1997 Toyota 4 RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
79 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 79 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 24.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 11 |
| Suspension:Rear | 11 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Suspension: 11; Suspension:Rear: 11; Tires: 8; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Air Bags: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 58 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 1; 2000: 13; 2001: 9; 2002: 20; 2003: 16; 2004: 13; 2005: 6; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003284 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
THE GAS PEDAL ON MY WIFE'S 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD STUCK, AND ALMOST CAUSED HER TO CRASH. SHE WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 40MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL, INSTEAD IT SPED UP AFTER LETTING OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. SHE TRIED THE BRAKES, THEY GRABBED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. SHE THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AGAIN, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. FINALLY SHE PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE UNTIL SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL LIKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 96,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004363 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WITH NO WARNING THE DISC BRAKES HAND LOCKED UP ON THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089387 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. WHEN VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FLOOR MANAGER WON'T HONOR THE RECALL ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL DRIVE AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE 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 2-WHEEL DRIVE TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. *AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA 13 TIMES BUT THEY FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121306 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE LOOP AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. AT THE TOP OF THE LOOP, AS I STRAIGHTENED THE WHEEL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. THE ROCKING TURNED INTO FISHTAILING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FORCEFULLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HIT A GUARDRAIL, ENDING UP FACING ONCOMING FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I WAS 4 MONTHS PREGNANT AND TRAVELLING WITH MY 10 MONTH OLD SON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO SAFETY IN THE MED…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 857430 · 2000-02-23 (February 23, 2000)
WHILE PULLING VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING GEAR INTO PARK, VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. RAN INTO NEXT PARKED VEHICLE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 857430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018500 · 2003-05-10 (May 10, 2003)
ENGINE STOP RUNNING, BECAUSE OF SLUG BUILD UP IN 4 RUNNER ENGINE 1997. OTHER CARS IN THE TOYOTA LINE HAVE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE FIXING THE ENGINE FOR FREE, BUT NOT THE 4 RUNNER. THEY HAVE 3 MODELS THAT ARE DOING THE SAME THING, THE ENGINE ARE SLUGGING UP AND CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY SAID THIS MODEL DOES NOT FALL IN THAT LINE, AND WILL COST ME $9,000 TO FIX, BUT FIRST THEY QUOTE ME $5000. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES OR SO, NOT ALL BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND DID NOT SAY ANYTHING TO ME UNTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 873209 · 2000-10-17 (October 17, 2000)
WHENEVER VEHICLE HAS SAT A LONG TIME WOULD FAIL TO START UP. IGNITION WOULD LOCK UP. THE BATTERY IS FINE. BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER AT LEAST 20 TIMES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER NO PROBLEM WITH IGNITION OR STARTER. WAS INFORMED WHAT TO DO BUT SOLUTION DO NOT WORK . *AK THE CAUSE FOR THE VEHICLE FAILING TO START UP IS INDICATED TO BE DUE TO THE BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873209 at NHTSA ↗