May 21, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE 99 4 RUNNER AND AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY VEHICLES ENGINE DIED, I HAD TO CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC WITHOUT POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF AROUND $1000 DOLLARS, IF U LOOK ON THE INTERNET THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE,I THINK THER…
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I HAVE 99 4 RUNNER AND AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY VEHICLES ENGINE DIED, I HAD TO CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC WITHOUT POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF AROUND $1000 DOLLARS, IF U LOOK ON THE INTERNET THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE,I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL CONCERNING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE TO CAUSE A COLLISION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THANKS *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228580
106,000 miles · May 18, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL GAUGE, IT IS EXTREMELY INACCURATE. SOMETIMES IT'LL TELL ME I HAVE MORE GAS THAN I DO, AND OTHER TIMES IT'LL TELL ME I HAVE LESS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AMONG 99 4RUNNERS, AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS FIXED. I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY THINKING I HAD HALF A TANK LEFT AND ALMOST C…
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I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL GAUGE, IT IS EXTREMELY INACCURATE. SOMETIMES IT'LL TELL ME I HAVE MORE GAS THAN I DO, AND OTHER TIMES IT'LL TELL ME I HAVE LESS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AMONG 99 4RUNNERS, AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS FIXED. I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY THINKING I HAD HALF A TANK LEFT AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228098
230,000 miles · May 12, 2008
Seat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS AN 18 INCH STRIP OF FABRIC UNRAVELING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. THE MORE HE USES IT, THE FASTER IT COMES APART. THE FABRIC IS HOLDING ON BY A THREAD. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS SO MANY MILES, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS AN 18 INCH STRIP OF FABRIC UNRAVELING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. THE MORE HE USES IT, THE FASTER IT COMES APART. THE FABRIC IS HOLDING ON BY A THREAD. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS SO MANY MILES, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 269,978 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
NHTSA ODI #10227456
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