1997 Toyota 4 RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002506 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE AXLE BROKE.DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002506 at NHTSA ↗
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 10004483 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE SUSPENSION, HOWEVER WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008199 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
SAFETY ISSUE, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR 6 YEARS WITH DEFECTIVE REAR-END SUSPENSIONS PARTS. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS HAVE NOT EFFECTED THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE AND ULTIMATELY CAUSED EXTRA WEAR AND TEAR ON OTHER VEHICLE PARTS. ON TOP OF IT ALL I AM GETTING NO COOPERATION FROM MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OR TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE REQUESTED A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST BE PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT ANY AND ALL PROBLEMS BE FIXED, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FUTURE PROBLEMS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, HOWEV…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008243 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
BOTH OF THE SEALS ON THE REAR AXLE BLEW OUT, SATURATING THE REAR BRAKES WITH DIFFERENTIAL FLUID, RENDERING THEM USELESS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008577 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
NAR 02/13/2003. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO A TURN, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN SWINGING IN AN ANTI-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION PUTTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER NOW OWNS ANOTHER TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND HAS SINCE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CURRENT VEHICLE. THE COSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHICH HAD DAMAGED POSSIBLY DUE TO THE SUSPENSION WHICH IS NOW ON RECALL. RECALL# 02V021000 *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011721 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
NAR 3-11-03. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMERS 4RUNNER SLIPPED OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DAMAGES COST APPROX $2000. SOON AFTER A RECALL WAS RELEASED BY TOYOTA ABOUT A FAULTY SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR MADE AFTER THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FAULTY SUSPENSION THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011721 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.