1997 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 139 complaints (41.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 7.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10178637 · 2007-01-13 (January 13, 2007)
ON DECEMBER 27, I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION ON MY 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAD BEEN RECALLED. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ROSEVILLE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR THE "ONE HOUR SERVICE" TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER TAKING FRIDAY, JANURAY 5 OFF WORK, I MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE REPAIRS. I CHECKED IN AND WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS WOULD TAKE CLOSER TO 4 HOURS TO COMPLETE. UPON REGISTERING MY CAR FOR SERVICE, THE DEALERSHIP REALIZED THEY DID NOT HAVE PROPER PARTS IN ST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180747 · 2007-01-25 (January 25, 2007)
I HAVE BEEN SENT MANY NOTICES FROM TOYOTA INDICATING A RECALL ON MY 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE RECALL SINCE IT INVOLVED REMOVING AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT IN THE AREA OF THE DEFECT. I WROTE TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEY REPLIED BY PHONE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE EQUIPMENT FIRST. I CONTINUE TO GET THESE RECALL NOTICES AND AM FINALLY COMPLAINING TO THE NHTSA TO ASSIST IN CONVINCING TOYOTA THAT IT IS THEIR LIABILITY, NOT MINE. THE AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT IN QUESTION IS JUST TWO SMALL AIRBAGS INSERTED …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180777 · 2007-01-26 (January 26, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 02V021000 FOR THE SUSPENSION ON THE 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR 1/26/07. THE CUSTOMER STATED WHEN HE ARRIVED HE WAS TOLD THE PART HAD NOT ARRIVED. THE CUSTOMER WAS UPSET THAT HE WAS NOT CALLED AND TOLD THE PART HAD NOT ARRIVED BEFORE HE GOT THERE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 171,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185297 · 2007-03-16 (March 16, 2007)
TL*-THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER ON 01/05/07. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEY COULDN'T PUT HIM ON A WAIT LIST UNTIL THE PART CAME IN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS GIVEN A CASE# 200703090575 BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GIVE HIM A TIME WHEN WILL RECEIVE THE PART. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WILL GET HIM THE PARTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE ,AND THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10185297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185331 · 2007-03-16 (March 16, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL #02V021000. FOR TWO MONTHS THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO HONOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED, AND WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 119,000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186974 · 2007-04-04 (April 4, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 02V021000 FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION IN DECEMBER 2006. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND HAD NO ESTIMATE AS TO WHEN THEY WILL ARRIVE. ON MARCH 29, 2007, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE NOTIFIED AND SHOULD HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN REFERENCE # 200704020883. THE CLOSEST DEALER WAS 70 MILES FROM THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACTWAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED AND THE HEIGHTENED RISK OF BEING I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10186974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194171 · 2007-06-25 (June 25, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT (LT255/85R16) TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE HAS NOT YET BEEN EXAMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 185,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 185,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194171 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V021000 · Suspension
Reported: 2002-01-18 (January 18, 2002)
ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER 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 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗