I had a 99 Limited for 9 years and now an 01 SR5 for 6 years. The main differences that stand out to me are the hydraulic vs vacuum brakes, the VSC/ATRAC, the electronic throttle, the electronic A/C controls, and the multi mode being available on SR5 models.

• Hydraulic brake system makes a weird noise every 7 or so pumps, when coming to a halt I could slightly back off the 99 pedal for a seamless stop, not so in the 01. I think the brake capacity is supposed to be larger in the 01-02 and it is related to the J100-series system.
  
  
• I installed a switch to disable VSC/ATRAC, honestly VSC is a good safety feature when you're not off-roading or messing around. When you lock the center diff it turns off anyway.
  
  
• Electronic throttle makes the 4AT trucks feel way quicker especially with ECT power on. I cleaned the throttle body and tightened the throttle cable in my 99 to improve response but it was never like the 01. However, the 01 has a slight input delay after pressing the gas that I'm trying to get rid of. Going to do fuel filter, spark plugs, timing belt, and fuel injectors. If that doesn't work I'll try something like a Pedal Commander.
  
  
• The 99+ Limited had auto climate control, which I thought was cool (no pun intended) back in 2006 but eventually grew to tire of. Had to replace the backlight bulb two or three times, and by 200k the Texas heat made the unit go crazy and it wouldn't turn off or respond to turns of the dials properly. I think there is a repair service on ebay but this experience made me avoid 99-02 Limiteds altogether.
  
  The 01+ SR5 has basic climate control knobs but they all function electronically; there are no cable connections unlike the 96-00 SR5s. The actuators make weird noises sometimes. However I have also heard of the cable controls getting stuck over time so it's a catch-22 I suppose.
  
  
• Multi-mode is important to me because I use this thing on the road in inclement weather and it gives a very secure feeling. I like that you can get this with the base 01-02 SR5, yes you can just put cloth seats in a 99-00 Limited but they still have the auto climate control.
  
  
• No rear locker available, this is a good advantage of the 96-00 if you find one with it however in my use I've never needed it. I might install a truetrac in the rear at some point.
  
  
• Some little things with the 01-02, you can start in 2nd gear with low range to avoid shifting, all of them have 50 state emissions so you can read AFRs with a scangauge out the box, the cloth on the sunvisors feels much nicer.

My perfect 4Runner would be a 96-97 SR5 with cloth seats manual trans and multi-mode. Not sure if I would go for the TRD rear limited slip or the rear locker. I think you could get this combo on the JDM Hilux Surf but I haven't seen it yet. (Also the 90's Mitsubishi Pajero had this drivetrain and I've been eyeing imports lately.)

All in all I love the 3rd gen's size, styling, reliability, and refinement and will probably own one for as long as I can justify an SUV. Over the years of floods, ice storms, camping, road trips, and beach days it's never let me down. I may be using it as living accommodation soon if I become homeless. It's also old enough to invoke nostalgia which is something I can't get with a new truck!

If anyone is looking, I've got one for ya!

FS: 3rd GEN 4wd sr5 - white exterior/tan interior, $4000 orange, ca
2001 Toyota 4Runner - Cars & Trucks - Orange, California | Facebook Marketplace

I debated this question a lot when I was looking. I had my mind set on a 99/00 Limited with E-locker but came across a super clean (for MD anyway) 02 Limited and couldn't pass it up. All the reading I had done prior had suggested than the 99/00 were better, but the specifics were vague.

Let me start by saying that the 01/02 years are by no means unreliable. That said, I'm almost certainly that they are more *troublesome* than earlier years, more due to complexity and integrated parts than lack of reliability. There's no way I'm gonna sell mine for an earlier year, but if I were to go back I'd probably hold off for a 99/00.

Here's what I've found out in two years of ownership:

- The throttle body is integrated. This means if you have an issue with the some part of it (say, the TPS) you have to replace the whole thing (they go for $120 used and good luck finding one in a junkyard, at least in my area). I read that people recently found a work around, a way you could install the TPS if you do some sort of calibration, but it seemed a bit beyond my (admittedly basic) skills.

- The ADD sensor is integrated into to the ADD. A lot of 4WD fixes recommend replacing the sensor ("cheap easy fix!") but that's not possible on 01/02. You got to do the whole ADD (~$300 used).

- Unlike earlier years, the 4WD is fully electronic, instead of vacuum to electric. Not sure if this is bad or good, but I am sure that most write ups online are for the earlier models. Finding a thread relevant to your 4WD issue can be a PITA.

- The Transfer Case actuator is not removable without dropping the TC. On earlier years you can pull it out and replace the whole unit but not for 01/02. You can still pull off the actuator cap though and work on it from that angle.

- TRAC has been nothing but a pain for me. It's slowly become overactive to the point that I disable it every time I drive (via the Andy Mod).

- If anything in your brake assembly goes you're SOL. The pumps tend to wear out and a new unit is $2000 (used $500). I think mine's going out, based on the sound it makes, but it's been like that for over a year. I was lucky enough to find a brake assembly at a junkyard in TN for $25 but I think that's a rare find.

- Which brings me to junkyards. Maybe other places are different, but up here (Baltimore) it's near impossible to find an 01/02 in a yard with anything worthwhile on it. The taillights (which are particular to 01/02), TB, brake assembly, ADD, they go fast. It's also more rare to see these later years in the yard than the earlier ones.

- The EVAP system is on top of the fuel tank instead of under the hood. Replacing the canister means removing the drive shaft, dropping the tank, a good bit of work. On a 99 you just pop the hood.

- A lot of people say the transmission is less reliable. I have no means of comparison, but I have noticed that recently mine is a little slow to shift to 4th when it's cold in the morning and I got a couple pending codes a month back for the solenoids. I'm hoping it's just a solenoid and an easy fix, but who knows. I'm at 215k FWIW.

- The heated seats are nice, I guess.


It's still a 3rd Gen 4Runner. It's still a 300k+ vehicle. But I get the sense that it's just a little more frustrating (and expensive) to work on than earlier models.

Edit: not trying to dissuade you from building yours up by any means. I'm actually doing a similar build to mine, the end goal is 99 Talls / 906 with 5100s on all four corners and a winch tucked under the stock bumper. But I wish when I was looking that someone had put all the "derogatory information" (as they say in court) for the 01/02 in one place. So I figured I'd post this for anyone searching the forums in the future.

Ill beat it to death. 2001 with 260k miles and its been amazing.

Id hands down choose a 2001/2002 over the older ones. I love my AWD on those snowy days when the road goes ice, back to dry road, then ice again. The abs limited slip does work pretty good too. I have my disable switch if its annoying me.

I drive mine much harder than most and in some of the most exreme places on the planet. i live in the hottest place on the planet and im still rocking my stock transmission.

I did replace my transfercase but thats because I drove through a river, flooded the acuator and didnt realize it, so it rusted out. Was simpler to just pick up a junk yard one for $300 and swap it in.


Also locker is overrated unless your going to be doing gnarly rocky articulated routes. I can always find a way through where my tires have enough traction to get me over when im aired down.

They are more than nice.

Next to sliced bread, i find them the best idea to bring piping hot food home from curbside, which I hope continues to exist Forever!

Fair, I was a being less than generous with that comment. I actually pulled out my back moving a few months ago and heated seats have been pretty nice in the mornings because I'm usually pretty sore when I wake up. I just wish the 01/02 came with some sort of added feature that earlier models didn't have that wasn't so mundane. Seems kinda sad to swap an elocker for heated seats, though I know the latter certainly gets more use...

FWIW, super easy to install heated seats. Did that on my 00 and the great part is I can tell it to heat both cushions or just the backrest, which is great, because I rarely want the bottom cushion heated.