Complaints
200
Crashes
25
Fires
2
Injuries
20
Fatalities
4
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Toyota 4runner Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#157 complaints
SUSPENSION
Avg mileage:193,429 mi
Crash-related:4
#241 complaints
STRUCTURE:BODY
Avg mileage:191,831 mi
Crash-related:3
#317 complaints
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Avg mileage:198,972 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Toyota 4runner.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 57 | 4 | — | 193,429 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 41 | 3 | — | 191,831 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 17 | 4 | — | 198,972 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 16 | — | — | 182,780 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 10 | — | — | 186,556 mi | |
| STEERING | 9 | 2 | — | 175,089 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 | 3 | — | 124,408 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 6 | — | — | 166,855 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 6 | 2 | — | 106,884 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 5 | — | — | 143,000 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 3 | — | — | 162,315 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 3 | — | — | 169,066 mi | |
| TIRES | 3 | 1 | — | 182,500 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 2 | 1 | — | 145,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 | 1 | 1 | 195,942 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 | — | 1 | 23,700 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 | — | — | 177,000 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 | 1 | — | 186,000 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:BANJO HOUSING | 1 | — | — | 104,000 mi | |
| SEATS | 1 | — | — | 210,000 mi | |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 | — | — | 190,000 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 | 1 | — | 168,000 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 1 | — | — | 133,000 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 1 | — | — | 50,000 mi |
SUSPENSION
57
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
193,429
STRUCTURE:BODY
41
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
191,831
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
17
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
198,972
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
182,780
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
186,556
STEERING
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
175,089
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
124,408
POWER TRAIN
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
166,855
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,884
SUSPENSION:REAR
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
143,000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
162,315
STRUCTURE
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
169,066
TIRES
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
182,500
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
145,000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
195,942
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
23,700
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
177,000
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
186,000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:BANJO HOUSING
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,000
SEATS
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
210,000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
190,000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
168,000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
133,000
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,000
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Toyota 4runner. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Toyota 4runner Years
Wider context: See the full Toyota 4runner reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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