1997 Toyota 4RUNNER problems

Filed May 25, 2023 · Suspension · WI

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 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

Filed Sep 20, 2020 · Suspension, Transmission · 260,000 miles · NJ

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. 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!

Filed Mar 7, 2020 · Airbags, Tires · CA · crash · 1 injury

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. 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

Filed Mar 6, 2020 · Acceleration · CA · crash · 1 injury

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 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.

Filed Jan 20, 2020 · Suspension · 198,000 miles · MD

Rear fram stabilizer brace rusted out and broke away from frame, so axle to frame stalizer does not stabilize rear axle

Filed Jul 26, 2019 · Body, Suspension · 350,000 miles · IL

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.

Filed May 20, 2019 · Body, Suspension · 350,000 miles · KS

Frame rust makes vehicle dangerous while driving.

Filed Mar 4, 2019 · Body · 285,200 miles · SC

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

Filed Feb 1, 2019 · Body, Suspension · 271,000 miles · TN

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.

Filed Jan 4, 2019 · Body · 150,000 miles · IL

The frame snapped from rust as I was driving