1997 Toyota 4Runner SR5 review from North America
"200K here I come - Reliable SUV"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The antenna motor failed at 120,000 miles. This seems common.
The rear suspension was subject to a recall - the bump-stops were replaced with shorter versions, and the springs were also replaced at 100,000 miles.
The starter needed to be rebuilt when it freaked out at about 110,000 miles. My mechanic and dealer said this was also common.
The brake rotors are subject to warping - I'm installing my third set of front brakes; about 50K per set it seems like. I notice the warping at around 20-25K and it gets progressively worse.
The air conditioner died at some point, and was cheaply fixed at 65K. A belt was slipping.
The rear seatbelt is subject to getting caught in the mechanism that holds the rear-seat backs in place against the pillar - one belt is frayed due to this. Later versions of the 4Runner fixed this problem.
General comments?
This is a great SUV, with just enough power and extremely reliable. I'm on the original clutch at 163,000 miles and still going strong. The gas mileage ranges from 18-21, depending on use. It feels like it will comfortably go another 100K miles, and probably more.
Unexpected maintenance costs are low - the antenna fix was relatively cheap, as were the other issues with the truck. Highly recommended.
Recommended reviews
  | Reliable and predictable |
| Probably the best SUV on the road |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | V6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 163000 miles |
| Previous car | Subaru Impreza |
| Date of Entry | 15th August, 2003 |