1996 Toyota 4runner Problems & Complaints

I have noticed that my vehicle doesn’t seem to be balance and most of the time i am afraid the tires will fall off by the movement of the vehicle. And the metal parts that attachment part it looks very bad on the metal parts like it rusted so bad. I hope they will be able to figure out whats wrong and if i am the only one who is experiencing this issue.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED AND FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALLBACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 256,000.

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLIPPING A LOT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED JUST RECENTLY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WASN'T BUT AFTER RESEARCHING MY 4RUNNER I'VE READ THERE WAS SOME RECALLS ON THE CAR ABOUT THE REAR SUSPENSION.

THE REAR AXLE/SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. JUST TOOK IT TO MY AUTO SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY WILL NOT PUT IT UP FOR AN OIL CHANGE BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID IT WILL COLLAPSE.

THE AXEL SUPPORT RUSTED OFF CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION

AXEL SUPPORTS RUSTED OFF THE FRAME MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE

FRAME IS RUSTING VARY BADLY, IN TWO YEARS THE FRAME THAT IS THE DRIVE TRAIN WILL BE ALL GONE RUST! AND AUTO WILL NOT BE DRIVABLE THEN

1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, THE FRAME IS RUSTTING OUT TOTALLY. THE TOTAL FRAME IS RUST OR GONE. THIS 4RUNNER WAS ZEBARTED WHEN NEW. I HAVE BOUGHT THIS 4RUNNER NEW FROM SUNSHINE TOYOTA BATTLE CREEK,MI

EXCESSIVE FRAME CORROSION. VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

TAKATA RECALL. ANTILOCK BRAKES SLIPPED AND DIDNT STOP. THE AIR BAGS OPEN UNTIL AFTER THE TRUCK WAS TOWED AND PARKED BACK AT MY HOUSE WHEN NO ONE WAS IN IT.

MY 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUFFERS FROM EXCESSIVE RUST THAT CAUSED ME TO BE HAVE A HORRIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO THE FRAME EXCESSIVELY CRACKING. THE CRACKING WAS DUE TO WHAT AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COMPANY STATING THAT THE RIGHT-REAR FRAME RAIL CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING. THE INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COMPANY POINTED TO NUMEROUS KNOWN REPORTING'S ON THE INTERNET AS A COMMON OCCURRENCE OF THIS VEHICLE. I MADE A PERSONAL CALL TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY LOGGED MY COMPLAINT BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY CLAIMS HEREIN TO HELP IN FIXING THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 137,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENCE. THE OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. I CROSSED AN AREA THAT HAD STANDING WATER (NOT DEEP BY ANY MEANS MIND YOU) AND THE REAR END COMPLETELY SHIFTED OUT TO THE RIGHT OF ME AND CAUSED ME TO SPIN. THIS WATER WENT ACROSS ALL THREE LANES AND NO ONE ELSE EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE I DID. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SPUN AROUND AND I ENDED UP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE FACING HEAD ON AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR HIT IN THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE SEPARATION FROM THE FRAME AFTER THIS. I AM UPLOADING THE RESULTS OF THE INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT STATING THEIR FINDINGS AND SHOWING PICTURES OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF MY 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I HAVE ALL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS. NEW TOYOTA PARTS HAVE BEEN USED IN ALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING MY 4RUNNER THIS SPRING, I NOTICED IT STARTING TO SWAY ON THE HIGHWAY. A REAR SWAY BAR BROKE OFF. I CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE SWAY WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. NOT ONCE DID MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT MENTION THAT MY FRAME WAS DETERIORATING FROM RUST. IT HAS BEEN ON THE LIFT A HUNDRED TIMES FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, SOME EXTENSIVE, AND NOT ONE MENTION OF A RUSTING FRAME. NOW, IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO REPAIR DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE RUST. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MAINTAINING MY 4RUNNER OVER THE YEARS. I FEEL TOYOTA HAS KNOWINGLY DECEIVED ALL 4RUNNER OWNERS OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF EARLY MODEL 4RUNNERS SHOULD BE ALERTED OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS LOSS OF CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IS IMMINENT.

FRAME RUST, A FAIR AMOUNT OF RUST IS CAUSING CONCERN AND MAKES ME QUESTION HOW TRUSTWORTHY VEHICLE IS. THE DATE LISTED ISNT THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT ITS ROUGHLY AROUND THE TIME THE EXTENT OF THE RUST HAD BEEN NOTICED.

FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. HOLES IN FRAME BIG ENOUGH TO PUSH YOUR WHOLE ARM THROUGH. AREAS OF FRAME CONNECTED TO SUSPENSION PREMATURELY RUSTING OUT. THIS REST OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BODY PANELS INCLUDED. WELDER TOLD ME ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY AND REPAIR TO THE FRAME IS VERY DIFFICULT ANF EXPENSIVE EVEN IF POSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 185,000 MILES AND RUNS GREAT. I HEAR CREAKING DEVELOPING AND AM AFRAID CAR MAY SPLIT IN HALF. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT STEPPING UP AFTER ADMITTING TO BADLY MANUFACTURED FRAMES.

SHOCK ABSORBER COMPLETELY WENT THREW THE FRAME CAUSING THE 4 RUNNER TO GO SIZE TO SIZE WHILE DRIVING. FRAME IS RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THE SAME EXACT FRAMES ON THE TACOMATACOMA GOT A RECALL, THEY REPLACED THEM. WHY WASNT THIS RECALLED ON THE 4RUNNER? AND THE SEATBELTS JUST POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHILE YOUR JUST DRIVING. SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN SOON OR SOMEBODY IS GONNA GET VERY HURT ,OR KILLED. 1 MORE THING. I HAD A WHEEL POP OFF ALSO FROM THE BALL JOINT BREAKING LUCKILY THAT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE MAIN ROAD I COULD'VE KILLED SOMEBODY.

I WAS GETTING ON THE HIWAY RAMP AND WAS TRAVELING 60PMH WHEN MY VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT LANE WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HELD STEADY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK TOYOTA IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS ON AUGUST 29,2017. IWAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND WOULD TAKE 2WEEKS TO COME IN. I CALLED 2WEEKS LATER AND COULD NOT GET ANY INFO ON THE PARTS ORDERED. TODAY IS 10/16/2016 AND STILL NO INFO. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE LITTLE BECAUSE IT HAS WANTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT LANE SEVERAL TIMES EVEN THOUGH I HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT.

THE FRAME HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT, REAR TRAILING ARM. MY SHOP TELLS ME THE FRAME IS TOO RUSTED TO REPAIR IT.

TAKATA RECALL I'M SUPER DISAPPOINTED IN THE RUST PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS, I'VE OWNED NOW THREE TACOMAS, ALL RUSTED OUT, I RECENTLY GAVE UP AND TRIED BUYING A 1996 4RUNNER, GOT A REALLY GOOD DEAL ON IT, I CAN SEE WHY ANYWAYS I BOUGHT IT AND IT TURNS OUT THE WHOLE FRAME WAS COATED SO I COULDN'T SEE RUST, WITH FURTHER INSPECTION THERE'S A BIG CRACK IN THE FRAME FROM RUST, AND THE WHOLE FRAME IS RUSTED. THE CRACK IS RIGHT BESIDE THE EXHAUST, I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED REPLACED, BUT WOULD COST 14-16 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THEN THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE INSPECTION 60 DOLLARS, WHEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME I'D BE CHARGED. TOYOTA REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP!!! FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SUN VISOR HOWEVER THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO FULFILL THE RECALL DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE A BAD RUST PROBLEM ON THE CHASSIS FRAME UNDERNEATH

WHILE CORNERING IN CITY DRIVING I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND INVESTIGATED WHEN I ARRIVED HOME. THE FRAME HAS CORROSION AT THE RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET. THE BRACKET WAS RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AT THE TOP BUT STILL ATTACHED AT THE BOTTOM. THE BRACKET AND FRAME WERE WELDED WITH ADDTIONAL METAL. I CHECKED THE REST OF THE FRAME AND NOTICED THERE IS ALSO A HOLE IN THE CROSSMEMBER BELOW THE DRIVERS SEAT AND OTHER LARGER RUSTED HOLES ALONG THE FRAME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A FRAME SHOP AS TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER ONLY THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA. I KNOW MANY OTHER 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNER OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE BODY HAS NO RUST OTHER THAN A SMALL SURFACE AREA AT THE DRIVERS DOOR ROCKER PANEL AND NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED.

FRAME BADLY ROTTED CROSSMEMBER FOR TRANSMISSION AND LEFT REAR ARE WORST .

I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT HAS FRAME IS RUSTED WITH LARGE HOLES. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET BUT I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SAME COMPANY HAS REPLACED FRAMES AND BOUGHT BACK OTHER MODELS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. HOW AM I (AS A 4RUNNER OWNER) JUST OVERLOOKED AND BRUSHED ASIDE.

FRAME IS SO ROTTED IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA. THEY REPLACED FRAMES ON THE TACOMA AND A FEW OTHERS, WHY NOT THE 4 RUNNER.

TRAVELING NB APPROACHING GREEN LIGHT AND A CAR RAN RED LIGHT IN INTERSECTION. THE CAR ON SB SWERVED ON MISS THEM, HIT THEM ANYWAY AND HIT ME HEAD ON. BOTH ON THEIR AIR BAGS WENT OFF AND MINE DID NOT. I AM STILL IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR PARTIAL ROTATOR CUFF TEAR, SPRAINED NECK, BACK, SHOULDER, ELBOW AND I STILL CANNOT USE RIGHT ARM FROM ELBOW DOWN. I HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I WANT TO KNOW WHY MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF.

SECOND OWNER OF THIS SUV THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR 12 YEARS. FRAME RUST ISSUES HAVE PROCEEDED TO THE POINT WHERE ONE MONTH AGO, THE LEFT REAR LATERAL AXLE LINK BRACKET BROKE FREE FROM THE FRAME. THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE REAR AXLE IS NOT TIED TO THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE FIXED/WELDED, BUT THE REST OF THE FRAME IS SO BAD THERE ISN'T MUCH TO WELD TO. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS GENERATION 4RUNNER AND ITS FRAME RUST ISSUES. I ALSO FOUND MANY CASES WHERE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE AXLE LINK BRACKET HAS OCCURRED. THIS REALLY SEEMS TO BE A BROADER ISSUE THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT REMEDIED FOR 4RUNNER OWNERS. DISAPPOINTED THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO KEEP THIS LONGER LIKE I'D PLANNED.

FRAME RUST ISSUE. REAR SHOCK AND SPRING MOUNT ON FRAME HAS BROKEN DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST.

1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WILL NOT PASS PENNSYLVANIA SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO FRAME RUST AND DETERIORATION. EXTENT OF DAMAGE MAY INHIBIT REPAIR WITHOUT TOTAL FRAME REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS NOT OPERABLE WITHOUT INSPECTION.

I HAVE OWNED MY 4RUNNER FOR 26 YEARS AND I HAVE METICULOUSLY CARED FOR IT. ONE OF MY SHOCKS GAVE WAY AND I BROUGHT IT IN FOR MY TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT IT. UPON MY HIS INSPECTION I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND OTHER PARTS UNDER THE TRUCK SUCH AS THE GAS LINE. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE RUNS STRONG WITH 209K ON IT. MY TECHNICIAN WOULD NOT DO ANY REPAIRS TO THIS FRAME BECAUSE OF HOW COORS ICE IT WAS. HE SHOWED ME SEVERAL FINGERS GOING THROUGH A STRESS POINT NEAR THE REAR AXEL. THE TRUCK LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND IS NOW USELESS WITH THE RUSTY FRAME. I LIVE IN SALTY CT AND BELIEVE THE FRAME WAS NOT PROPERLY CONDITIONED FROM THE FRAME FACTORY. VIN NUMBER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TAKATA RECALL. WAS NOTIFIED ALMOST A YEAR AGO ABOUT THE AIR BAG RECALL AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED A FIX.

KNOWN DOCUMENTED ISSUES WITH TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME ROT. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE THE CONTROL ARM SUPPORT BRACKETS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST THROUGH WITH HOLES APPEARING IN THE BRACKETS. THIS IS DOCUMENTED WITH PHOTOS! THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MY FATHER IN 96, ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT ,IN 2006 I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM HIM AND ALSO IS KEPT IN A DRY GARAGE NOT SITTING OUT OVER MOIST SOIL. THE 4RUNNER HAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. I AM A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO PERFORMS SAFETY INSPECTIONS AS I WORK FOR ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION WHEN I WAS HEARING AND READING STORIES OF THESE 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNERS HAVE STABILITY PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RUSTED OUT FRAME SUPPORT BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE CONTROL ARMS IN PLACE FOR THE REAR AXLE. THIS IS A MAIN FRAME COMPONENT , IF THE SUPPORT BRACKET BREAK FREE IT ALLOWS THE AXLE TO WANDER AROUND AS IT'S NOT BEING HELD IN PLACE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING STABILITY, IT IS A ROAD HAZARD THAT IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO KILL PEOPLE . I HAVE A 95 BLAZER THAT WAS PURCHASED SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE 4RUNNER AND I STILL HAVE IT! THE BODY ON THE BLAZER IS LITERALLY RUSTED EVERYWHERE HOWEVER,THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME IS STILL SOLID BUT THE FRAME IS RUSTED BADLY ! CONVERSELY, THE BODY ON THE 4RUNNER IS EXCELLENT ESPECIALLY FOR THE YEAR, HAVING A RUSTED OUT BODY IS A APPEARANCE ISSUE NOT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AS IN THE 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT RESIDE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST. TOYOTA HAS A A BUY BACK PROGRAM WITH TUNDRA PICKUPS THAT HAVE FRAMES THAT ARE SAFETY HAZARDS. I FEEL THESE 4RUNNERS ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE TUNDRAS, TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE THE FRAMES EITHER REPLACED OR BUY THE VEHICLE BACK! I TOOK GREAT CARE OF THIS 4RUNNER IT LOOKS GREAT ,HOWEVER I CAN NOT SELL IT DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CONTROL ARM BREAKING FREE FROM THE FRAME CAUSED BY INSIDE FRAME ROT.

FRAME BROKE DUE TO RUST BY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 30MPH ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD. HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO FIND OUT IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF 4RUNNER. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT COULD OF COSTED ME MY LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S AND BEING AS COMMON OF A PROBLEM AS IT IS I FEEL IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THERE'S NO REASON A FRAME SHOULD RUST AS BAD AND AS QUICK AS THIS CONSIDERING IT HAS BEEN UNDERCOATED EVERY YEAR OF ITS LIFE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 224,000.

HI, THE FRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED. IT HAD A SMALL TEAR ON A WELD. NOW IT HAS A LARGE TEAR IN THE FRAME. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS RUSTING AT ALL THE WELD POINTS AT A ACCELERATED RATE AND OR THE FRAME ITSELF IS NOT THICK ENOUGH. I HAVE READ OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT OWN THIS CAR AND THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. I KNOW THAT THE TACOMA HAS BEEN RECALLED AND IT HAS THE EXACT SAME FRAME-------PLEASE ADVISE AS THIS CAR IS NOT EVEN 20 YEARS OLD......THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION OTHERWISE AND IN NO WAY SHOULD BE READY FOR THE JUNK YARD........

ON DECEMBER 31, 2014 WE WERE DRIVING IN HILLSBORO, OH AND NOTICED A POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE UPON STOPPING AND ACCELERATING. ON THE WAY HOME, WE NOTICED THAT THE NOISE SUBSIDED. ON JANUARY 1, 2015, WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JUST OUTSIDE OUR CORPORATION LIMIT AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SWAYING BACK AND FORTH LIKE A BOAT OUT ON THE WATER, AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WIND. ON JANUARY 2, 2015 WE WERE TRAVELLING ON US 35 TOWARDS CHILLICOTHE, OH AND HIT A RIPPLE IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 45 MPH. WE PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE FRONT END AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WE TOOK OFF AGAIN AND IT DID THE SAME THING AT ABOUT THE SAME SPEED AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO GUSWEILER TOYOTA IN WASHINGTON C.H. OH APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY. A TECHNICIAN INFORMED US THAT THE FRAME WAS BROKEN WHERE THE LEFT REAR TORTION BAR HOOKS TO THE FRAME. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION WE FOUND THAT THE FRAME HAS CRACKS ALL THROUGH IT. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2013 FROM A USED CAR DEALER WHO BOUGHT IT FROM JOSEPH AIRPORT TOYOTA IN DAYTON OH. TO DATE WE ONLY PUT 5,169 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN JUST SITTING EVER SINCE.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 1996 4RUNNER AT THE BEGINNING OF 2015. THERE WAS SOME RUST ON THE FRAME BUT NO NOTICEABLE DAMAGE FROM THE OUTSIDE. NOW, SIX MONTHS LATER I HAD IT LOOKED AT BECAUSE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BECAME INCREASINGLY LOUD. THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE FRAME WHILE LOOKING AT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND HE FOUND THAT THE FRAME HAD ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. HE RECOMMENDED I DO NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE AS IT IS UNSAFE. HE SAID HE WOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO REPAIR DAMAGE SUCH AS MY 4RUNNER HAS. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 166,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO REASON THE FRAME SHOULD BE AS DAMAGED AS IT IS OR TO HAVE IT RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

I HAVE EXTREME FRAME RUST.

AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE BECAME SEVERELY POOR HANDLING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS REALIZED THAT THE MOUNTING FLANGE FOR THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM AND FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THE CONTROL ARM WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE FRAME. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND HIT A POTHOLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION THE FRAME HAD BROKE INTO BECAUSE IT WAS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON IN THE CAR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED WITH A LOSS OF CONTROL. LUCKILY IT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON AND RUSH HOUR HAD YET TO HIT SO THE NEAREST CARS/TRUCKS WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME. I LIMPED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK ONLY TO SEE THAT THE FRAME RAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD COMPLETELY SNAPPED IN HALF. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT HAD CLEARLY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I HAVE KEPT THE TRUCK IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, REGULAR MAINTENANCE, ETC AND EVEN CHECKED FOR RUST SINCE I KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE. HOWEVER SINCE IT RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, I HAD NEVER EVEN NOTICED. GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WOULD PROCEED TO INFORM ME THAT THE ONLY FIX FOR IT WAS A NEW FRAME. PERFECT 4RUNNER, LOW MILES, WITH EXCELLENT CARE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD LAST 300K, AND NOW ITS WORTH LESS THAN A ROTTEN BANANA. TALK ABOUT A PUNCH TO THE FACE. IM JUST THANKFUL MY FAMILY AND I WERE NOT HURT IN THIS MESS. I'VE READ ABOUT THE CONSTANT RUST ISSUES WITH THESE TRUCKS AND I PRAY THAT IT DOESN'T HURT AN ENTIRE FAMILY SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE OTHER THAN THEIR WALLET. *TR

I WAS PULLING A U HAUL TRAILER AS I HAVE DONE MANY TIMES, BUT THIS TIME I NOTICED THE TRAILER WANTED TO SWAY AT 40-55 MPH. WHEN I RETURNED THE TRAILER I THEN NOTICES THE TRUCK HANDLING BADLY, AT 65MPH IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP IT IN MY LANE AS IT WAS ROCKING SIMILAR TO HAVING A BROKEN STRUT. I GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND CALLED UNDER IT AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW THE MOUNT FOR THE LOWER RIGHT REAR CONTROL HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE FRAME. UNLESS THIS CAN BE REPAIRED, WHICH IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THE TRUCK WILL HAVE TO BE SCRAPPED. ALL OTHER FEATURES ON THIS TRUCK ARE IN GREAT WORKING ORDER. TOYOTA NEED TO DO SOMETHING. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD A 95 TACOMA WHO RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA THAT INSTRUCTED HIM TO COME IN ONCE A YEAR FOR A FREE INSPECTION FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, IF IT DIDN'T PASS TOYOTA WOULD BY THE TRUCK BACK. I'M TRYING TO CONTACT THE ZONE OFFICE NOW TO SEE WHAT ACTION I NEED TO TAKE. I HAVE A 1957 CHEVY 3/4 TON TRUCK AND HAS NO RUST ISSUES, WHAT'S YOUR DEAL TOYOTA!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND DETACHED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE FRAME ON MY 1996 4RUNNER IS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. A PLACE WITH SIGNIFICANT RUST HAD BEND AND WOULD BREAK OFF AT ANY MOMENT. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COMPLETELY USELESS AT THIS POINT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE MAIN FRAME IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL FRACTURED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION HAD CORROSION BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 195,000.

WHILE DRIVE DOWN THE HIGH WAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK UNDER MY TRUCK. I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROAD I JUST HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND AFTER THAT MY TRUCK WOULD SWAY AND DRIFT TO THE LEFT DRAMATICALLY TO THE POINT I ALMOST COULDN'T CONTROL WHAT DIRECTION MY TRUCK WAS GOING I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 20 MPH AND PULL OVER. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE MECHANIC THEY TOLD ME THAT FRAME AS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED ENTIRELY. THE TRUCK IS AMAZING TRUCK ENGINE RUNS LIKE ITS BRAND NEW BUT THE ENTIRE FRAME RUSTS WAY TO EASY. AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE 96-99 4RUNNER FRAME. BEFORE SOME ONE GETS IN A ACCIDENT. OR IS THAT WHAT TOYOTAS WAITING FOR BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MAJOR ISSUE THAT HAPPENS TO ALL 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNER. *TR

I SEE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ORDERED A RECALL ON 2001-2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILING. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT IS THE SAME FOR YEARS 1996-2002 AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THEIR BALL JOINT FAIL ON YEARS PRIOR TO 2001. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY ONLY YEARS 2001-2002 ARE COVERED? THIS IS A LIABILITY AND TOYOTA SHOULD KNOW THAT THE SAME PART NUMBER IS COVERED FOR ALL 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNERS AND IT IS FAILING ON ALL 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNERS. PLEASE DO A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS PEOPLE GETTING INTO ACCIDENTS, FLIPS, ETC. ON 4RUNNERS THAT ARE PRE 2001 (1996-2000) BECAUSE OF LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL OF PEOPLE BRINGING SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA AS WELL AS THE SAFETY COMMISSION FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN FIXING THIS MATTER. *TR

RUST ON FRAME. ADVISED THAT IT MAY NOT BE SAFE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED TO THE POINT OF DETERIORATION. THE AFFECTED AREA WAS NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO OFFERED AN INTERIM FIX TO COAT THE EXTENSIVE RUSTING AND THE DETERIORATION OF THE FRAME. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE REMEDY TO REPLACE THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PRESENT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE METAL BAR THAT HELD THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED AND BECAME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

DUE TO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RUST THE FRAME BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. LUCKILY THE BREAKAGE DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT DID CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE SIDE TO SIDE UNCONTROLLABLY. IF THE BREAKAGE HAD OCCURRED AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED OR IF THE BREAKAGE (CAUSING INCREASED TORQUE/PRESSURE IN OTHER AREAS) HAD SPAWNED ADDITIONAL BREAKAGES IN THE MANY OTHER RUSTED THIN LOCATIONS, I FEEL SURE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE. A QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF SERIOUS RUST PROBLEMS ON 4RUNNERS....AND TOYOTA HAS ALREADY RECALLED MANY OF THEIR TRUCK FRAMES FOR SIMILAR EXCESSIVE RUST PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT AND 4RUNNER OWNERS ALL OVER THE US ARE AT RISK. I HOPE MY COMPLAINT IS THE ONE THAT FINALLY FORCES TOYOTA TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT BEFORE MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE A NEAR-MISS (OR WORSE). *TR

AS I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED, I HAVE THE CLASSIC 4RUNNER REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEEPAGE. MINE IS A 1996. SEEMS TO BE DUE TO A BAD CASTING FROM FACTORY. NEVER HAVE I RUN INTO THIS BEFORE. VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY WASHED, HARDLY ANY RUST ON ENTIRE VEHICLE, BUT FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASTING TO BE RUSTED THROUGH/POROUS ENOUGH TO SEEP GEAR OIL THROUGH THE INTERSTICES WHILE MAINTAINING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY (SAFETY ISSUE?!!!!!) IS A MAJOR FAILURE FOR TOYOTA AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND SHOULD BE REDEEMED BY COMPANY. I SEE FROM READING ONLINE BLOGPOSTS THAT I AM 1 OF MANY THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I'VE HAD MANY OTHER OLDER VEHICLES, ONE IN MY POSSESSION NOW (1989 FORD F-150 WHICH HAS BEEN USED IN WINTER BUT SAT ALL LAST SUMMER, AND HASN'T BEEN WASHED IN YEARS) THAT HAS NO PROBLEMS REMOTELY LIKE THIS RELATED TO THE REAR AXLE. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE TOYOTA PUT OUT FAULTY REAR AXLE HOUSINGS, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX THESE---AS I'M SEEING THROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY TOYOTA OWNERS. SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AND I'M AFRAID THEY WILL LOSE MANY CUSTOMERS (INCLUDING MYSELF) IF THEY CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE ISSUE. TOO BAD. THE TRUCK STILL RUNS AND LOOKS GREAT OTHERWISE. SEEMS LIKE A LARGE PRICE TO PAY AS FAR AS LOSS OF BUSINESS FOR TOYOTA, BUT TO NOT ADDRESS A SIMPLE MISTAKE LIKE THIS AND MAKE THE CUSTOMER HAPPY?-----THEIR CHOICE. IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND MAKE THEM REPAIR THEIR MISTAKE, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT, AS I'M SURE MANY FORMERLY HAPPY TOYOTA CUSTOMERS WOULD AGREE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, A CONCERNED CONSUMER. *TR

THE REAR END OF THE FRAME BROKE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK BY THE REAR WHEEL GOING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY OUT OF CONTROL. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THERE WAS AN ON COMING SEMI & ANOTHER ONE FOLLOWING BEHIND ME, WAY TOO CLOSE OF COURSE. THIS SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME FOR I THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY 4RUNNER FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1996 & PRIDED MYSELF FOR IT LOOKING LIKE NEW. ALL THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED OVER THE YEARS. IT DOES NOT LEAK ANY FLUID OR BURN ANY OIL WITH 250,230 MILES ON IT. IN FACT I RECEIVE COMPLIMENTS REGULARLY ON IT'S EXCELLENT CONDITION. NO DOOR DINGS, KEEP IT POLISHED & IN THE WINTER RINSE THE UNDER BODY AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK TO KEEP THE SALT OFF. I HAD PLANNED ON DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 100,000 MILES. AFTER ESCAPING A NEAR DEATH ACCIDENT I NURSED IT OVER TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG BY SIMPLY LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY PUT IT UP ON THE LIFT & ASKED ME TO COME LOOK AT IT. I WAS IN DISBELIEF AT WHAT I HAD SAW. A PORTION OF THE FRAME THAT KEPT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL IN PLACE WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED. WHEN I ASKED THEM WHAT COULD BE DONE THEY SUGGESTED A NEW FRAME. I SAID CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST HE SAID HE WOULD CHECK & COME & GET ME. HE CAME BACK SEVERAL MINUTES LATER TO TELL ME IT WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $10,000.00. EVEN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION THE VEHICLE MIGHT BE WORTH $3,000.00. NOT ONLY DO I NOT HAVE $10,000.00 TO FIX & IF I DID, WOULD I? I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT REPLACING FRAMES, BUT I KNOW IT'S NO SMALL JOB. WOULD IT BE WORTH IT? I BOUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LAST FOREVER. NOW I'M LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE & I HAVE NOTHING TO TRADE IN! WILL TOYOTA STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED CORROSION OF THE FRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,864 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250.884.

ON JULY 7, 2012, I WAS DRIVING MY 1996 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WHEN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE FAILED. THE FOUR TIRES WERE DUNLOP GRAND TREK AT21 P265170R16 (111S M+S 014814), PURCHASED NEW AND INSTALLED IN JUNE 2007. I DRIVE LESS THAN 8,000 MILES PER YEAR ON THIS VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE ON THE FAILED TIRE WAS ONLY 25,843 MILES. IT WAS PROPERLY INFLATED. I DID NOT STRIKE ANY OBJECT ON THE FREEWAY. THE SUV WAS IN EXCELLENT RUNNING ORDER AND WELL MAINTAINED. AT THE TIME OF THE TIRE FAILURE, I WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE I-80 IN IOWA ON MY WAY FROM KANSAS CITY TO CHICAGO. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT MILEPOST 287.5, WEST OF DAVENPORT, IOWA. I TRIED TO CONTROL THE SUV, BUT I STRUCK THE MEDIAN MADE OF STEEL POSTS AND ANTI-CROSSOVER CABLES, FIRST SUSTAINING DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER?S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEN, THE SUV HIT A POTHOLE IN THE MEDIAN AND SPUN 180 DEGREES STRIKING THE POST AND CABLE BARRIER MEDIAN AGAIN WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH BENT THE FRAME AND CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO ALL BODY PANELS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. I CAME TO REST ALONG THE MEDIAN FACING BACKWARDS, IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, I DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLE, AND MY PASSENGER SUSTAINED ONLY A VERY SORE KNEE THAT BUMPED AGAINST THE DASHBOARD. THE IOWA STATE PATROL ARRIVED AND HANDLED THE SITUATION (REPORT AND PHOTOS AVAILABLE). THE SUV WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE BODY METAL WAS PULLED OUT. -- THE MECHANIC AT THE STORE SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE BAD TIRE MAY HAVE DELAMINATED BEFORE COMPLETELY FAILING, AND FROM THE VERY GOOD CONDITION OF THE OTHER 3 TIRES, IT WAS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE. -- THE SUV WAS DRIVABLE THE NEXT DAY DESPITE THE EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE TO NEARLY ALL BODY PANELS. THE BODY WORK WAS ESTIMATED AT $7,026 AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I REPORTED THE TIRE FAILURE AND ACCIDENT TO DUNLOP/GOODYEAR, WHICH SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AT ALL BECAUSE I DID NOT KEEP THE FAILED TIRE. *TR

AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, I INCREASED MY SPEED TO 60 MPH. AFTER GOING OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO ROLL. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WHERE I CHECKED TO SEE WHY THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THIS. TO MY SURPRISE THE REAR CONTROL ARM ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF OF THE FRAME DUE TO WHAT MY OPINION WAS RUST. AFTER RECEIVING A MORE DETAILED INSPECTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL SHOP, THE WHOLE FRAME WAS SHOWN TO HAVE HOLES DUE TO RUST. AFTER THIS DISCOVERY THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT I SHOULD INFORM TOYOTA ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND SEE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY. WHEN I DID CALL TOYOTA THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD DO. *TR

I HAD A MECHANIC REPLACING ROTORS ON BRAKES AND WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP TODAY, HE TOLD ME THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS RUSTING AWAY. HE ADVISED ME TO AVOID HITTING ANY HOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD SINCE THE FRAME SUPPORTING THE GAS TANK IS VERY DAMAGED FROM RUST. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT TRUST DRIVING IT VERY FAR DISTANCES SINCE THINGS WERE GOING TO START FALLING OFF UNDERNEATH. *TR

THE FRAME ON MY 96 4 RUNNER LIMITED IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT LONG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BY THE GAS TANK WHERE THE REAR BODY MOUNT AND TRAILING ARM MEET THE FRAME. BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE FRAME RAILS ARE ROTTED THROUGH. MY 4 RUNNER BODY IS IN PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO RUST. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH ONLY MINIMAL SURFACE RUST. WITHOUT PERIODIC INSPECTION IT WOULD NEVER BE KNOWN THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED BECAUSE THE REST OF THE VEHICLEE IS NEAR PERFECT CONDITION. *TR

THE VEHICLE RIGHT REAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHED (BROKE) FROM FRAME (STRUT ROD FASTENED TO THE FRAME). I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE BUT REGAINED, NARROWLY MISSING A LITTLE GIRL ON HER BIKE. TOYOTA HAS HAD RECALLS ON TACOMA, TUNDRA, AND SOME SIENNA FOR PREMATURELY RUSTED AND BROKEN FRAMES. I CALLED TOYOTA IN LOCAL TOWN AND THEY SAID MY VIN NUMBER HAS HAD NO RECALL. TO MY RESEARCH, THE 4-RUNNER HAS THE SAME FRAME AND BUILD AS THE TACOMA WITH NUMEROUS RECALLS. MECHANIC STATED THE BREAK SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I HAVE KEPT THIS VEHICLE WITHIN ALL MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. I TRUSTED TOYOTA AS A VEHICLE THAT WAS SAFE AND DEPENDABLE. *TR

MY 4 RUNNER HAS AN EXTREMELY ROTTED FRAME THAT RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. TOYOTA SAYS THEIR SORRY BUT THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T WARRANT A REPAIR OR RECALL. JUST A LITTLE INVESTIGATING INDICATES THAT THEIR ARE MANY UNHAPPY 4 RUNNER OWNERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT THEIR TACOMA TRUCK WAS RECALLED FOR FRAME ROT PROBLEMS AND MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT BOTH FRAMES ARE VERY SIMILAR. *TR

DIFFERENTIAL/AXLE HOUSING RUSTED OUT. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK THIS PAST WEEK AND NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING AND WHERE THE SUSPENSION PARTS CONNECT TO THE HOUSING. THIS IS WHAT HOLDS THE DIFFERENTIAL/AXLE ASSEMBLY TO THE TRUCK. IF LEFT UNCHECKED THE COVER WILL EVENTUALLY RUST OUT AND LEAK OIL AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A CRASH IF THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKS UP DUE TO NO FLUID. ALSO THE BRACKETS COULD RUST OUT CAUSING THE SUSPENSION PARTS TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE HOUSING CAUSING A CRASH. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE ON 4RUNNERS AND WELL DOCUMENTED ON MANY INTERNET FORUMS. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHILE DRIVING AND GO OFF AND ON. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON TILL I TURNED THE POWER OFF IN THE CAR AND RE-STARTED THE CAR. MY HUSBAND HAS INSTALLED NEW HEADLIGHTS TWICE BUT THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN GREENVILLE, NC AND THEY TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I CONTINUE TO ONLY HAVE ONE HEADLIGHT TO DRIVE WITH, THE LEFT OR RIGHT, I USUALLY START OUT WITH BOTH ON AND THEN ONE WILL GO OUT. I AM VERY SCARED ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA 1-800 NUMBER TO ASK FOR ADVICE BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND TO TAKE MY CAR TO A TOYOTA GARAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BUMPER AND FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND EXHIBITED MANY HOLES IN THE MIDSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT A RECALL ON MY 1996 LIMITED 4RUNNER. THERE WAS A REAR COIL SPRING RECALL. I TOOK MY 4RUNNER TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SPRINGS REPLACED AND WAS INFORMED BY THEIR MECHANIC THAT THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTY WITH HOLES THAT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON IT AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE A SERVICE REP LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE 4RUNNER BACK AT A LATER DATE. I WAS NOT GIVEN A LOANER CAR EVEN AFTER I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS LATER I DROVE THE 4RUNNER BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION BY A TOYOTA SERVICE REP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. HE STATED THAT THE 4RUNNER WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND TOYOTA WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY THEN PERFORMED THE COIL SPRING RECALL AFTER THEY STATED IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I MADE MANY CALLS TO TOYOTA WITH NO HELP. TO STOP ME FROM CALLING THEY STATED THEY WOULD GIVE ME $1000 TOWARDS A NEW OR USED TOYOTA PURCHASED FROM A TOYOTA DEALER. MUCH DOCUMENTATION WAS DONE ON THIS PROBLEM AND NO ONE FROM TOYOTA HAS EVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT MY UNSAFE 4RUNNER BEING REMOVED FROM SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. *TR

ACCELERATOR STICKS. WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT STICKS WITHOUT MOVING. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO MOVE IS BY PUTTING EVER INCREASING PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL UNTIL IT SUDDENLY BREAKS FREE AND THE CARE LURCHES FORWARD. *TR

CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR ENGAGES. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT MY GAS PEDAL STICKING. THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX IT AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG! *TR

I HAVE A 1996 4RUNNER THAT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION UNTIL SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, BECAME A RUNAWAY VEHICLE, AND STRUCK A GAS STATION BUILDING, RESULTING IN SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE. I PAID $7800.00 TO FIX THE TRUCK AND INSURANCE COMPANY PAID TO FIX DAMAGES TO THE GAS STATION. I HAVE POLICE REPORT FOR THE ACCIDENT AND NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE MEDIA REPORT OF WORN/DEFECTIVE GAS PEDAL CAUSING SIMILAR ACCIDENTS. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTING JUST LIKE THE TOYOTA TACOMA RECALL. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE WAS NOT A RECALL SINCE BOTH VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME STRUCTURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

I-26 ROCKS EVERYWHERE FLYING UP CRACKING WINDSHIELD. HAVE A CRACK HALLWAY ACROSS FRONT WINDSHIELD WITH 5-7 CHIPS IN VARIOUS PLACES. CORRECTION SHOULD BE ROAD SEALED AND ROAD SWEPT. HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. *TR

WITHIN A ONE WEEK PERIOD, I EXPERIENCED SEPARATION IN TWO TIRES. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIRES PRIOR TO FAILURE, HOWEVER A SEVERE VIBRATION WAS DETECTED PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. THE TIRES IN QUESTIONS WERE MANUFACTURED BY DEAN TIRE AND RUBBER. WILDCAT RADIAL LT. 265/75R16. DESIGN 8126. OTHER NUMBERS ON THE TIRE ARE 14589-2 AND R5512. *TR

TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED 1996 VINTAGE...STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BIGTIME *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT ISNT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR HONORED SINCE JANUARY 1, 2007. THE RELATED RECALL# IS 0V021000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115000.

HELLO, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT OVER THIS WEEKEND DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE TIRE BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SMASHING INTO A CEMENT CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY MANY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME TIRES HAVE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE TIRES BLOWING OR TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN TO PREVENT THESE TIRES FROM KILLING ANYONE. THANK YOU, TRUC NGUYEN BELOW IS JUST A FEW COMPLAINTS I FOUND WHILE DOING MY RESEARCH FOR YOUR REVIEW. THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED! CHERYL OF TAXARKANA TX (3/10/04): MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY NEW CAR, A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. THE TIRE BLEW FROM THE SIDEWALL AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT THE CENTER WALL UNDER AN OVERPASS. DID ABOUT $6,000 IN DAMAGE. THE POLICEMAN WHO DID THE REPORT SAID TIRE DEFECT. THE GENERAL MANAGER FROM M&M GOODYEAR SAID, TIRE DEFECT. SEVERAL OF GOODYEAR COMPETITORS (COOPER TIRE CO.) SAID TIRE WAS A DEFECT. CHARLES OF SOUTHSIDE AL (3/8/04): BOUGHT NEW SET OF REPLACEMENT GOODYEAR WRANGLE RT/S TIRES 02/22/04. 527 MILES LATER ON 03/03/04 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLOWS OUT CAUSING ME TO LEAVE THE ROAD WITH MINOR DAMAGE. SEARS FINALLY REPLACES THE TIRE 3 DAYS LATER DUE TO NOT BEING IN STOCK. THIS WAS LAST SATURDAY. THIS MORNING ANOTHER TIRE BLOWS OUT ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE (NOW ONLY 686 MILES). THIS TIME NO WRECK BUT THE RIM IS DAMAGED. BERNARD OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK AR (7/9/01): I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE MY TIRE BLEW OUT IN A CURVE AND FORCED ME TO HAVE TO DRIVE ACROSS A MEDIAN DRAINAGE DITCH. I AM NOT TRYING TO BRING ON SOME MAJOR LAW SUIT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO DO I TALK TO TO GET MY EXPENDITURE RECOUPED WITH A MAJOR INCIDENT. I DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR INJURIES, AND I AM ONLY LOOKING TO GET MY TRUCK PUT BACK IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS WORN. THE VEHICLE RESIDES AT THE DEALER WAITING ADDITIONAL INSPECTION.

OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. COOLANT IS LEAKING AND OIL SLUDGE IS BUILDING UP WITHIN THE MANIFOLD. IT IS USING 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND SMOKING WILL BADLY WHEN FIRST CRANKED. CAR CHECKED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. *JB

HAPPENED TO NOTICED FLUID AROUND RIM. REPEATED REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. BELIEVE BACK SPACING OF SEAL AGAINST THE ABS RING IS OF A QUARTER OF INCH. CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND CREATE LOUD GRINDING HUM. BRAKES HAVE BECOME SOAKED IN GEAR OIL. CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND SMOKE PROFUSELY. BELIEVETOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AFTER GOING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER IN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE MEDIAN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. EVOQ FILED BY: EVELYN PRITCHETT 540-286-7169. *AK RECALL # COULD NOT BE FOUND BUT THE CONSUMER SENT IN A COPY OF A SAMPLE RECALL NOTICE FOR 1996-1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING OR RUFF ROAD CONDITIONS. *TC

WHILE DRIVING AT 120 KMPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DUNLOP#26560R16 DOT#DB72A16 . *LA *LA

RECALL 02V021000 CONCERNING REAR SUSPENSION. CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIRS DONE ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

AFTER MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL 02V021000 PERFORMED THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE . THIS HAS OCCURRED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS.*AK *NM

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON 5VZ-FE ENGINE. THIS WAS EXACTLY 3 YEARS & 53K MILES AFTER THE TOYOTA SSC (SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN) X01. IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY HEAD GASKETS ON MY 4RUNNER. ALSO REPLACED AT THE TIME WERE THE; TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, & THERMOSTAT. THE TRUCK HAS HAD ALL OF IT'S DEALER/MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED SERVICES AND OIL CHANGES. UPON TEAR DOWN THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT BOTH ALUMINUM HEADS WERE CRACKED BETWEEN THE VALVES AT 2-3 PLACES.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE 5VZ-FE BI-METAL ENGINE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. ACCORDING TO THE THE AUTHORIZED DEALER (TOYOTA 101 OF REDWOOD CITY), THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO THE ALUMINUM HEADS TO CRACK AROUND THE VALES. I AM AWARE THAT TOYOTA HAD A NATIONAL RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS FOR THE 5VZ-FE V6 ENGINES FOR MOST MODEL TRUCKS (4RUNNER & TACOMA) MANUFACTURED IN THE 1990'S.THE RECALL WAS UNDER THE GUISE OF A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN SSC-X01. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS ARE THE CORE REASON FOR THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MY 4RUNNER'S ENGINE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES CORP. IN SAN RAMON, CA & TORRANCE, CA ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS COMPLAINING OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. I ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE & GOOD WILL WARRANTY, BUT RECEIVED UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA HAS NO INTEREST IN TAKING RESPONSIBILTY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. LEAVING CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS. I AM SEEKING THE FAIR AND REASONABLE REPAIR OF MY ENGINE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

CONSISTENT BRAKE PAD CRACKING ON TOYOTA HIGH PERFORMANCE, TRD, BRAKES. THE TRD SEMI-METALLIC BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST 6 WEEKS AFTER HEARING AND FEELING GRINDING NOISES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. INSPECTION WITH THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE CONTACT PORTION OF THE BRAKE PADS EXHIBITED HAIRLINE CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE PADS. THIS OCCURRED BOTH TIMES. TRD WARRANTED THEM AND REPLACED THEM BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEY ARE ONLY PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PADS AND NOT THE LABOR INVOLVED. ALEX BOLDMAN, A CALIFORNIA TRD REP HAVE DENIED HEARING REPORTS REGARDING ISSUES WITH THESE PADS. IN CONTRAST, A MATT FLORES, WITH DALY CITY TOYOTA, HAS HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS SO FAR. TRD DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKE PADS. *LA

I HAVE A 1996 4RUNNER AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT VIBRATES WHEN I BRAKE HARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN I GO DOWNHILL. I CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES MY TRUCK STARTED SHAKING LIKE A EARTHQUAKE. IT WAS VERY SERIOUS. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND I COULD HAVE DIED. IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT. BRAKE PADS ARE OK. PLEASE CHECK THIS WEBSITE TO SEE SIMILAR PROBLEM. HTTP://TOYOTAOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?ACT=ST&F=5&T=1147& *PH

THE 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HIT A STOP SIGN POLE AND A BIG TREE AT 50 TO 60 MPH DURING WET WEATHER. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN THE COLLISION OF THE DRIVERS HEAD TO THE STEERING WHEEL. *NLM

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. *AK *JB

PER THE CONSUMER THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION 02V-021, TOYOTA MOTOR, CLEVELAND OH, 216-321-9100 .*JB

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING EXHAUSTS LEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY DEALER TECHNICIAN NOTICE CORROSION ON THE CROSSOVER PIPE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 021 000. CONTACTED DEALER, AND PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

SEATBELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. HAD TO CUT BELT TO RELEASE 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN PAIN DUE TO EXTREME TIGHTNESS OF BELT.*AK

CONSUMER HAD REAR SUSPENSION REPAIRS PRIOR TO RECALL SSC20A NOTIFICATION. DEALER REPACKED AND ADJUSTED REAR AXLE AND REPLACED BEARINGS. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. *TT

FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED, DEALER LUBRICATED CALIPERS, REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. DEALER ALSO REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES, AND BRAKE FLUID. ABS RETAINER RINGS WERE REPLACED ALSO. *TT

AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 02 V021 000, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS REAR OF VEHICLE LOST DIRECTIONAL STABILITY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/COLLISION. *AK

WHEN CARRYING MORE WEIGHT VEHICLE GRINDS AND FISHTALES IN BACK. WEIGHT IS ON SHOCKS INSTEAD OF SPRINGS WHICH CAUSES SHOCKS TO WEAR OUT.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS FORM IS TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH A CARSEAT.... MANUFACTURER: EVENFLO, PRODUCT: ON MY WAY INFANT CARSEAT, #[XXX], MANUFACTURER DATE 2/28/2000. THEY PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE CARSEAT IS WITH THE STRAPS. WHEN I WET TO TIGHTEN MY SON AFTER HE WAS BUCKLED IN, PLASTIC PIECE WHICH HOLD THE STRAP CAME UNSCREWED. I WENT TO TIGHTEN THE SCREW AND SINCE THE SCREW SCREWS INTO THE PLASTIC, THE PLASTIC WHOLE WAS STRIPPED AND I COULDN'T GET IT TIGHT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO EVENFLO AND I AM GETTING A REFUND FROM THEM. I WOULD LIKE THIS SEAT TO BE TESTED FURTHER. WHEN I WENT TO BABIES R US, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, SO I KNOW I'M NOT THE FIRST ONE THAT THIS HAPPENED TO. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

THIS COMPONENT HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, REQUIRING 7 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PART REPLACEMENT 3 TIME. THE LAST TIME THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MAIN FAILURE IS IN A CHEAP PLASTIC BUSHING THAT CONSTANTLY FALLS APART. THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHILE WORKABLE DOES BECOME SOMEWHAT JERKY IN ITS WORKING AS WELL AS NOISY AFTER THIS PART BREAKS.

MY ENGINE CATASTROPICALLY FAILED AT 71K MILES. MY VEHICLE HAD MAJOR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS. THE FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD IN MY ENGINE ENDANGERED MY LIFE AND THOSE OF MY WIFE AND SON BY CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SEIZE UP IN TRAFFIC. THE TOTAL TIME ELAPSED FROM WHEN MY ENGINE WAS PROPERLY FUNCTIONING TO WHEN WE WERE COMPLETELY MOTIONLESS WAS 45 SECONDS. WE NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING HIT BY LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TOYOTA WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE TO ME IN THIS MATTER. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE 60K WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING MY CONCERNS. MY BILL TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED $5100.00. I STILL POSSES THE FAILED BLOCK AND COMPONENSTS. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THREW AWAY SOME OF THE COMPONENTS THAT I ASKED THEM TO SAVE (OIL PUMP, ETC.). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE NHTSA HAS INFORMATION IN SIMIALAR TOYOTA DISCREPANCIES, AND IS THE AGENCY INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE FAILED TOYOTA COMPONENTS (BLOCK, RODS, PISTONS, ETC.) THAT I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO WHAT WAS A LIFE ENDANGERING EVENT FOR MY FAMILY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT MY PROVIDED PHONE NUMBER. I WILL GLADLY PROVIDE COPIES OF COORESPONDENCE CHRONICALLY MY SAGA. *AK

DRIVER WAS EXITING A FREEWAY OFF RAMP AND LOST COMTROL OF THE TRUCK AFTER THE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON A CURVE DOING 30MPH. *AK( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: 225 75R/14 )

TIRE BLEWOUT DURING LONG-DISTANCE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DRIVING. DAYLIGHT. CLEAR SKIES. SAFELY PULLED VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. TREAD SEPERATED. FAILURE DEBRIS DAMAGED FENDER, RUNNING BOARD, AND MUD GUARD UNDER FENDER.( DOT NUMBER: W2H AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

CONSUMER WAS LOSING ALOT OF COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING BY THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. ALSO, VEHICLE MISSING AND HESITATING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AS PART OF RECALL, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN AFTER A YEAR. *YH

RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW/DISINTEGRATED ON INTERSTATE WESTBOUND FROM A LAS VEGAS EVENT. REMAINING TIRES SEEM TO HAVE AN ODD WEAR PATTERN EVEN THOUGH TIRE PRESSURES ARE KEPT AT 30PSI( DOT NUMBER: WZHH-AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

THE SUBJECT RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING.( DOT NUMBER: WZHH AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT LEFT REAR TIRE WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. REPLACED ALL FOUR FIRESTONES-STILL HAVE ONE AS SPARE( DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWB TIRE SIZE: P22575R15 )

TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT LEFT REAR TIRE WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. REPLACED ALL FOUR FIRESTONES-STILL HAVE ONE AS SPARE( DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWB TIRE SIZE: P22575R15 )

THE SUBJECT RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING.( DOT NUMBER: WZHH AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT ALONG THE INNER WALL OF THE TIRE. *SLC

TIRE FAILED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND WAS LOST (COULDN'T SEE IT AT NIGHT). LOCATION WAS ON INTERSTATE 15 JUST SOUTH OF BARSTOW CALIFORNIA. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY IN THE IN LOW 50S. BEFORE THE TIRE FAILUE, I FELT A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MILES, WHICH GRADUALLY GREW LARGER. SUDDENLY THE SOUND OF THE CAR CHANGED DRASTICALLY (AS THE TREAD SEPARATED, I PRESUME) AND I HEARD MUCH ROAD NOISE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE ROAD HAD CHANGED ITS SURFACE FROM ASPHALT TO SOMETHING MORE NOISY, LIKE A "CHIP-SEALED" ROAD SURFACE WITH OIL AND CINDERS, BUT THEN I HEARD MORE NOISE AND A BIT OF SIDEWAYS SHAKING, AND I PULLED OVER. I NEVER FELT THE CAR PULL SIDEWAYS AT ALL, OR EVEN SLOW DOWN (BUT, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON). WHEN I PULLED OVER, I HAD DRIVEN A GOOD 1/4 MILE OR SO ON THE FAILED TIRE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT LOST AIR PRESSURE, BUT BY THE TIME I GOT OFF THE ROAD, I COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS NO TREAD, AND THAT THE REMAINING SURFACE OF THE TIRE HAD BEEN SLICED BY THE RIM, AS IT ROLLED ON THE TIRE ONCE PRESSURE WAS LOST. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TIRE FAILURE UNTIL THE PUBLICIZED REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES ON SIMILAR SIZED TIRES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. I SUSPECT THE ISSUE WITH THE P235 SIZED FIRESTONE TIRES MAY WELL APPLY TO OTHER SIZES, SUCH AS MY P225 TIRES. WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE ALL OF OUR REMAINING TIRES WITH NEW ONES, AND WILL HOLD ON TO THE OLD ONES, IN CASE OF A RECALL ON THAT SIZE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

A SECOND TIRE HAD TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR IN ONE SECTION OF ITS TREAD. IT IS NOW MY SPARE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HH AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH & WAS TURNING INTO CURB, ROAD WAS WET, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED THE ABS AND RPMS REVVED UP. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & SPUN AROUND, AND HIT A UTILITY POLE WITH REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE PAVEMENT IS WET AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEVICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPIING DISTANCE. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PORBLEM . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

REAR BRAKES BIND TO WHEEL EVEN AFTER RELEASE OF BRAKE PEDAL. MUST PUT INTO DRIVE AND PRESS ON ACCLERATOR TO RELEASE. WHEN ACCLERATOR IS DEPRESSED THE BRAKES RELEASES WITH A SUDDEN JOLT WHICH CAUSES RAPID ACCLERATION AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER'S TWICE FOR BRAKE REPAIRS, BUT DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE ONTO CYLINDER, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. MJS

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED TWO MASTER CYLINDERS AND LEAKING CALIPER, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND BURN ENGINE. DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK

DESIGN OF VEHICLE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF INSIDE TEATHER STRAP.

MY SISTER ALSO OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL BUILD AND THE EXACT SAME 3.4 L ENGINE AND SHE ALSO HAD THE SAME HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON HER ENGINE. MY ENGINE WAS IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED, NEW OIL EVERY 3000 MILES ETC AND STILL HAD THE SAME FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I DON'T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS LISTED AND SINCE ITS THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT BOTH ME AND MY SISTER HAVE HAD ON TWO NEARLY IDENTICAL '96 4 RUNNER'S, IT SEEMS A TAD COINCIDENTAL THAT WE'RE THE ONLY ONES HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THANKS, ERIK HORD

ON A STRAIGHT DECENT ROAD I APPLIED A BRAKE. SUDDENLY MY TIRE IS LOCKED W/ NO STEERING. THE ROAD WAS PARTLY COVERED BY SLUSHY SNOW AND WET. SINCE THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS, I DID NOT TRY TO PUMP. AS THE RESULT MY CAR HIT A SNOW BANK AND ROLLED OVER. THE USER'S MANUAL DOES NOT INDICATE ABS MAY NOT WORK.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY,AND WILL NOT WORK AT ALL IN WET WEATHER. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND REPAIRED ON ONE OCCASION ( REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS), PROBLEM STILL OCCURING. HELP IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP.

GOING DOWN HILL, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS IF ABS IS TRYING TO OPERATE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGINS TO PULSATE AND ROTORS ARE THEN FOUND TO BE WARPED.

THIS ACCIDENT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO A LAWYER AND AN ENGINEERING EXPERT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AXLE FAILED DUE TO A MECHANICAL DEFECT. ON WITNESS FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE SAID THE VEHICLE DROPPED.

SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAKE NOISE. QCAW

THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHTS. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO I WAS CROSSING THREE LANES OF TRAFFICE AND IT STALLED. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND WARRANTS REPURCHASING.

THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED WHEN THE FOUR BOLTS FAILED.

TOP RACK SEPARATED FROM THE CAR SENDING ITEMS ON TOP INTO TRAFFIC.

DURING A CRASH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE OWNER STATES THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE.

DURING A CRASH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE OWNER STATES THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE.

GAS DOOR FAILED.

DESIGN OF VEHICLE STRUCTURE/BODY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR WHEEL WELL TO STOP MUD FROM HITTING VEHICLE.

AUTOMATIC POWER LOCKS FAILED.

GASKET FAILED.

INTERIOR MIRROR FAILED.

SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX WIRE HARNESS FAILURE.

WINDSHIELD REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED.

SUSPENSION SPRINGS FAILED.

BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES NOISE.

BATTERY FAILED.

HIGH SPEED MANEUVER TO AVOID ROAD HAZARD RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER/ACCIDENT.

BRAKES FAILED.

DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY.

SEVERE OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKETS.

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING.

ROOF RACK HAD MISSING COMPONENTS, CONSUMER COULD NOT ATTACH SKI RACK.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LOADED AND UPON HITTING A BUMP, THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DELAER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND THE SPRINGS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 30 MPH,BEGAN APPLYING PRESSURE TO BRAKE, HEARD LOUD GRINDING NOISE, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSED ACCIDENT, ROD THAT HOLDS TIRE AND AXLE CAME OFF. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET FAILED.

REAR SUSPENSION FAILED.

REAR DEFROSTER INOPERATIVE.

VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE VIBRATION PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE; LOCKED ALL DOORS; INTERIOR LIGHT CAME ON WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED; HAD TO UNLOCK, RECLOSE & LOCKED DOORS AGAIN; TOOK TO DEALER; NO PROBLEM FOUND; DEALER TIGHTENED LOCKS. *AK

DUNLOP TIRES FAILED/BLEW OUT.

ENGINE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE.

ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED.

FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT DUE TO BEING RIPPED.

ALARM REMOTE INOPERATIVE.

VEHICLE SHIMMIES WHEN STOPPING DUE TO WARPED ROTORS.

BRAKE PADS FAILED DUE TO WEAR.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT ENGINE AND THERE WAS A FUEL SMELL. MANUFACTURER SAID DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS THE CAUSE. CONSUMER STATED IF MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, WHY NOT NOTIFY THE CONSUMERS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

HEAD GASKET FAILED

REAR WINDOW INOPERATIVE.

WHILE TRYING TO AVOID ACCIDENT BRAKES FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

REAR BUMPER HITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

RIGHT SIDE EXTENSION FRAME FAILED.

NOTICE A LEA IN GARAGE AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, PINK LIQUID (COOLANT FLUID), TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED OF A CRACK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

HEAD GASKET REPLACED PREMATURELY DUE TO POOR ENGINE HEAD DESIGN.

LOW BEAM LIGHTS CREATE A 'CURTAIN LIKE' SHADOW, REDUCING VISIBILITY.

FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED ABS BRAKE WARMUP AND VIOLENT VIBRATION THROUGHOUT VEHICLE UPON BRAKING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL OFF AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE DEALER IS TRYING TO FIND CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS OLD, CONSUMER FEELS WHEEL WAS NEVER PUT ON SECURELY. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON, IN FOR REPAIR, DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED THE SENSOR WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON, IN FOR REPAIR, DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED THE SENSOR WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN BETWEEN GEARS, EXPERIENCED ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. *AK

VEHICLE PULLS AND VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY W/FRONT TIRES WORN. DEALER NOT ABLE TO ADJUST THEM BECAUSE VEHICLE IS TOO NEW. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.