1997 Toyota 4 Runner Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1997 Toyota 4 Runner, and owners have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1997 Toyota 4 Runner. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
122 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Toyota 4 Runner have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA; 23 describe a crash. Reports cite 13 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 88,017 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 20 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“A) while driving on the highway at approximate speed of 45-55 MPH the engine shut itself off without me or any part of my body even touching the key or do anything to provoke such event. B) i was driv”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 30, 2006 · Electrical system
“When it rains water comes in the vent on the back of the hood at windshield keeps my carpet soaked how can this be fixed? Also my hood latch is not tight enough my hood goes up 2 inches when im at top”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 6, 2005 · Latches/locks/linkages
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Toyota 4Runner (4Runner 2WD, 4Runner 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–18 / 17–22 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.7/3.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Toyota 4 Runner model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota 4 Runner model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 52 |
| 1995 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 125 |
| 1996 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 89 |
| 1997 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 122 |
| 1998 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 120 |
| 1999 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 110 |
| 2000 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 104 |
| 2001 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 31 |
| 2002 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 32 |
| 2003 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 168 |
| 2004 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 66 |
| 2005 Toyota 4 Runner | 0 | 15 |
Checking a specific 1997 Toyota 4 Runner
How do I know if my 1997 Toyota 4 Runner has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.