Toyota Prerunner Problems by Year
NHTSA has 25 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file for the Toyota Prerunner, across 5 model years (1997–2002). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (7). The most reported problem area overall is structure.
Toyota Prerunner years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Prerunner model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 Prerunner: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1999 Prerunner: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 Prerunner: 6 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Toyota Prerunner problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Toyota Prerunner model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Prerunner | 6 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2001 Prerunner | 7 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 1999 Prerunner | 7 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1998 Prerunner | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1997 Prerunner | 3 | 0 | — | Power Train |
More from Toyota: all Toyota models · Toyota VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Prerunner years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2001 (7), 1999 (7), 2002 (6). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Prerunner?
Structure, with 6 complaints across 2 model years.
How many recalls does the Toyota Prerunner have?
0 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.