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U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

139 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

175,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 118 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 139 complaints (41.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior117.9%
Fuel system concerns64.3%
Steering behavior53.6%
Transmission and shifting42.9%

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.

Suspension
57
Structure:Body
41
Unknown Or Other
17
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
16
Structure:Frame And Members
10
Steering
9
Vehicle Speed Control
7
Power Train
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension57
Structure:Body41
Unknown Or Other17
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields16
Structure:Frame And Members10
Steering9
Vehicle Speed Control7
Power Train6

Suspension: 57; Structure:Body: 41; Unknown Or Other: 17; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 16; Structure:Frame And Members: 10; Steering: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Power Train: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
25
150,000 and above
87
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,99925
150,000 and above87

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 87

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 21 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.

2006
1
2007
8
2008
4
2009
5
2010
18
2011
10
2012
10
2013
9
2014
16
2015
16
2016
11
2017
8
2018
13
2019
5
2020
4
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20061
20078
20084
20095
201018
201110
201210
20139
201416
201516
201611
20178
201813
20195
20204
20231

2006: 1; 2007: 8; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 18; 2011: 10; 2012: 10; 2013: 9; 2014: 16; 2015: 16; 2016: 11; 2017: 8; 2018: 13; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10276395 · 2009-07-11 (July 11, 2009)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT (60 MPH), THE VEHICLE SURGED/JOLTED FORWARD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE CAUSING ME TO MERGE INTO THE DIRECTION OF A TRACTOR TRAILER. I TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM TRACTOR TRAILER TO AVOID COLLISION. MY VEHICLE HIT THE REAR TIRE OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER AND I BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL. MY BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP EITHER, THEY DIDN'T FUNCTION. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER 3+ TIMES, THE CAR WAS TOTALED. ALL PASSENGERS WERE HOSPITALIZED BUT NO OTHE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10276395 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10315643 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)

1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE, BUMP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315643 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10397678 · 2011-04-19 (April 19, 2011)

I AM REPORTING A FRAME DEFECT ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND WHILE ON MY WAY HOME, ON THE DATE STATED, I HIT A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, AND, IMMEDIATELY STARTED HEARING A NOISE AT THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND UPON INSPECTION, THE DIAGNOSIS, WAS THAT THE FRAME HAD BROKEN, AND WAS RUBBING ON MY GAS TANK, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS,SIMILAR TO MINE, YET, THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO S…

Owner-reported narrative. 141,395 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397678 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10495207 · 2013-01-30 (January 30, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, STOPPING POWER DECREASED AND THE ABS ERRONEOUSLY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR UNDER BODY FRAME HAD FRACTURED IN HALF DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 159,000..... UPDATED 03/08/13 *…

Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495207 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10173792 · 2006-11-18 (November 18, 2006)

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 97 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 4WD THAT APPEARED TO HAVE A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER- INCIDENT: 061011-000352. OUR VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 133,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON BACK STREETS AT LESS THAN 30 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DISLODGED AND TUCKED UP UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. ONLY THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS ATTACHED. THESE JOINTS ARE A NON SERVICEABLE PART AND THERE ARE NO WARNINGS OF POSSIBLE FAILURE OR PREVENTATIVE …

Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173792 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10498196 · 2013-02-14 (February 14, 2013)

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SWAYING AND THEN RECENTLY THE STEERING GOT BAD SO I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 212,831 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498196 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10235364 · 2008-07-22 (July 22, 2008)

THIS LETTER IS TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC OF A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITH OUR TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THIS VEHICLE IS A VERY GOOD VEHICLE OVER ALL AND HAS GIVEN US BARELY NO TROUBLE WHAT SO EVER, WE TAKE GREAT CARE OF THE CAR AND WERE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE WHEN WE WERE ALMOST SET ON FIRE WHILE PREPARING TO RIDE OFF . WE WERE AT A MOTOR CYCLE SHOP LOOKING AT 4 WHEELERS AND DIRTBIKES WITH OUR CHILDREN AND NEPHEW,AS WE WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE THE CAR WAS ON, AND MY ASTHMATIC SON BEGAN TO GASP, MY WIFE BEGAN TO COUGH AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER SEAT W…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235364 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10316303 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN UP TO 100 MPH. HE BEGAN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL GEAR TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT AN AFTER MARKET ALARM BOX WAS TUCKED BEHIND THE PEDAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BOX MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. ANOTHER DEALER TOLD HER THAT A CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COM…

Owner-reported narrative. 107,038 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316303 at NHTSA ↗