general problems of the 1997 Toyota 4Runner

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.

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.

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.

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 rusting from the inside out control arms fell off the car. Frame busted in half.

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.

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 buying another!.

I came to a stop light and heard a pop like something had broken. Proceeded to get on interstate on ramp and within a mile the vehicle was very hard to control, the rear of the vehicle was swerving back and forth. Luckily I only had to go about a mile to my exit. Once home I had discovered that part of the frame had rusted into at a very critical area of the frame. It was on the drivers side in front of the rear axle and was a part where a rod mounted to it that keeps the rear axle aligned. This should not have happened to a vehicles frame regardless of it being 19 years old. The vehicle is not driveable and Toyota somehow doesn't feel the need to recall what is a huge issue for lots of owners of these vehicles.

I was driving down the road at approximately 50 mph and my 4runner started to sway and rock violently. I felt it veer in the opposite direction of the way I was driving and braked fearing that I was going to flip my vehicle. I was driving down a smooth straight road in great weather. I braked to slow down tapping them about five times. This is the second time that this incident occurred. It happened one time a couple days before I parked the car thinking that the tire was falling off and called my mechanic who happily fixed a front driver side tie rod end and ball joint. They stated that the control arm was rusting out. . . That it should be safe to drive and then this. I was terrified. It is not safe the driver side control arm is completely rusted out and hanging and the passenger side is rusting and beginning to fall. I am at a loss I love this vehicle hate the repairs that I have had to do in the six months I have had it and now I owe for repairs and a small loan. I cant drive it or sell it and sending it back will ruin my already failed credit. It is incredibly a huge safety problem and research that I have done has showed that this year and make is known for this problem and it is frustrating and sad that nothing can be done except let it sit.

I was driving in school zone posted 20 mph school zone road a little rough uneven surface while driving approx. 20 mph when I felt the vehicle strayed to the right when I stepped on the brakes and after releasing the brakes to take off again hearing thump and vehicle strayed to right keeping the steering wheel straight which felt like rear end of vehicle gong to right and front end steering to left a lot of swaying and thumping upon applying and releasing my feet on and off the brake pedal and taking off from a dead stop and applying the brakes to stop and a thump sound, I pulled over and checked the wheels seem ok but upon looking underneath my vehicle just in front of drivers side rear wheel frame attached to the stabilizer bar rotted and dropped down exposing my gas tank had to have vehicle plates welded to frame to use vehicle again welder said frame all rotted out.

I have a 1997 Toyota 4runner. I was driving down the road and my frame suddenly broke. This caused me to loose control and crash into a ditch line. I've contacted Toyota and they are not wiling to help me with a replacment frame. This frame is rusted to the point of no repair. Something needs done about this.

The frame is completely rusted threw in multiple parts of the frame. Someone has already tried welding some plateing to keep rear suspension components of the lower four link attached to the frame. Extremely unsafe.

The frame has prematurely rusted through in front of the right, rear trailing arm. My shop tells me the frame is too rusted to repair it.

1997 Toyota 4 runner frame rot and rust: I noticed rust debris in my driveway. I inspected under the vehicle and found that the inside of driver-side frame was completely rotted with extensive rust along entire length of adjacent fuel tank. Holes large enough to put four fingers in and crumble. It is clear that the rot has almost gone entirely through the frame as there are several small holes on outside of frame as well. The rust has also seriously compromised the weld seam on the suspension component attached to the frame. Rust and rot of this severity on this vehicle is isolated only to this area of the frame. The rest of vehicle frame shows typical surface rust as expected with age of vehicle.

Sway bar broke off from chasis. Upon examination from our mechanic, it is determined that the whole chasis is rusted. It is not repairable and I had to sell to the junk yard. Couldn't believe Toyota would use such a chasis on a 30k SUV.

The vehicle had a bad muffler in it so I took into to the muffler shop and as they fixed the muffler they found that the entire frame of the car is rusted out. There are several holes in the frame. I drive my children in this car everyday ( 4 years old and 1 year old) car is not safe and I am currently out a vehicle and cannot afford another one. Still trying to figure out a solution. The entire frame is damaged.

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 inpact. 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 a 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.

The body on the 4runner is clean with very little rust. The frame however is rusting badly and the mounts for the rear control arms are almost rusted off.

Found clunking sound from front of vehicle and found chassis rusted through in several places. Toyota dealership contacted and said vehicle not affected by any warranty or recall.

Vehicle has been swaying and then recently the steering got bad so I took it to a Toyota dealership where they told me that the frame was completely rusted through was told it was not safe to drive.

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 speeds (55 or 65).

Airbags failed to inflate upon head on impact. Further, vehicle rolled over after initial impact.

I entered my VIN and there happened to be an outstanding recall on my vehicle.

Vehicle experiences intermittent loss of power.