1999 Toyota 4 RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 98 complaints (17.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 22.4% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 9.2% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 9.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 17 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 |
Tires: 17; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 73 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 4 |
2000: 34; 2001: 13; 2002: 18; 2003: 9; 2004: 14; 2005: 6; 2006: 4
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10000216 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN, BUT MY VEHICLE IS A FEW MONTHS AND MILES OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOY WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. NO ENGINE, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, LOTS OF TRAFFIC....
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001922 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. EACH FAILURE OCCURED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE METALLIC BRAKES MAY BE WORN TOO SMOOTH, BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT PROBLEM. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063109 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPUTTERED AND STALLED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BUT CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SENDING UNIT IN THE FUEL TANK. IT WAS READING FULL WHEN THE TANK WAS EMPTY. *AK THE OLD STYLE SENDING UNIT WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 74,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005490 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS TO THE RIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT. THE ROADS WERE WET FROM AN EARLIER RAIN; THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER, NO POT HOLES, OR OTHER VISIBLE DEFECTS IN THE ROAD. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH. THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL - DOING 2 COMPLETE SPINS ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN INTO THE DITCH ON THE RIGHT; HITTING TREES, FLIPPING, HITTING MORE TREES, AND FINALLY COMING TO A HALT STRADDLING THE DITCH PERPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049524 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUV PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR A FEW HOURS LOCKED WITH WINDOWS CLOSED. ELECTRICAL EVENT OPENED DRIVER WINDOW AND CAUSED SPONTANEOUS FIRE WHICH STARTED INSIDE PANEL OF DRIVER'S DOOR. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050349 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER 4 HOURS THE ELECTRICAL WIRING INSIDE THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE ELECTRIC WINDOW TO ROLL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PUT THE FIR OUT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030247 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING FROM BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON D.C. ON I-95 SPD APPROX 65 MPH. MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD CRASH, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I CAUTIOUSLY MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND COME TO FIND THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD LITERALLY FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE 4RUNNER. EVEN THE TRANSFER CASE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL OF MY MAINTANENCE RECORDS, AND THE TOYTA DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED MY VEHICLE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164245 · 2006-08-02 (August 2, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. THE CONTACT IS UNSURE IF THIS IS THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A CONTINUOUS KNOCKING SOUND, AND A INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION WHEN IT IS ACCELERATING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR.
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125720 · 2005-06-19 (June 19, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHICH I HAD JUST PURCHASED WITH 104,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE ON I-695 WHEN THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND SLOWING DOWN VERY FAST. I BARELY CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. THE GAS GUAGE READ JUST UNDER 1/2 FULL, BUT ACCORDING TO A TSB, THE GUAGE AND SENDER UNIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAD NO WARNING FROM THE CAR TO TELL ME MY GAS TANK WAS FULL. RUNNING OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY IS DANGEROUS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL - WHY THIS ISN'T …
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125720 at NHTSA ↗