10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,100 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1999 Toyota 4Runner:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #10

Oct 272018

4Runner

  • miles
After a less than 10 mile drive the Toyota was parked. After a hour or so it burst into flames. Prior to this the door locks were locking themselves. Two fire departments responded. The 4runner was a complete loss. Also burned part of the roadside. I have found other complaints and photos of others bursting into flames, but have found no recalls. Toyota was absolutely no help. Horrible ordeal and thankful no one was killed. Shame on Toyota.

- Strum, WI, USA

problem #9

Jan 012016

4Runner

  • 185,000 miles
Fuel gauge reads inaccurately causing a running out of fuel situation, very dangerous. Gauge is very erratic, but usually shows 1/2 tank when it runs out. Sometimes goes all the way to full, sometimes all the way to empty. I have replaced the fuel sender in the tank with no change. I understand there is a Toyota service bulletin # EL010-00 which addresses this issue and a NHTSA action number 950312. Toyota says the parts are not available to make the repairs. Am I now supposed to scrap the vehicle because I never know when I will run out of gas because I have no idea when the tank is actually near empty? I have been experiencing this issue for well over a year. I am not asking for Toyota to provide the parts at no charge, just that be made available to me. I am filing this inquiry on behalf of my grandson, as it is his car. I, however am a retired mechanic who will be doing the repair and have been unable to source the required parts.

- N. Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #8

Feb 252017

4Runner

  • miles
ABS light ;PO500 code speed sensor a speedometer not working, wont shift into gear with ABS light on windows malfunction and all electric windows stopped working possibly due to same ABS circuite as noticed same exact timeframe. Apart from that prior malfunctions include airbag light stays on needs restting from dealer and also horn does not operate. Missing/no factory installed fog lamps --dealer wants over $1,200 for 2 basic fog lamps from their parts dept.

- Buckley, WA, USA

problem #7

Feb 042017

4Runner 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 1999 Toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 45 mph on a four lane highway, a fire erupted in the rear of the vehicle the contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road. The fire department extinguished the flames and filed an incident report. There were no injuries. The state highway police had a wrecker tow the vehicle to a yard. The insurance company was to tow the vehicle from the yard to a repair center for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was awaiting for their determination as to what caused the fire. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 05/17/17 updated 07/12/2017

- Shickshinny, PA, USA

problem #6

Jul 022011

4Runner

  • 180,000 miles
The vehicle stalls, incosistently, but, on a frequent basis, at any given time, then will be fine for a long period of time. It eats batteries. I've had to replace the battery every year. A local automotive electrical specialist replaced the B+ cable from the battery to the starter, and the problem went away for a year, but, has since returned. I recently upgraded to a battery with more cranking watts, and have een improvement. However. There's the issue of the hesitation, jerking, and loss of power, when taking off after 1st start of the day, replaced plugs, and battery and did a tune - up, but, it made no difference. Very dangerous and have almost been involved in accidents multiple times, as a result, including dying while towing a trailer, smack dab in the middle of a 4-way intersection of a traffic - choked coastal highway in the middle of a popular beach resort, featuring over 200 outlet shops and malls, mid-day, on the 4th of July weekend, and a Saturday at that, , and having to contact roadside assistance 5 times, to get it going again, to get to my destination, less than 6 miles away, and having to drive on the road's shoulder the whole way, in case of another break-down,

- Perry Hall, MD, USA

problem #5

Dec 032012

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles
Almost ran out of gas in the middle of the highway.

- Louisville, CA, USA

problem #4

Jan 232013

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 196,001 miles
The fuel gauge is inaccurate readings will vary all over the place ran out of gas several times now. It says 1/2 tank but there was no gas in the tank. I understand it is a know issue Toyota should fix.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

problem #3

Feb 142010

4Runner

  • 90,000 miles
Sudden loss of power when driving 1999 Toyota 4runner SR5. Fuel gauge reads full and vehicle stalls due to no fuel in tank. I have been able to verify that this is a known issue to Toyota and that they have refused to correct the problem under warranty even though they have acknowledged that a problem with the part as delivered in this vehicle and they issued tsb:EL010-00 titled "fuel gauge inaccuracy" to fix the problem only under warranty. This is not a warranty issue, but a safety issue as vehicle can run out of fuel and stall without warning at high rates of speed on congested highways. This issue has not been resolved. I have had to use the odometer to guess how much fuel is remaining the fuel tank at any given time. Factors such as highway conditions, weather, necessary use of 4WD can impact the number of miles achieved in a single tank of gas. Also, fuel tank must be filled to top when refueling to most accurately guess number of miles that can be driven before the vehicle stalls.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

problem #2

Jul 072008

4Runner

  • 132,000 miles
#1 starter stuck twice-even removed key and engine kept cranking. #2 fuel guage reaes full when empty and vise versa. #3 P0171 engine code keeps throwing #4 brakes fade when applied hard. Have replaced pads and rotors and still fade.

- Grayland, WA, USA

problem #1

Apr 122008

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
My gas gauge has failed like many others I have read about on the internet. Seems to be a serious problem which has caused many wrecks.

- Burleson , TX, USA