1997 Ford Explorer vs 1997 Toyota 4 Runner
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Ford Explorer | 1997 Toyota 4 Runner |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,731 | 122 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 369 | 30 |
| Investigations | 6 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 156 | 23 |
| Fire reports | 53 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–18 | 16–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 90,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Toyota 4 Runner |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 669 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 198 | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 202 | 4 |
| Suspension | 105 | 30 |
| Power Train | 104 | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 83 | 22 |
| Visibility | 90 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 80 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 71 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 69 | 11 |
| Hesitation / surging | 25 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 20 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 0 |
| Overheating | 15 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 12 | 0 |
1997 Ford Explorer
1997 Toyota 4 Runner
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Toyota 4 Runner years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.