Most common 1999 Toyota 4Runner problems
Share of the 330 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota 4Runner complaints by model year
Best 4Runner years: 2013, 2017, 2024. Years to avoid: 2025, 2011, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
What 1999 Toyota 4Runner owners say
Body & structure all 112 →
The component that is failing is the frame. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and others is at risk due to the frame falling apart due to the lack of integrity. The lack of integrity and strength is from oxidation or major rust. The vehicle has not been inspection by a 3rd party. The rust is a common issue in this year/model from other owners and has appeared to be a manufacturing error.
I purchased this vehicle from a neighbor who bought it new. He took impeccable care of his vehicles so I was very confident in the purchase. Less than 2 years after we bought it from him, one of the rear stabilizers tore loose from the frame rail. After going underneath to inspect the damage, there was a lot of holes and major corrosion that appeared to have started from the inside of the frame. I thought to myself that with this solid box style frame, why is there no means for any water or condensation that builds up inside the frame to get out. I was going to have it repaired until I inspected it further and whacked a few places with a hammer and sent it right through the frame! It was a shame because it ran excellent and I'm confident it would have went another 100,000 miles. Instead I was forced to sell it for a parts vehicle and lost over $3000 on the deal. …
Suspension all 66 →
The contact's wife owns a 1999 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at a slow speed, the back end of the vehicle began to wobble. The contact stated that his daughter pulled the vehicle into a parking lot and had the vehicle towed to the contact's home. The vehicle was inspected and severe corrosion was discovered on the driver's side rear lower control arm mount. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that there are no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was given the same information as the dealer. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
Over the years of ownership, my vehicle has been overwhelmed with rust issues. All four axles are rusted to include the brake components. I didn't realize how bad the rusting was until I heard "popping" noise when making turns The rear suspension sway bar link was rusted so bad, it broke free. I had the rack and pinion replaced in August of 2020 because rust ate through the lines. The frame appears to have separations due to rust as well.
Fuel & propulsion system all 43 →
The fuel gauge does not read correctly and will indicate full at times and empty at others leading to risk of running out of fuel. I finally reailzed this and so don't use the gauge anymore. Created risk of running out of gas on the highway if I hadn't seen it.
The vehicle reads empty when full and full when empty sometimes. Constantly changing never able to know if the tank is full and ran out of gas since it wasn't reading the correct amount car was not in motion when I ran out fortunately.
1999 Toyota 4Runner engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 22 / 19 |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Toyota 4Runner a good car?
Based on 330 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 4Runner rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the 4Runner at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Toyota 4Runner?
The body & structure — 112 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the suspension (66) and fuel & propulsion system (43).
How many recalls does the 1999 Toyota 4Runner have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Toyota 4Runner. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota 4Runner?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2017 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2011, 2003 and 2004. See the full Toyota 4Runner years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Toyota 4Runner problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 155,000 miles; 4% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.