Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Toyota 4Runner owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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
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 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
This description is a supplement to odi # 10423371 where ball joint failure occurred twice on the same vehicle. I investigated and found the lower ball joint on the passenger side that failed is part # 43330-39585. The repaired part is #43330-39415, both manufactured by ty (Toyota?) which suggests there was a problem with the original. When asked, Toyota did not inform us of the part change and assured us the driver's side lower ball joint is sound. The part 43330-39585 (lower ball joint) is in the 4runners dated '91 up to 2004. There are recalls of this part number only in the 2001-2004 timeline. Toyota recommends inspection every 15,000 miles. Toyota dealership provided me with a multi-point inspection 3500 miles prior (4 months ago) and provided me with a positive (green) check in all areas of interest including suspension and cv joint. …
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. …
My daughter was involved in a rollover accident with a 1997 Toyota 4-runner. She was ejected from the vehicle and the police have evidence to suggest that she was wearing her seat belt. I have taken the vehicle in to Toyota twice to replace the rear suspension for a Toyota recall. Both before the recall and after the recall the rear end was sagging and was not stable. It is my opinion that the seat belt was defective and the rear suspension was defective. Both conditions contributed to her death. In speaking with investigative sheriff the vehicle was traveling about 38-51 MPH when the vehicle drove off an embankment. The vehicle rolled 2-3 times down a 50-70 foot drop. The driver's seat was damaged rearward and the driver slid out of the seat because of this damage. Upon inspection the seat belt was still fastened. …
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.
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!
I was driving on an interstate loop at approximately 30 MPH. At the top of the loop, as I straightened the wheel the vehicle began to rock back and forth as though it was going to flip over. The rocking turned into fishtailing, and the steering wheel was forcefully pulled to the left. This caused the vehicle to travel across two lanes of traffic and hit a guardrail, ending up facing oncoming freeway traffic. The airbags were deployed. I was 4 months pregnant and travelling with my 10 month old son. I was able to drive to safety in the median. This accident was a total mystery to me since I was not travelling at an excessive speed. The ground was slightly wet from a brief sprinkle.
My son jarred was driving our 1997 Toyota 4-runner on the highway when suddenly the vehicle started to shake violently, he was also losing control of his steering, he was able to make it home safely. When I did an actual inspection of the vehicle frame I noticed that the driver side rear control arm had rusted off the frame body, thus the reason that my son almost lost control of the vehicle. This has been an ongoing problem with Toyota and frame rotting out. Toyota has recalled the tundras and sequoias not the 4-runners. I'm hoping that Toyota does the right thing and recalls the 4-runners. I have pic's if somebody would like to see the damage.
Related recalls
Suspension
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.
Remedy: 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…
Suspension complaints in other 4Runner years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1997 Toyota 4Runner?
NHTSA has 95 complaints about the suspension of the 1997 Toyota 4Runner, 36% of the model year's 261 complaints. The component named most often is rear (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Toyota 4Runner suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-021 (suspension, Jan 18, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Toyota 4Runner suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 170,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries and 1 death to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.