VehicleVerdict

1997 Toyota 4Runner body & structure problems

The 1997 Toyota 4Runner has 77 body & structure complaints filed with NHTSA — 21% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

77

Body & Structure complaints

21%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Body & Structure complaints by year

4Runner body & structure complaints by model year310 complaints1985: 1 complaints1988: 1 complaints1989: 1 complaints1990: 8 complaints1991: 1 complaints1994: 7 complaints1995: 4 complaints1996: 43 complaints1997: 77 complaints1998: 78 complaints1999: 114 complaints2000: 264 complaints2001: 83 complaints2002: 90 complaints2003: 284 complaints2004: 310 complaints2005: 189 complaints2006: 144 complaints2007: 40 complaints2008: 16 complaints2009: 3 complaints2010: 12 complaints2011: 9 complaints2012: 2 complaints2013: 2 complaints2014: 8 complaints2015: 8 complaints2016: 7 complaints2017: 2 complaints2018: 5 complaints2019: 3 complaints2020: 2 complaints2024: 4 complaints2025: 6 complaints
4Runner body & structure complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE THE REAR AXLE ARM ATTACHES. ARM MOUNT BROKEN LOOSE FROM FRAME. VEHICHLE IS UNDRIVEABLE AND VIRTUALLY NOT REPAIRABLE. (FRAME REPLACEMENT) RIDICULOUS TOYOTA!!! YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MAKE IT RIGHT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS!. MYSELF AND FMAILY OWN 7 TOYOTAS. MIGHT RECONSIDER EVER…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · June 18, 2017 · crash

Common questions

How many body & structure complaints does the 1997 Toyota 4Runner have?

NHTSA has 77 complaints about the 1997 Toyota 4Runner body & structure — 21% 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.