2000 Toyota 4runner

Family: 4Runner · filed with NHTSA as 4 RUNNER, 4RUNNER

Summary

In its first three years the 2000 4runner drew 62 complaints — 1.1× the median of its generation (1996–2002). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Of the 446 complaints that name a component, 57% concern Body & Structure (256).
2 recalls filed for this model year.
No federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 483
Recalls: 2
Investigations: 0
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 16–19
Annual fuel cost: $3,300–$3,900
Median mileage at complaint: 143,953 mi (n = 328)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 30 / 1 / 31 / 2

What owners report

Body & Structure

256 complaints · 57% of complaints that name a component · median 145,000 mi (n = 205)

Owner report The frame rusted and is available for inspection. My daughter was driving our 2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5 which I purchased new in 2000 when she noticed the truck started to wobble when she hit small bumps. I drove it to the garage the next day which is 2 miles from my house. It was doing the same for me. My mechanic went …

Owner report The contact owns a 2000 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while at a local mechanic he was informed that the sub frame was completely rusted. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Suspension

102 complaints · 23% of complaints that name a component · median 165,000 mi (n = 77)

Owner report Section of frame broke and fell to the pavement. Vehicle bouncing and went off road causing damage to front driver side bumper, turn signal light housing, headlight. Extensive Back frame rusting has made vehicle dangerous. Frame has many soft spots. Both back shocks rusted and broken. Replace shocks but frame will even…

Owner report Frame is rotted out. Mechanic lifted it on hoist and frame is rusted terribly and said not drivable.

Powertrain

42 complaints · 9% of complaints that name a component · median 126,547 mi (n = 35)

Owner report EXPERIENCED SOFT HUM LIKE NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. REAR END HOUSING FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE INTERNAL FLUID IS SEEPING OUT THRU THE REAR OF THAT HOUSING. NON REPARABLE, NEEDS REPLACED MINIMUM $3000. DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM & HAD CONTACTED TO…

Owner report I DISCOVERED THIS MORNING THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING COVER IS LEAKING OIL THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SOME MAJOR RUST ISSUES WHICH HAVE AFFECTED THE STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL WELL BEING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

8% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1996–2002)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 59.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
1996	161	44	not compared
1997	261	44	not compared
1998	250	57
1999	330	59
2000	483	62
2001	185	18	not compared
2002	225	19	not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

06E049000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-05-24 · 27,176 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

06E026000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-03-23 · 61,944 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Federal investigations

None on file.

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
4Runner 2WD	2.7L 4cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	17	22	19	$3300
4Runner 2WD	2.7L 4cyl	Manual 5-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	16	21	18	$3450
4Runner 2WD	3.4L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	16	19	17	$3650
4Runner 4WD	2.7L 4cyl	Automatic 4-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	17	20	18	$3450
4Runner 4WD	2.7L 4cyl	Manual 5-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	15	19	17	$3650
4Runner 4WD	3.4L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	15	18	16	$3900
4Runner 4WD	3.4L 6cyl	Manual 5-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	15	18	16	$3900

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2000 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. 4x4	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 82 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about equipment.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…
2024-12-05	STRUCTURE:BODY	Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure …
2024-12-03	STRUCTURE:BODY	Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the …
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this 4Runner, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Toyota 4Runner model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.