3rd gen Toyota 4Runner 1996–2002

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Frame rust All years Walk away if found

  What to check: Inspect the rear axle area and the full length of the frame.

  Sources ^1,2

• Lower ball joints All years. The recall covers 2001–2002 only One source so far

  What to check: Raise the front wheel about an inch, pry under the tire and watch the joint for vertical play.

  Three members in one thread warn that a failed lower ball joint does wide damage, such as to the fender, tie rod ends and CV axle.

  Parts $80 to $150, about 2 hours

  Sources ³

• Coolant in the transmission ("pink milkshake") Automatics One source so far

  What to check: Look for pink, milky fluid in the coolant and the transmission fluid.

  Five owners in one thread report coolant in the transmission on their own trucks, four of them at about 160,000 to 275,000 miles. Others replaced the original radiator early and never saw it.

  Radiator about $110. Transmission $2,000 or more

  Sources ⁴

Complaints by year

• 1996 165 complaints
• 1997 264 complaints
• 1998 264 complaints
• 1999 332 complaints
• 2000 493 complaints
• 2001 190 complaints
• 2002 251 complaints

Counted from NHTSA's complaints on 23 October 2026. A newer year has had less time to draw them.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: 4WD All years One source so far

  The 4x4 models are the ones in demand.⁵

• Sought after: 5-speed manual 1996–2000

  The last 4Runner offered with a manual, and rare today.^5,6

• Sought after: Low miles, factory-original All years One source so far

  One article describes low-mile, factory-original trucks as the top of the market, not a typical truck.⁷

• Avoid: Frame rust All years Walk away

  Both generations rust at the frame, worst where roads are salted, and rust can leave a frame unsafe. Toyota's frame rust program for its trucks did not include the 4Runner.^2,1,8,9,10

• Avoid: 2WD All years Less sought after One source so far

  Demand sits with the 4x4 models.⁵

• Avoid: 2001 and 2002 model years 2001–2002 Less sought after

  No manual and no rear locker. They gained stability control and standard multi-mode 4WD.^6,11

• Avoid: Lifts and modifications All years Less sought after

  Factory originality is called rare on these trucks.^1,7

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.