1997 Toyota 4Runner consumer reviews

This is the best car I have ever owned. safe, reliable, stylish and perfect for all environments. This car has never let me down

I have had my 1997 SR5 for over 17 years and It was the best decision I have ever made! I have kept up on maintenance and she is pushing close to 300K miles. She looks good and runs Great!!! A major blizzard dumped a few feet of snow Christmas 2006 leaving big bad A 4wheel drives Stuck ALL over town and the highways. NOT my Runner!! She doesn't pretend to be a Bad A, she IS one!! I LOVE my Runner!! I will drive her until everything falls off or I'm standing at the pearly gates. Which ever comes first!! (Probably the pearly gates). Heehee! I know my boys will battle to see who gets her next!! FYI: One review said worst purchase ever? He was on wrong review site because he called the Runner a car!! HaaaHeeehaaa!!!

Right in our price range. With in driving distance. Very nowledgable private owner. 20 yrs old. All it needed is paint job.

Loved every bit of the car buying experience on my new Durango! Thanks Carl Gregory of Columbus, GA!

I have owned numerous cars and trucks over the last 35 years and I must say that out of all of them, my '97 4runner has been the most reliable, least expensive to maintain and thoroughly enjoyable to drive. I bought it as a demo in '98 with 19k on it when my wife was pregnant with our daughter and we have owned it ever since. I recently gave the key to our now sixteen year old daughter who refuses to drive anything else. Recently, I put new shocks on it at 225,000 miles and have been through 3 sets of michelins but the only other thing I have done is service it regularly and replace the battery twice. We have gone on numerous family vacations with all our stuff and dogs in it. There are still no squeaks and rattles which is more than I can say about our 2014 Mazda6. These rigs were made in an era when Toyota decided to conquer the American market through quality and reliability and at a point in time where design and manufacturing techniques actually worked. You will not find this level of quality on the newer lineup. I would buy another one except I don't need it. Also, a friend of mine who recently traded in his very clean '98 4runner for a new Audi SUV told me that the Audi sales rep bought it off the lot for himself after the deal because he loved it.

I have owned three different 4Runner Toyotas within 25 years. Never had a problem with any of them. The Toyota salespeople like to see me when I go in to sell my car and buy a new one. All of my 4Runners were in excellent condition, look like new and had low mileage on each one when it was time to trade it in for a new 4Runner.

I can honestly say this was the worst purchase I've ever made. I'd have been better off buying a used car. The thing is so cheaply made it's amazing how much they charge for these. After just 13k miles the interior already looked like a used plastic stereo from the 90's. The computer doesn't work properly and no matter how many times they reprogram it the engine doesn't feel right.

I purchased my 4Runner new in 1996 and it's been running great for the last 18 years. It has never let me down through all kinds of terrain and weather. Even the white paint looks new after all these years. I've driven the Runner on two cross-country trips with a third scheduled this year. Total cost of ownership is going down with each passing year and I will never sell this SUV.

Just got this car for my daughter from a neighbor. Drove it for an hour and everything worked fine. Had heard these models use oil, checked on after running and no smoke, tailpipe was clean and emissions ct was recent. Like all cars if not maintained they start going downhill.

Bought the 1997 4Runner 2.7l, 4 cylinder, manual, new off the lot 16 yrs ago and drove it to the moon and back. It never gave up on me and I never gave up on it. The first clutch lasted 320,000 km and the second is still going. Valves have finally worn out after 571,000km. May the parts live on in one of your 'Runners!