VehicleVerdict

1997 Toyota 4Runner brakes problems

The 1997 Toyota 4Runner has 33 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

33

Brakes complaints

9%

Share of year

5

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

4Runner brakes complaints by model year83 complaints1985: 1 complaints1986: 3 complaints1987: 2 complaints1990: 9 complaints1991: 10 complaints1992: 23 complaints1993: 10 complaints1994: 7 complaints1995: 7 complaints1996: 21 complaints1997: 33 complaints1998: 16 complaints1999: 29 complaints2000: 33 complaints2001: 9 complaints2002: 23 complaints2003: 74 complaints2004: 83 complaints2005: 32 complaints2006: 36 complaints2007: 31 complaints2008: 15 complaints2010: 13 complaints2011: 8 complaints2012: 7 complaints2013: 5 complaints2014: 5 complaints2015: 4 complaints2016: 5 complaints2017: 9 complaints2018: 6 complaints2019: 5 complaints2020: 5 complaints2021: 6 complaints2022: 5 complaints2023: 2 complaints2024: 2 complaints2025: 22 complaints
4Runner brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IS INADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT PLUS THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM DOESNT HELP EITHER IT ONLY CAUSES MORE LOST OF BRAKING POWER ESPECIALLY ON DOWN HILL STOPS.TOYOTA MADE THESE VEHICLES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SIZE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS.UNFORTUNATLY I HAVE THE SMALLEST ONE WHICH JUST DOES…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1997 Toyota 4Runner have?

NHTSA has 33 complaints about the 1997 Toyota 4Runner brakes — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.