1999 Toyota 4RUNNER Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 5%of 330 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 16 complaints about the steering of the 1999 Toyota 4RUNNER, 5% of the 330 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 170,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Like everyone else the frame is just rotten through and through in the back, I have a tundra, 2 sequoia's, a highlander and a rav4. Ranging from 2001 to 2015, and the frame on the 01 sequoia looks new, this is a bad frame and gabe at keith pierson Toyota in jacksonville said there is nothing I can do about it. Toyota needs to fess up to this one.”
NHTSA complaint #11101883, filed 2018-06, 127,000 miles“The ball joint on my 1999 Toyota 4RUNNER broke while I was driving the vehicle. By the grace of god, I stopped at mcdonald's before my long journey onto the freeway, with my 9 month old baby in the car, and that saved us from a very bad crash that may have taken our lives had we been going 60-70 MPH. How does a ball joint break in half???”
NHTSA complaint #11013604, filed 2017-08, 170,000 miles“The driver's side lower rear link fell off the frame due to severe rusting. Passenger side about to. Mechanic won't even attempt a repair. The frame is too rusted. The vehicle is not safe to drive. I bought it used and have had it for 2.5 years. Toyota has no recall on it and can not assist me, even though this is the same issue that the tacoma and other models were recalled for.”
NHTSA complaint #10683353, filed 2015-02, 146,200 miles“I heard rubbing noises from my left front wheel.I thought brakes but when I inspected the underside of my vehicle I noticed that the rubbing was coming from a rusted and broken off brake shield.I am older with back issues so getting under the car for a good look m is tough at best.what I could see using a rigid seesnake boroscope was extensive rust .rust all over key structural frame components from motor mounts to steering linkage the chassis in some areas has completely disappeared.looking at the body you would think the car was in really good shape but not underneath.Toyota didn't have…”
NHTSA complaint #11342840, filed 2020-08, 150,000 miles“As I was driving down a 4 lane highway, the steering wheel suddenly jerked out of my hands to the right. I was unable to turn the steering wheel back to the left to correct. The roads were wet from an earlier rain; there was no standing water, no pot holes, or other visible defects in the road. I was in the left lane, traveling about 60mph. The car spun out of control - doing 2 complete spins on the highway, then into the ditch on the right; hitting trees, flipping, hitting more trees, and finally coming to a halt straddling the ditch perpendicular to the highway. …”
NHTSA complaint #10005490, filed 2003-02, 59,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 7% |
| 2023 | 3 | 9% |
| 2022 | 4 | 10% |
| 2021 | 13 | 36% |
| 2020 | 4 | 12% |
| 2019 | 10 | 15% |
| 2018 | 12 | 20% |
| 2017 | 2 | 6% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 8 | 9% |
| 2014 | 7 | 9% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 9% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 9 | 6% |
| 2006 | 22 | 6% |
| 2005 | 29 | 7% |
| 2004 | 32 | 5% |
| 2003 | 35 | 5% |
| 2002 | 12 | 5% |
| 2001 | 8 | 4% |
| 2000 | 21 | 4% |
| 1999 | 16 | 5% |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% |
| 1997 | 14 | 5% |
| 1996 | 3 | 2% |
| 1995 | 5 | 3% |
| 1994 | 8 | 13% |
| 1993 | 6 | 12% |
| 1992 | 2 | 4% |
| 1991 | 5 | 12% |
| 1990 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1999 Toyota 4RUNNER
112 complaintsSuspension
66 complaintsFuel system
43 complaintsOther or unknown
37 complaintsTires
28 complaintsBrakes
26 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsEngine cooling
15 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsSeats
7 complaintsWheels
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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