Faults:

Dash clock doesn't work, & the cup holders are useless & in the wrong location.

Everything else works fine, although a manual antenna would be more suitable for this vehicle, & the rear hatch lock fell down inside the lift gate & is unusable.

General Comments:

At 325,000 miles, what can I say, these SUVs are basically indestructible. It will be interesting how many miles I can squeeze out of this machine. I did own a 1983 Toyota Supra that was several years old & drove it across the US and fell in love with the car, but lost it in an unfortunate accident. My daily commute with my 4Runner is 53 miles per day, so the miles keep racking up on this ole girl. I'm just hoping I can get my $1500.00 bucks out of her.

Faults:

Right after purchase, the starter went out. Nothing else has gone wrong with vehicle.

General Comments:

We bought this Toyota because of their reputation for being bullet proof.

The ride is nice, but the cabin is a little narrow. Other than that, the 4runner is a great vehicle.

It runs and drives great!

It has the 2.4 4 cylinder with a five speed. I wouldn't recommend buying one equipped with an automatic behind the 4 cylinder. It will be a little under powered.

It does 18.5 miles to the gallon driving in town.

Faults:

I bought my 4Runner knowing the rear window and wiper did not work. Other than this issue, the 4Runner works fine.

Toyota automatic transmission's seem to be a far better tranny than other manufacturer's. One simple reason is the fact Toyota puts a drain plug on the tranny pan, which makes it a lot easier to drain the oil, which keeps the oil cleaner, thus extending the life of the clutches, which usually wear out prematurely if the tranny oil is not changed.

My only complaint now is I cannot find the fuse that regulates the power to the window switch and rear wiper switch. Toyota 4 & 6 cylinder motors in the automatics are a little sluggish first starting out, in the 4x4 models. They lack low bottom end torque in high range.

Faults:

Rear left E-brake trigger, and then fixed.

Clock died and fell, then fixed.

Driver's side support switch fell, and then fixed.

General Comments:

Straight up, I have been a Toyota lover since the beginning. Have had 4 different Toyota trucks, and a Celica and Corolla.

The 4runner since the beginning has been the best on and off-road. Does not feel like a small crappy SUV like the Ford Escape or Nissan Pathfinder.

Handles nicely, but at the same time feels like you're driving a truck.

Power was lacking a bit, but does have great throttle response. Investing in an intake is a good idea if you want a little more power. Or in my case a supercharger, which is insane.

This truck OFF-ROAD is so much better than any vehicle I have driven off-road, and will never fail.

Overall, favorite SUV ever.

Faults:

I broke the mast off the radio antenna in a car wash.

I backed into a storage pod, and knocked off a mud flap.

Leather on the driver's seat split on the side.

General Comments:

Every time I drive this 4Runner, I'm reminded how much I like it. The doors are easy to open. I don't have to step over a large obstacle to get in. The ignition is situated properly for someone with hand problems. This is all unimportant to the average driver, but can be a major hindrance for one with arthritis issues.

Other than routine maintenance like new tires, batteries, oil and other fluids, I have had no repair expenses in the 14 years I've owned this car. I'm not a high-mileage driver, just one who wants to feel safe and relatively comfortable. It rides like a truck, because it is built on a truck chassis.

I do not like the drink holders. Toyota has improved the placement. On the '97, they are in front of the clock, AC control, and air vents. Liquids fly out of their containers. After 14 years, this is a minor thing to dislike about a vehicle.