1999 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
220 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
167,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 178 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 73 of 220 complaints (33.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 10.9% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 73 |
| Suspension | 56 |
| Unknown Or Other | 34 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 22 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 16 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
Structure:Body: 73; Suspension: 56; Unknown Or Other: 34; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 22; Structure:Frame And Members: 16; Steering: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 13; Power Train: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 46 |
| 150,000 and above | 109 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 46; 150,000 and above: 109
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (109). 42 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 | 2 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 12; 2009: 10; 2010: 15; 2011: 14; 2012: 18; 2013: 17; 2014: 24; 2015: 22; 2016: 23; 2017: 17; 2018: 11; 2019: 11; 2020: 11; 2021: 6; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 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 10159507 · 2006-06-10 (June 10, 2006)
HAVE A 1999 4RUNNER WHICH SUFFERED RIGHT REAR AXLE GASKET FAILURE AT 59000 MILES. SAME 4RUNNER SUFFERED LEFT REAR AXLE GASKET FAILURE AT 110000 MILES. HAVE OWNED SEVERAL 4RUNNERS (DIFFERENT YEARS) THAT HAVE NEVER HAD REAR AXLE PROBLEMS. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD SAME PROBLEM. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED AT DEALER AND WERE CONSIDERED SAFETY HAZARDS BECAUSE GREASE WAS LEAKING ONTO REAR BRAKE PADS. WOULD ADVISE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR TO HAVE REAR AXLE SEALS EXAMINED BY DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE POSTED REAR AXLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165249 · 2006-08-11 (August 11, 2006)
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE, DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL ON A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182198 · 2007-02-10 (February 10, 2007)
THIS EMAIL IS REGARDS TO THE INACCURACY OF THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 99 TOYOTA . I WAS LEFT STRANDED LAST NIGHT OUTSIDE OF THUNDER BAY WITH NO FUEL EVEN THOUGH THE GAUGE READ WELL OVER 1/4 TANK LEFT. IN -35 CELSIUS WIND CHILL CONDITIONS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188713 · 2007-04-24 (April 24, 2007)
I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, INSTANTLY THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE AND THEN LOUD GRINDING NOISE, THE CAR QUIT AND OIL EVERYWHERE. I HAD THROWN A ROD. NO WARNING AT ALL. SERVICE MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED. NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO BLOW! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191717 · 2007-05-25 (May 25, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ON MAY 9, 2005, THE VEHICLE'S LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY OF 2004. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 161,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204024 · 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)
TOYOTA 99 4RUNNER FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS READS EMPTY, REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF EXPENSIVE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO REPAIR. TOYOTA DEALER QUOTED $1050 TO REPAIR ON 9/24/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10204024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206618 · 2007-10-23 (October 23, 2007)
I BOUGHT THIS TIRE FROM A FIRESTONE COMPANY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-60 EAST COMING FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, STIRRED TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE HIGHWAY SEPARATOR (A CONCRETE ROAD BLOCK). THE FRONT OF MY CAR DIRECTLY WENT CRASH INTO THAT CONCRETE BARRIER IN A PERPENDICULAR POSITION, MAKING A FULL FRONTAL CONTACT, THAT RELEASE BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND MY FRONT CAR AREA IS TOTALED. I CAME OUT OF THERE WITH NECK, HEAD, BACK AND CHEST …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214446 · 2008-01-10 (January 10, 2008)
PURCHASED NEW - NOW AT 135K MILES. HAVE REPLACED 1 OR BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS AT LEAST 5 TIMES -- FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS ON MY DIME -- REMAINDER HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED AN AXLE LAST TIME, BUT IN LESS THAN 2K MILES SYMPTOMS RETURNED (LEAKS ON WHEELS, STICKING REAR BRAKES). SURE, IT DOESN'T "COST" ME ANYTHING, EXCEPT MY TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP 1-2 DAYS EACH TIME! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10214446 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.