1997 Toyota 4RUNNER Suspension Problems
- Complaints
- 95about this part
- Share
- 36%of 261 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 170,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 95 complaints about the suspension of the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER, 36% of the 261 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 170,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Very rusted out undercarriage. My other is only 3 years newer and has nothing like this on it. I was advised to sell it by a suspension shop that noted my broken, rusted out undercarriage, bad shock and the condition of the rear of the truck's frame in general. There is nothing wrong with the truck other than this rust.”
NHTSA complaint #11235080, filed 2019-07, 350,000 miles“I have a 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER. I was driving down the road and my frame suddenly broke. This caused me to loose control and crash into a ditch line. I've contacted Toyota and they are not wiling to help me with a replacment frame. This frame is rusted to the point of no repair. Something needs done about this”
NHTSA complaint #10723341, filed 2015-06, 163,211 miles“I heard a noise toward the rear of the vehicle, so I took it to the garage to have it checked. They informed me that the left rear frame was completely rusted into and the frame on the right side was almost as bad. I was told to take it home and park it before a bad accident happened.”
NHTSA complaint #10611097, filed 2014-07, 167,600 miles“Purchased a used 1997 4-runner with ca. 258000 miles early in 2020. Engine and whole body was good. However, 6 month later the car started to shake violently in the rear at highway speeds swinging like a boat, which I though was due to a broken shock, springs were newly installed in 2020. I noticed that rear stabilizer arm on passenger side had broken off due to rust. When driving to repair shop the car rear axle broke loose, shifted, and the rear drive shaft fell out - I could pull over in 4 wheel drive mode. …”
NHTSA complaint #11360061, filed 2020-09, 260,000 miles“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, filed 2012-12, 220,000 milesRelated recalls
- 02V021000Jan 18, 2002On 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…Covers: Toyota 4RUNNER 1996–1998
Suspension: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 3 | 9% |
| 2022 | 6 | 15% |
| 2021 | 10 | 28% |
| 2020 | 4 | 12% |
| 2019 | 7 | 11% |
| 2018 | 4 | 7% |
| 2017 | 2 | 6% |
| 2016 | 9 | 11% |
| 2015 | 10 | 11% |
| 2014 | 3 | 4% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 9% |
| 2008 | 11 | 11% |
| 2007 | 14 | 9% |
| 2006 | 65 | 17% |
| 2005 | 77 | 18% |
| 2004 | 113 | 17% |
| 2003 | 114 | 16% |
| 2002 | 49 | 22% |
| 2001 | 27 | 15% |
| 2000 | 102 | 21% |
| 1999 | 66 | 20% |
| 1998 | 60 | 24% |
| 1997 | 95 | 36% |
| 1996 | 39 | 24% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
| 1994 | 1 | 2% |
| 1993 | 2 | 4% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER
76 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsTires
18 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsSteering
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsEquipment
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology