10 of the
200 complaints about the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER are about the
steering — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
170,000 miles.
THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE FRONT OF THE TRAILING ARM SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE DISINTEGRATED FRAME CAUSING THE AXLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED AND BECAME WILDLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10927385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 131,600 milesDenver, CO
STEERING
VEHICLE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTING OUT AROUND THE REAR SUSPENSION. TRAILING ARM MOUNT FROM AXLE TO FRAME IS SEPARATED FROM FRAME AND VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10678924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 265,000 milesBartonville, IL
STEERING
REAR FRAME IS RUSTED BADLY WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION CONNECTS.
NHTSA complaint #10584966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesOlathe, KS
STEERING
FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY IS FINE BUT THE FRAME IS ROTTED. THERE ARE HOLES RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SPOTS INCLUDING SUSPENSION MOUNTS.
NHTSA complaint #10511769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 220,000 milesBedford, IN
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 TO 70 MPH) AND IT STARTED GETTING HARD TO HANDLE. IF YOU ACCELERATED IT WOULD TURN HARD TO THE RIGHT, IF YOU LET OFF THE GAS IT WOULD VEER BACK HARD TO THE LEFT. WE STOPPED AND CHECKED IT OUT AND THE FRAME MOUNT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10490606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesNEW Bedford, MA
STEERING
I OWN A 1997 4RUNNER. DURING MY DRIVING THE VEHICLE FEW WEEKS AGO, THE CHASSIS LOCATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPLIT APART AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WITH MY FAMILY. THIS FAILURE, HOWEVER, IS PURELY AN ENGINEERING DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING FAILURES.HENCE, THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UN-DRIVABLE. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND ITS DEALERSHIPS, THEY SAID TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WILL COST ME $8,100.00. HENCE, I FEEL THAT, IN COMPARISON TO OTHER VEHICLES FROM DIFFERENT BRAND OF CARS COMPANIES, THEREWITH, WHEREBY, THEY ARE STILL ON SOME PART OF THE WORLD, ARE STILL DRIVABLE AND USEFUL. HOWEVER, FOR THE KIND OF MONEY SPENT ON THE PURCHASE, THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE IS THAT OLD THEY ARE LIABLE FOR A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10487677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesWhitesboro, NY
STEERING
1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME ROTTING OUT. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1997 TOYOTA TACOMAS FOR THE SAME REASON, THE 4RUNNER HAS THE SAME FRAME AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADD THE 4RUNNER TO THE RECALL OR FIX THE DEFECTIVE FRAMES. MY 4RUNNER IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE EXCEPT THE FRAME IS ROTTING THROUGH IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THESE 4RUNNERS SHOULD BE RECALLED THE SAME AS THE TACOMAS TO FIX THE DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10322509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 149,112 milesBroomfield, COCrash
STEERING
WE WERE SOUTHBOUND ON I25, EXT 261,STATE OF COLORADO, GOING ABOUT 45 MPH IN LANE #1 WHEN MY VEHICLE, A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE LEFT LANDING ON THE MEDIAN HITTING THE GUARDRAIL AND CAUSING A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. THE WEATHER WAS A LITTLE SNOW AND THE FWY SURFACE APPEARED CLEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10314615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 190,000 milesWakefield, RI
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ON AUGUST 5 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE HEARD A NOISE AND OBSERVED THAT THE FRAME BROKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD CORRODED AND BROKE IN HALF WHICH CAUSED THE FRAME TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME IS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO EXISTING RECALL AND WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
NHTSA complaint #10281335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamden, CTCrash2 injured
STEERING
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 OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE WERE HURT FROM THE ACCIDENT. MY CONCERN IS REGARDING THE PERIODIC ENGINE SURGE AND/OR JOLTING AND LACK OF BRAKE CONTROL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER TO AVOID FUTURE INCIDENTS. WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED IN THIS AUTO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10276395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.