- The problem
- Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Vehicle safety record
1997 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 264 complaints about the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER with NHTSA, most often about the suspension (95) and the body, doors & structure (78). Those complaints describe 35 crashes, 2 fires, 22 injuries and 5 deaths. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in April 2009 for the exterior lighting. For comparison, the 1996 has 165 and the 1998 has 264.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 4RUNNER year, for its age
#27 most complained-about 1997 vehicle
- Complaints
- 264
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 35
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 22
- Deaths
- 5
Most common 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER problems
Share of all 264 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1997 Toyota 4RUNNER recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.
- The problem
- Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.
- The problem
- On 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 weight rating and gross vehicle weight rating) and severe steering maneuvers could cause the 2wd 4runner to lose directional stability.
- The risk
- This may result in a loss of control and could increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace rear suspension parts. Although the 4wd 4runners do not exhibit the handling condition, toyota will recall these vehicles to avoid any public confusion as to which vehicles should receive the replacement parts. Owner notification began february 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
What owners say
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264 complaints about the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 11.
I have had this vehicle since 12/1997 and it had always been garaged. The body is in very good condition. I live in northern Wisconsin and road salt is prevalent during the harsh winters. At the first part od April I was driving on Hwy, 47 toward Minocqua and suddenly the steering felt vague. I moved the steering wheel slighlty and the vehicle went out of control, I managed to avoid oncoming traffic and pulled to the side of the road. I was still near home and drove very slowly to get home. Upon examining the...
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cundercarriage at a local mechanic, we found that the frame was rusted and had broken where the rear trailing arm is attached, leaving the rear axle loose. I ended up giving the car to the mechanic. After driving it for 26 years it was a very sad moment since ran great and was my daily driver. I called Toyota and they told my vehicle was not included in the recall for
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....
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Please know that the rust an extensive frame rot on the the rear frame on both sides was not very visible from outside. Repairs for frame weld were 2500 -3000 usd. The 1997 4-runner, v6 is a very unsafe vehicle to drive!
My fiance and I werw driving a borrowered 1997 toyota 4runner. We were driving at 65 m and all I remember just gettin on the freeway.And blanking out.. When I woke up I sadly discoverd that my fiance lost control and veered to the right and hit a guardrail then a post sign and then rested on a tree..He passed away on impact. I suffered a t1 to t3 spine fracture.My left wrist fractured.A broken nose. As I woke up from my 3 week coma. I realised he passed away. Now the truck was borrwed, not lended or bought. ...
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The dealer gave us the keys to use while he fixed the car we rented .. No papers signed nor documents . Earlier that day I remember him calling me saying that the truck was making wiered noises. The accident happend on 2/4/14 a 6.15.Pm *dt *as
Tl* the contact was loaned a 1997 toyota 4runner. The contact mentioned the vehicle was loaned from a used dealer (mcfarland auto sales located at 231 frontage rd mc, mcfarland, ca 93250). The contact stated while her husband was driving 65 mph, the vehicle veered to the right independently causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the driver crashed into a guard rail, a wooden post, a fence and came to a stop at a tree. The contact does not remember if the front driver air bag deployed, but...
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stated the front passenger side air bag did deploy. The contact stated she sustained a fracture nose, spine, left wrist, right lung was punctured, and 3 fractured ribs on her left. The contact stated she was in a coma and hospitalized for 3 weeks. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. The vehicle was not drive-able and was towed to an independent tow lot. A police report was filed. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. *Ln
Rear fram stabilizer brace rusted out and broke away from frame, so axle to frame stalizer does not stabilize rear axle
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.
Frame rust makes vehicle dangerous while driving.
Hey I have a 1997 4 runner I have a problem of the frame getting rusted out. It is on the 4 link where it hooks to the axle it could have killed me my rear axle about came off and it almost got me into a reck. All I done is hit the brakes then hurt pop and rear end went crazy. I was on a busy city steet when it happened
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4runner. While reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle swayed back and forth. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that the frame was rusted and there was nothing supporting the stabilizer arm. Fox toyota (228 fox family ln, clinton, tn 37716, (865)-494-0228) was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 271,000.
THE FRAME SNAPPED FROM RUST AS I WAS DRIVING
The bolts and nuts that attach the front seats to the car rust over time and eventually break
The frame on my 4runner is rusting along the rear axle control arm mount (the piece welded to the frame that you can see when crouched down looking under the rear doors). This separates and causes the rear axle to float around which may cause a very serious accident. I have seen countless other incidents where people have had this separate completely while on the highway and they were barely able to maintain control of the vehicle.
The frame is rotting from the inside out. The frame rot is located in the rear on the drivers side where the rear suspension bracket is welded to the frame.
The frame was poorly designed and not enough rust protection was applied by toyota. We rarely get snow and still the vehicle has rusted through. Toyota did not make a drain hole so that the water in the frame would evaporate. There are a lot of these vehicles which otherwise last a long time. A lot of owners have 4runenrs with excellent engine/transmission but with rusted frames. This is a disaster waiting to happen on unsuspecting owners.
The bracket that attaches the rear trailing arm to the frame broke off from the frame causing it to swerve and loose stability while driving. The vehicle was in motion
My toyota 4runner frame is rusting to the point that it's a huge safety issue! I've already had the right rear shockmount and bar replaced, and the left is on its way to rusting completely through. On the left side, however, the fuel tank is mounted up, and when the shock mount rusts through and breaks, it will very likely cause something to puncture the fuel tank. That could be extremely hazardous because, since I have no other means of transportation, I must continue to drive the vehicle. So, it is likely that it...
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will be on the road when that happens. Why in the world has this vehicle not been recalled when you recalled the toyota tacomas for the same issue of rusty frames? This is a very serious matter because it could cause a huge accident involving many people if these vehicles are not recalled and taken off the streets!
While driving heard a loud bang and vehicle got squirmy and out of control was about a mile from my house luckily. Got home and looked under vehicle and realized the frame has completely rusted out it is unsafe to drive as components to keep axle in place are rotted out. Issue will get someone killed one day.
Right rear upper shock mount rusted out and shock broke through frame while driving on a city street (bracket sub assembly rear - right rear). Had to remove shock so it would not bust through causing ride instability.
My 1997 4runner has a lot of rust on the chassis frame. The rear shocks cannot be installed because the metal was eaten by the rust.
Frame is completely rotted vehicle well kept and it just keeps rotting so I do not know what to do but I was driving on the highway and they trailer arm broke off the truck almost causing me to wreck.
When braking on a curve on a county highway {55 mph} the vehicle jumped and hopped uncontrollably and almost left the road. After slowly getting it home, I inspected the suspension and found the mount for the rear trailing arm broke off the frame from rust. The vehicle only has 155,000 miles and the rest of the vehicle is in vary good condition. I bought the toyota for its known longevity and did not expect this from toyota. If this had been a state hwy {70 mph} I'm sure there would have been a crash, injury and posable fatality.
1997 Toyota 4runner "rear frame rust and holes" my toyota 1997 4runner (current mileage 139,035) has the rust and holes on the rear passenger side & driver side frames. Toyota service center mechanic said " do not drive because it is very dangerous." I bought this car at $34,500 on june 1997. It was very expensive one. It's very ridiculous that this expensive car has this kinds of problem. Let me have recall service. I will appreciate for your comments. Thank you.
My 4runner frame is rotted out. Cracked frame unsafe to drive.
Frame is rusting from the inside out control arms fell off the car. Frame busted in half.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 45 mph, the rear of the vehicle started swaying left and right. The contact was able to drive home. Upon parking the vehicle, the contact inspected underneath and found rust on the rear driver side frame. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact found recalls for other toyota vehicles for frame rust, but not for the 4runner. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000. *Tt *tr
Toyota 4RUNNER: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 190 | 3 | D |
| 2000 | 493 | 2 | F |
| 1999 | 332 | 2 | F |
| 1998 | 264 | 4 | F |
| 1997 | 264 | 4 | F |
| 1996 | 165 | 5 | D |
| 1995 | 175 | 4 | D |
| 1994 | 71 | 4 | C |
| 1993 | 53 | 3 | B |
1997 Toyota 4RUNNER vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER | 264 | 4 | F | |
| 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,380 | 11 | D | Compare |
| 1997 Chevrolet Blazer | 774 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Jeep Wrangler | 411 | 7 | D | Compare |
| 1997 Nissan Pathfinder | 225 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Subaru Outback | 79 | 4 | A | Compare |
| 1997 Dodge Durango | 4 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 1997 Ford Bronco | 1 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 1997 Toyota Highlander | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER
Does the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER: exterior lighting (April 2009); exterior lighting (May 2006); exterior lighting (March 2006); suspension (January 2002). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the suspension (95), body, doors & structure (78), brakes (29).
How many complaints has the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER had?
264 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 24, 1995 and the latest on May 25, 2023. Of these, 35 describe a crash and 2 a fire, and together they report 22 injuries and 5 deaths.
Is the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 16 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Toyota 4RUNNER year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Toyota 4RUNNER years have the most complaints?
2003 (708), 2004 (678), 2000 (493). See every Toyota 4RUNNER year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data