NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
220 reports104,000 miles · Feb 24, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL, APPROXIMATELY A 3 MILE DRIVE, HER 1999 4 RUNNER BEGAN JERKING AND THEN THE ENGINE DIED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND DRIVE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING. THIS TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. MY WIFE WENT TO PICK HER UP AND SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AGAIN AN…
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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL, APPROXIMATELY A 3 MILE DRIVE, HER 1999 4 RUNNER BEGAN JERKING AND THEN THE ENGINE DIED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND DRIVE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING. THIS TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. MY WIFE WENT TO PICK HER UP AND SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AGAIN AND DRIVE APPROXIMATELY THE SAME DISTANCE WHEN IT DIED AGAIN, THIS TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND ITS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR STATION WAITING TO BE DIAGNOSED. I'VE HEARD THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING A FUEL PICKUP TUBE/SENSOR PROBLEM BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT. WHY HASN'T TOYOTA HAD A RECALL YET? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218980
80,000 miles · Feb 4, 2008
Fuel System, Other
1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, REPEATED FUEL GAUGE FAILURE: INCORRECTLY STATES AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK (CHANGING DURING THE SAME DRIVING TRIP); REPORTS AN EMPTY TANK WHEN FULL AND AN 1/8 TO A 1/4 TANK FILL WHEN EMPTY; ALL OF WHICH RESULT IN EVENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS RUN OUT OF GAS. MULTIPLE EXPENSIVE ATTEMPTED FIXS BY THE DEALER WITHOUT…
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1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, REPEATED FUEL GAUGE FAILURE: INCORRECTLY STATES AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK (CHANGING DURING THE SAME DRIVING TRIP); REPORTS AN EMPTY TANK WHEN FULL AND AN 1/8 TO A 1/4 TANK FILL WHEN EMPTY; ALL OF WHICH RESULT IN EVENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS RUN OUT OF GAS. MULTIPLE EXPENSIVE ATTEMPTED FIXS BY THE DEALER WITHOUT SUCCESS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10216858
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2008
Suspension
PURCHASED NEW - NOW AT 135K MILES. HAVE REPLACED 1 OR BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS AT LEAST 5 TIMES -- FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS ON MY DIME -- REMAINDER HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED AN AXLE LAST TIME, BUT IN LESS THAN 2K MILES SYMPTOMS RETURNED (LEAKS ON WHEELS, STICKING REAR BRAKES). SURE, IT DOESN'T "COST" ME ANYTHING, EXCEP…
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PURCHASED NEW - NOW AT 135K MILES. HAVE REPLACED 1 OR BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS AT LEAST 5 TIMES -- FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS ON MY DIME -- REMAINDER HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED AN AXLE LAST TIME, BUT IN LESS THAN 2K MILES SYMPTOMS RETURNED (LEAKS ON WHEELS, STICKING REAR BRAKES). SURE, IT DOESN'T "COST" ME ANYTHING, EXCEPT MY TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP 1-2 DAYS EACH TIME! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214446
140,000 miles · Oct 23, 2007
TiresCrashInjury
I BOUGHT THIS TIRE FROM A FIRESTONE COMPANY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-60 EAST COMING FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, STIRRED TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE HIGHWAY SEPARATOR (A CONCRETE ROAD BLOCK). THE FRONT OF MY CAR DIRECTLY WENT CRASH INTO THAT…
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I BOUGHT THIS TIRE FROM A FIRESTONE COMPANY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-60 EAST COMING FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, STIRRED TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE HIGHWAY SEPARATOR (A CONCRETE ROAD BLOCK). THE FRONT OF MY CAR DIRECTLY WENT CRASH INTO THAT CONCRETE BARRIER IN A PERPENDICULAR POSITION, MAKING A FULL FRONTAL CONTACT, THAT RELEASE BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND MY FRONT CAR AREA IS TOTALED. I CAME OUT OF THERE WITH NECK, HEAD, BACK AND CHEST INJURY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10206618
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2007
Fuel System, Other
TOYOTA 99 4RUNNER FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS READS EMPTY, REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF EXPENSIVE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO REPAIR. TOYOTA DEALER QUOTED $1050 TO REPAIR ON 9/24/07. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10204024
135,000 miles · May 25, 2007
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ON MAY 9, 2005, THE VEHICLE'S LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ON MAY 9, 2005, THE VEHICLE'S LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY OF 2004. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 161,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA ODI #10191717
138,000 miles · Apr 24, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, INSTANTLY THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE AND THEN LOUD GRINDING NOISE, THE CAR QUIT AND OIL EVERYWHERE. I HAD THROWN A ROD. NO WARNING AT ALL. SERVICE MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED. NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO BLOW! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10188713
100,000 miles · Feb 10, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline
THIS EMAIL IS REGARDS TO THE INACCURACY OF THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 99 TOYOTA . I WAS LEFT STRANDED LAST NIGHT OUTSIDE OF THUNDER BAY WITH NO FUEL EVEN THOUGH THE GAUGE READ WELL OVER 1/4 TANK LEFT. IN -35 CELSIUS WIND CHILL CONDITIONS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10182198
67,000 miles · Aug 11, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE, DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL ON A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10165249
59,000 miles · Jun 10, 2006
Power Train
HAVE A 1999 4RUNNER WHICH SUFFERED RIGHT REAR AXLE GASKET FAILURE AT 59000 MILES. SAME 4RUNNER SUFFERED LEFT REAR AXLE GASKET FAILURE AT 110000 MILES. HAVE OWNED SEVERAL 4RUNNERS (DIFFERENT YEARS) THAT HAVE NEVER HAD REAR AXLE PROBLEMS. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD SAME PROBLEM. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED AT DEALER AND WERE CONSIDERED…
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HAVE A 1999 4RUNNER WHICH SUFFERED RIGHT REAR AXLE GASKET FAILURE AT 59000 MILES. SAME 4RUNNER SUFFERED LEFT REAR AXLE GASKET FAILURE AT 110000 MILES. HAVE OWNED SEVERAL 4RUNNERS (DIFFERENT YEARS) THAT HAVE NEVER HAD REAR AXLE PROBLEMS. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD SAME PROBLEM. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED AT DEALER AND WERE CONSIDERED SAFETY HAZARDS BECAUSE GREASE WAS LEAKING ONTO REAR BRAKE PADS. WOULD ADVISE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR TO HAVE REAR AXLE SEALS EXAMINED BY DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE POSTED REAR AXLE SEAL FAILURES ON WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10159507
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