Table 1 shows one common unknown or other related problems of the 1997 Toyota 4Runner.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other problems |
Wife was driving vehicle on state route, heard loud noise and vehicle started shimmying side to side. She slowed down and limped vehicle home. Today raised vehicle on my lift at work and found frame rusted through where rear suspension arm mounting brackets are welded to frame. Glad no accident had occurred, as my wife, children and new sister-in-law were all passengers! otherwise love the vehicle, was intending on replacement with a sequoia, but now I am unsure if that is a good move. I have seen many tacomas come in that had frame rust in the same exact location. Wish Toyota would cover this problem in the 4runners, as we are just as loyal as the tacoma owners. Seems like a coincidence that there are many people are complaining about frame rust on the internet forums about the 4runners too. I sure hope Toyota can keep me as a loyal customer and that I can continue to promote them to my customers as I very often do. I was really seriously considering spending the $3900+ tax + my installation time, but it seems Toyota has discontinued my frame. I even double-checked with corporate Toyota. What to do now?. . . . . . . Never thought it would come to this. . . Just some help even. . .
Rusted frame. . . . . Unsafe safe to drive.
The frame is rusting through on several places, but one particular location is the worst. This location is the weld joint between a solid steel bracket of the same size, thickness and material as the main frame. This bracket holds the sway-type bar, which attaches back to the rear axle. The weld joint between the bracket and the main frame has almost completely rusted through and is almost completely seperated from the main frame. The joint is about 8 inches long. Over about 6 inches of the weld joint, the area is rusted away and there is a 3/8-inch gap between parts. The remaining 2 inches are holding temperarily, but it is unsafe. This rusted through and failed frame has caused the 1997 Toyota 4-runner to be unsafe, undriveable and un-fixable. It is unsafe because if the frame joint rusts more and completely breaks, the vehicle will be uncontrollable.
I was making a right hand turn into a parking spot. At the moment right before you straighten the vehicle wheel to park, the car suddenly revved up for about 1 to 2 seconds causing the vehicle to accelerate forward. The vehicle went over the curve and hit the building in front of the parking spot.
I am reporting a frame defect on my vehicle. I have a 1997 Toyota 4runner, and while on my way home, on the date stated, I hit a pothole in the road, and, immediately started hearing a noise at the driver side of my vehicle. I took the vehicle to our local dealership, and upon inspection, the diagnosis, was that the frame had broken, and was rubbing on my gas tank, which made the vehicle unsafe to drive any further. I have done research and have found many other complaints,similar to mine, yet, the manufacturer is unwilling to do anything to solve the issue, or offer any assistance to replace the defective part. I guess as long as nobody has been killed, or ,seriously injured, the problem isn't big enough yet!!!.