AI Damage1997 Toyota Prerunner: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Toyota Prerunner filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 33% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The wrangler at/d2 I purchased yesterday at sams club may have a factory defect. I bought a pair of lt265/75/r16. It already had this size of tires when I bought the vehicle used 7 years ago. The technician at the store said he was not allowed to install them because my suv should have 265/70/16 tires.
Rear axle seals on vehicle need replacing. Has lead to damage of rear brakes and rotors that will in turn need to be replaced. Why is this not a recall or some bulletin to owners as this could be a dangerous equipment failure? Car has 75k miles and very well maintained, no off road use.
Consumer took vehicle for inspection and was told that there were no rear brakes. There was a seal failure in rear axle brakes. Repairs were made, but currently rear brakes malfunctioned again.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Prerunner has 5 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota Prerunner?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, tires. Total complaints: 3.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Toyota Prerunner?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Toyota Prerunner from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.