Pre-purchase walkaround
2007 Toyota 4Runner (N210, 4th gen)
141,000 miles · asking $11,900
Five-year cost to own, maintenance and fuel
~$20,800
Rugged body-on-frame SUV that is one of the more reliable used trucks you can buy, but the 4th gen has real rust and a few known nuisances. Money goes into frame/rust remediation, brake and suspension wear, and the occasional dash or electrical annoyance.
The roadmap
141k → 201k mi · 12k a yearYear 1Brakes and consumables.~$4,057
Year 2The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel.~$3,643
Yrs 3-5The quiet year. · Suspension comes around again.~$13,115
Five years, all in~$20,800
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote
What to look for on this one
Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 141,000 miles.
Brake feel and VSC/ABS issues$200-$650 if not done
0failures cluster 91k-120k · this car: 141k, inside the window161k mi
High SERVICE BRAKES and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaint counts; brake actuator and wheel speed sensor faults show up on higher-mileage trucks. Soft or grabby pedal, premature pad/rotor wear, or VSC/ABS warning lights.
Front suspension wear$660-$1,800 if not done
0failures cluster 84k-151k · this car: 141k, inside the window161k mi
Lower ball joints, bushings, and (on X-REAS models) the cross-linked shock system wear with age and mileage. Clunking over bumps, uneven tire wear, or vague steering.
Frame and undercarriage rustpriced only if found
Condition-driven, not mileage-driven, so it is not in the totals and inspection is the only answer. Flaking, scaling rust on the frame rails, crossmembers, and rear suspension mounts, sometimes with perforation.
windows from 154 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and community service data · · profile researched with cited sources, review pending
5 recalls + 195 service bulletins + 1 investigation →
Federal defect investigations
Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration · RQ10003
Recalls (verify completion by VIN)
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER · 16V396000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER · 14V743000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL · 11V113000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 10V035000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 10V036000
Service bulletins by area
EQUIPMENT (77) · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (34) · STRUCTURE (29) · ENGINE (15)
Hand this to your inspector
A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Scrape and probe the frame rails, rear shackle mounts, and crossmembers for scaling rust or perforation, especially on salt-belt trucks
02Inspect the dash top for cracking or a melting/sticky surface
03Test brake pedal feel and confirm no VSC, ABS, or slip indicator lights stay illuminated
04Check front suspension for play by rocking the wheel at 12/6 and 3/9 positions; listen for clunks on a test drive
Walking into a negotiation?
This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.
$29
saved to your garage
Just keeping tabs? , no account needed.
typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quotecheck another car →