2000 Toyota 4Runner Complaint Log

THE FRAME IS ROTTING OUT ALL ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO RUST. ITS STARTING TO RUST AROUND KEY FRAME BRACKETS. AFTER A MECHANIC LOOKED AT HE SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES 4RUNNER.

FRAME RUSTED OUT DATE IS WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF THE ISSUE

SEVERE CORROSION IN THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING (THE BOX BEAM ON THE RIGHT SIDE) OF THE CAR RESULTED IN THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF THE BOX BEAM. THE PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE THAT FELL OFF IS ABOUT 3 IN. WIDE BY 14 IN. LONG. THAT PORTION OF THE FAILED FLANGE ALSO INCLUDED THE CONNECTION OF THE STRUCT ROD SUPPORTING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE LOST OF THE STRUCT ROD SUPPORT TO THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY WIDELY SIDE TO SIDE AND TO ROLL LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE I WAS TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE SIDE WHEN I APPLIED BRAKING TO THE CAR. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATELY THAT WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD IN LESS THAN 40 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS IN MY IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING. OTHERWISE, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. AFTER SENDING THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE CORROSION HAS SEVERELY UNDERMINED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING OF THE CAR, IN THIS CASE IT WAS THE LONGITUDINAL BOX BEAMS SUPPORTING THE CAR. I DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA OF AMERICA AND THEY INFORMED ME THE WARRANTY FOR CORROSION IS ONLY FOR 60 MONTHS. HOWEVER, I TOLD THEM THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A MUCH, MUCH LONGER SERVICE LIFE THAN 60 MONTHS. A SUDDEN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE IN MOTION COULD HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCE. THE ODOMETER READING OF MY CAR IS LESS THAN 63,000 MILES.

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY TORTION BAR SNAPPED OFF MY CHASSIS, COME TO REALIZE A HUGE SECTION OF MY CHASSIS ROTTED AWAY.

CAR WAS TOWED TO BODY SHOP AND ONCE PUT ON LIFT MECHANIC OBSERVED SOCKS WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE ENITIRE FRAME ADVISING US THIS CAR IS NOT SALVAGEABLE TO DO A ROTTED FRAME AND FUTHERMORE IS A DEATH TRAP FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE ITALSO REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING.. CAR HAS UNDER 130,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED WITH ALL RECORDS IN TACT.. APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS SAFTEY ISSUE AND HAS NOT RECALLED ON THIS MAKE ,YEAR AND MODEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES. I BROUGHT MY 4RUNNER IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, NOT TO THE RUDY LUTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN GOLDEN VALLEY, MN, WHERE I NORMALLY BRING FOR REGULAR SERVICE, BUT TO MINNETONKA AUTO. THEY NOTICED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES, VERY VISIBLY... I COULD STICK MY HAND IN THE RUSTED HOLES. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY AND RECOMMENDED I CONTACT TOYOTA DIRECTLY. THERE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY OF MY TRUCK, JUST THE FRAME. THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME TO TOYOTA CORPORATE. TOYOTA CORPORATE SAID THEY HAD NO PROGRAMS FOR THE 4RUNNER, AND COULDNT OFFER ME ANY OTHER OPTIONS OR SOLUTIONS, OTHER THAN CONTACT YOUR DEALERSHIP. I CALLED RUDY LUTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN GOLDEN VALLEY, MN AGAIN, THEY SAID THEY HAVE OTHER CASES, BUT CORPORATE WASNT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I GUESS THEY ARE WAITING FOR A FEW PEOPLE TO DIE FIRST, BEFORE SPENDING ANY $$ TO FIX THEIR DEFECTIVE FRAMES.

I WAS DRIVING MY 4RUNNER AND NOTICE THE BACK BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISE. I ALSO NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BROKE. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TO THE SHOP I FELT LIKE THE BACKEND WAS SWAYING. I DROP MY CAR OFF EXPECTING TO HAVE SOME BRAKE WORK DONE, POSSIBLY EVEN A SWAY BAR OR SOMETHING REPLACED. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR BECAUSE IF THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK, IT WILL BREAK IN HALF. MY FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF. NOW THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE FRAME FOR A WHILE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTS I CALL TOYOTA TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. I CALL TOYOTA AND THERE IS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2000 4RUNNER. I DID HOWEVER FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME FOR THE ISSUE OF RUST AND FRAMES CRACKING. THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND TOYOTA TACOMA BOTH HAVE THE EXACT SAME FRAME. IF THERE IS A RECALL ON ONE, WHY WOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ON THE OTHER? I BELIEVE THE REASON IS BECAUSE TOYOTA SOLD MORE 4RUNNERS IN 2000 THAN THEY DID TACOMAS. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RECALL THE 4RUNNER FOR FEAR OF LOSING SO MUCH MONEY. THEY ARE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK BY NOT OWING UP TO THIS ERROR.

TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP FOR MAINTENANCE. SHOP MECHANIC CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE INSIDE AND BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE IS IN OTHERWISE FANTASTIC CONDITION AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HE INFORMED ME THAT FRAME ISSUES IN THE EARLY 2000S PLAGUES MANY TOYOTA VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 4RUNNER. HE SAID THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL IN ITS CURRENT STATE. I WANT TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS TO AFFECT MOST 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNERS AND IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE ONLY WARNING SIGN IS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

THE FRAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS RUSTED OUT ON ONE SIDE OF IT, IT WAS JUST THE SIDE, BUT NOW THERE IS RUST HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF IT AS WELL. THIS IS A VERY BIG ISSUE AND COULD END UP TOTALING MY TRUCK IF I'M NOT WILLING TO SPEND THOUSANDS ON A NEW FRAME/REPAIR. THESE 4RUNNERS ARE KNOWN FOR BEING RELIABLE, BUT ALSO FOR TERRIBLY MADE FRAMES, AND I HAVE RUN INTO THAT UNFORTUNATE CASE. PLEASE ACTUALLY LOOK INTO RECALLING AND REPLACING THESE FRAMES, I KNOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHY OTHER TRUCKS EXCEPT FOR THE 4RUNNER WERE RECALLED. EVERYONE WITH ONE OF THESE MODELS WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE A RECALL ON THESE FRAMES. THANK YOU, [XXX] (DO NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC PHOTO OF THE RUST ON FRAME, BUT I DO HAVE ONE OF THE RUST ON THE BODY, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING, THE FRAME IS WAY MORE SEVERE THOUGH) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE WELD JOINT WHICH JOINS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT POINT TO THE FRAME HAD SEPARATED ALLOWING TO CONTROL ARM TO MOVE FORWARD AN BACK. THIS IN TURN ALLOWED THE REAR AXLE TO TURN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ON INSPECTION THE FRAME IS HEAVILY RUSTED IN THIS AREA AND THE WELD HAS GIVEN WAY AND IS TEARING APART FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ALSO RUSTED, BUT THE JOINT HAS NOT YET SEPARATED.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ON MY WAY HOME, I HAD TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN SO I DID, WHEN I GAVE IT SOME GAS AS I COMPLETED MY TURN I NOTICED THAT IF FELT LIKE MY 4 RUNNER WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. EVERY TIME I GAVE IT SOME GAS YOU COULD FEEL AND EVEN SEE IT JERK TO THE RIGHT. THE MORE I DROVE THE I NOTICED THAT IT WASN'T STOPPING, IF ANYTHING IT HAD GOTTEN EVEN WORSE. SO, WHEN I WOKE UP TODAY I WENT TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS CRAZY. THE FRAME LITERATELY RUSTED IN HALF. IT WAS IN TWO PEACES. MY MECHANIC DIDN'T KNOW WHY OR HOW I EVEN MADE IT THERE. IT WAS VERY SCARY TO SEE, KNOWING I WAS DRIVING IN IT.

THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE ACCORDING TO NYSDMV MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES COMPROMISING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ABSURD AS I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME MILEAGE IN THE SAME APPARENT EXTERIOR CONDITION. THAT ARE SOLID AND INSPECTABLE. SO NOW I MUST PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OR SELL IT AS PARTS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS FRAME LIKE THEY HAVE WITH THEIR OTHER VEHICLES.

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST BEYOND NORMAL AGING.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY INFORMED US THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTY WITH A POSSIBLE HOLE IN THE FRAME AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE LEAK WAS FROM THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE COMPONENT THAT HOUSES THE FLUID WAS ALSO RUSTING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD NO CODES AT THIS TIME. WE TOOK IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP IN OUR TOWN AND LOOKED AT IT UP ON THE LIFT. THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS SO RUSTED IT IS CRACKED AND THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FRAME CLEAR AS DAY (DEALERSHIP STATED POSSIBLE). THEY ALSO REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR, DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. WE NOW HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE ON OUR HANDS THAT WE CAN NOT DRIVE, SELL OR EVEN TRADE IN!

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY.HAD TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME TO FIND OUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH ALLOWING THE SWAY BAR TO DROP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN

IN A GRADUAL LEFT HAND TURN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE REAR IDLER ASSEMBLY ARM AT THE FRAME CONNECTION SEPARATED (BROKE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST PER CERTIFIED MECHANIC), CAUSING DRAMATIC BODY ROLL AND A NEAR DEADLY HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. ROLL OVER POTENTIAL WAS ALSO GREATLY INCREASED, AS NEEDED CORRECTION WAS EMPLOYED TO AVOID HEAD ON COLLISION - WHICH CREATED OVER STEER TO BE APPLIED TO COUNTER BALANCE SUDDEN ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE SPONTANEOUS BODY ROLL.

READINGS FLUCTUATES, OR INDICATE MORE GAS THAN ACTUALLY IN TANK. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN MOTION AND THE TRUCK STOPPED WORKING. I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND LUCKY NOTHING HAPPENED. IT TURNS OUT THE QUARTER TANK READING WAS FALSE. THE TANK WAS EMPTY.

THERE IS A RUST ISSUE ON THE FRAME.

BOUGHT A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 3 MONTHS AGO. INSPECTION WAS UP AND TOOK IT TO GET INSPECTED. THEY SAID THE FRAME WAS TRASHED FROM RUST.

THE FRAME ON MY 2000 MODEL TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT HAS BROKEN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ASKING ABOUT A RECALL. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS AND THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME SUBJECT AFFECTING ALL 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. THE RECEPTIONIST PROVIDED ME WITH THIS WEBSITE AND TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY THING DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED A RECALL. IT'S REALLY UPSETTING TO KNOW THAT I'VE ONLY GOT 138,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S NOT DRIVABLE ANYMORE. A REPLACMENT FRAME COST WELL OVER $4,000 NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR FEES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THOUGHT SHOCKS WERE BAD,PUT NEW ONES ON GOTTEN BETTER ONE PAYED ALMOST A 1,000 DOLLARS FOR FOUR SHOCKS.THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE I HAVE EVER IN COUNTER, YOU FI'LL EVERY BUMP AND ANYTHING ELSE IN THE HIGHWAYS. SURELY THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO RIDE,.I WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA OF ANY STYLE FOR THIS REASON EVER AGAIN. UNHAPPY OWNER

4RUNNER WAS IN SHOP FOR MUFFLER REPAIR WHEN RUSTED RIGHT SIDE OF FRAME NEAR REAR TORSION BAR WAS POINTED OUT TO ME. MY CONCERN IS TORSION BAR WILL BRAKE AWAY AND CAUSE ACCIDENT.

REPLACED ENGINE WITH A REBUILT ON, BECAUSE ENGINE BAD DESIGN. OIL PASSAGES TOO SMALL . NO HELP FROM TOYOTA WHO DESIGNED AND MADE THE ENGINE. DAMAGED OCCURRED OVER TIME: SLUDGE BUILD UP, GRITTY SLUDGE.

FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND TOYOTA WONT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

MULTIPLE HOLES RUSTED THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE OF FRAME ON THE INSIDE NEXT TO THE EXHAUST. HOLE RUSTED THROUGH ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF FRAME ON OUTSIDE BY TOW HITCH MOUNT.

UPON REMOVING AND REPLACING MY EXHAUST AND MUFFLER ON OUR 2000 4RUNNER LIMITED I SPOTTED A HOLE IN MY FRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE JUST BEFORE MY RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL AND SUSPENSION. I FINISHED INSTALLING THE NEW EXHAUST AN BEGAN INSPECTING THE FRAME ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE TRUCK IS NOT NEW ...IT ONLY HAD WHAT APPEARS TO BE LIMITED SURFACE RUST TO MOST OF THE FRAMEWORK. HOWEVER , THE PORTION THAT WAS DETECTED WAS CLEARLY RUSTED THROUGH AND NOW THREATENS THE FRAME INTEGRITY. I EXPECTED TO KEEP THIS CAR FOR A LONG TIME AND AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS MIGHT SHORTEN MY EXPECTED OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON BOTH SIDES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,600. UPDATED 6/24/15*CN

AFTER DROPPING MY KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL AND EXITING OFF THE INTERSTATE AT 45 MILES PER HOUR, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED WITHOUT WRECKING OR ENDING UP IN THE DITCH. AFTER SPEAKING TO A MECHANIC, HE SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000 4RUNNERS AND TO CONTACT TOYOTA. THE BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU LEAVING THE REAR AXEL WITH NO SUPPORT. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE, AT THE SAME EXACT LOCATION, MEANS THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A TOYOTA DEFECT. I BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULD GET ME AT LEAST 200,000 MILES. I'M CURRENTLY AT 118,000 AND IT ALREADY NEEDS TO GO TO THE JUNK YARD. I'M SHOCKED AND APPALLED THAT TOYOTA WOULD ALLOW THESE VEHICLES TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS KNOWING THAT THEY ARE ENDANGERING HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES EVERYDAY. THIS CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SUBJECT OF RECALL AND NO DOUBT LIVES WILL BE LOST BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE ASAP. AS IT STANDS I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AND WILL GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO TELL MY STORY AND HOW TOYOTA TURNS THEIR BACK ON CUSTOMERS AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE YOU DRIVE THIS 2000 4RUNNER. WITH THE WEB AND ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA FORUMS AT MY FINGER TIPS, I WILL MAKE IT MY MISSION IN LIFE TO SEE THAT TOYOTA IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR IRRESPONSIBILITY AND LACK OF LOYALTY TO TOYOTA BUYERS. DO THE RIGHT TOYOTA AND RECALL THE 2000 4RUNNER FOR THE PIECE OF JUNK THAT IT IS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST! THE FRAME ON THE BACK AXEL COMPLETELY RUSTS THRU LEAVES NO OPTIONS FOR REPAIR BUT TO SIMPLY SCRAP YOUR VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE. SUCH A DISHONEST COMPANY WITH NO REMORSE AND NO RESPECT FOR LIVES ON THE ROAD DRIVING EVERYDAY. *TR

TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO GET A REAR SEAL LEAK FIXED AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY FRAME WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF RUST AND EROSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A PAPER WHEN I PICK THE VEHICLE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE 2000 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CONCERNS [TOYOTA MOTOR SALES]. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME ON HIS VEHICLE IS RUSTED, TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME RAIL IS EXHIBITING CORROSION TO THE POINT WHERE SECTIONS OF THE FRAME HAVE COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED LEAVING HIM WITH MAJOR HOLES AND WELDED SUSPENSION MOUNTING COMPONENTS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE ACTUAL FRAME RAIL. *JB

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL SPOTS.

ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, THE FRAME OF MY 4RUNNER WITHOUT WARNING HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE ON A HIGHWAY AND MY REAR CONTROL ARMS DISCONNECTED/PULLED OUT OF THE FRAME. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT IT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN. THE LACK OF ANY WARNING SIGNS WAS THE SCARY PART IN ALL OF THIS. AFTER A BIT OF BASIC SEARCHING ON THE WEB, INCLUDING NHTSA, IT APPEARS MY CASE IS NOT A UNIQUE ONE. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THIS THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PREMATURE FRAME RUST ISSUES. I FIND IT EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE THAT TOYOTA HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE TO SOMETHING SO SERIOUS. HYPOTHETICALLY, I CAN SEE A CAR FRAME FAILING BUT NOT A ROBUST TRUCK FRAME OF THIS ERA. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, MY VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WASHED REGULARLY, GARAGED AND THE REST OF THE BODY IS RUST FREE AND MECHANICALLY EVERYTHING ELSE IS WORKING FLAWLESSLY. *TR

THE FRAME ON OUT 2000 TOYOTA COLLAPSED BECAUSE OF RUST. THE COLLAPSE WAS ON THE SIDE FRAME RAIL, JUST BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

TRAVELING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. I HEAR A LOUD POP AND MY SUV VEERS HARD TO THE RIGHT CROSSING THE LOW SPEED LANE AND BREAKDOWN LANE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEXT TO ME. SUV MISSED THE GUARD RAIL, BUT CLIMBED AN EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. RESULTING IN ME FORCEFULLY TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL, HITTING MY HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND BRAKING THE SIDE GLASS WITH MY HEAD. AFTERWARDS, LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS APPARENT WHAT HAD CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME, CAUSED THE SHOCK MOUNT, AND REAR CONTROL ARM TO TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN EXCESS IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM HAD CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000. UPDATED 7/9/15*CN

I PURCHASED 4 YOKOHAMA GEOLANDER H/T-S ON A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ON 02/2013. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR MY ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION THIS YEAR ON 02/2015 I WAS TOLD AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT MY TIRE ARE CRACKING BETWEEN THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE TREADS. THIS TREAD SEPARATION CRACKING IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE SHOP CONTACTED TIRE COMPANY THAT SUPPLIED THEM THE TIRE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CREDIT ME 35% OF THE ORIGINAL TIRE PRICE THEY WOULD BE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER YOKOHAMA TIRE. THESE TIRES ARE 2 YEARS OLD AND HAVE 30,000 MILES ON THEM. IT SEEMS I AM BEING PUT IN DANGER IF I DON'T HAVE THEM REPLACED AND SEEMS I AM GETTING RIPPED OFF IF I DO HAVE THEM REPLACED. *TR

IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA WISHES TO NOT ADDRESS THAT THE FRAMES ARE NOT PROPERLY TREATED FOR RUST PREVENTION AND ARE PRONE TO RUSTING OUT AND FALLING APART AT A RATE THAT IS BEYOND REASONABLE. PICTURES FROM HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF 4RUNNER OWNERS ARE ALL OVER THE WEB AND TOYOTA FORUMS SHOWING THE SAME ISSUE. THE MOST PROBLEM SPOT IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME ON THE INSIDE NEAR THE MUFFLER, NEAR THE REAR AXLE. I CAN PHYSICALLY PUSH MY HAND RIGHT THROUGH THE RUSTED OUT FRAME. THE SIMILARLY DESIGNED TACOMA WAS RECALLED DUE TO THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH SO BAD IT WOULD BREAK APART. UNFORTUNATELY TOYOTA DOES NOT WISH TO COVER ALL THE BASES AND HAVE LEFT THE 4RUNNERS OUT TO RUST (PUN INTENDED)

UPON INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE WHILE ON LIFT, I FOUND AN AREA OF RUST PERFORATION ABOVE THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKET ON THE FRAME. THE AREA IS APPROX .5"X 3" IN LENGTH. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 01/24/2015 I FELT AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWERVE AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I CAME TO A STOP AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE BUT DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG. I GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND DROVE AT A SLOWER SPEED, WHEN I GOT HOME I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND CHECKED THE UNDER SIDE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED WHERE THE CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. I LOOKED ON LINE FOR RECALLS AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH SHARES THE SAME PLATFORM THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR FRAME RUST ON THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER. IN ADDITION TO THE CRACK ON THE FRAME THERE IS CONSIDERABLE RUST ON THE ENTIRE FRAME AND I THINK I'M LUCKY TO BE UN HURT AND ALIVE. PLEASE HELP ME AND ALL THE OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS. THANKS *TR

IT HAS BEEN A VERY BIG PROBLEM FOR ALL TOYOTA TRUCK AN SUV FRAMES THEY ARE JUNK AN ALL RUST OUT IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE IF NOT SEEN IN TIME THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY FATAL ERROR AN MANY LAWSUITS IF THEY CAN CALL BACK ALL TACOMAS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHY NOT THE 4 RUNNERS MOST THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD HAVE MANY PATCHES ON THE FRAME TO KEEP IT DRIVABLE AN SUM WHAT SAFE

FRAME IS RUSTING PREMATURELY. *JS

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON LIFT BEING SERVICED MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO RESPOND TO HIS SHOP, OBSERVED LARGE SECTIONS OF VEHICLE'S FRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED AND MISSING, MECHANIC ADVISED FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *DT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND LOOSE IN THE REAR END WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. REAR END STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH PUSHING VEHICLE INTO CENTER OF 2 LANE HIGHWAY. ONCE VEHICLE WAS UNDER CONTROL AND OFF THE ROAD FRAME SHOWED SIGNIFICANT RUST. LOWER SUSPENSION ARM MOUNT ON FRAME HAD RUSTED AND BROKE. ROUGHLY 24 INCH SECTION OF THIS FRAME AREA HAD RUSTED OUT. LEAVING NO ATTACHMENT OF THE SUSPENSION ARM TO THE FRAME MOUNT. UPON INSPECTION MANY AREAS OF FRAME ARE SHOWING SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE. VEHICLE US NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 11-12 YEARS. BOUGHT IT WITH 12,000 MILE AND HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF IT. ENGINE PURRS LIKE A KITTEN. RUNS AS WELL NOW AS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. TOYOTA WILL NOT WARRANTY A BAD DESIGN/MANUFACTURING PROCESS. CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHOM I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING MANY OF THESE COMING IN AND TOYOTA WILL NOT WARRANTY THE BAD FRAMES. *TR

FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED FRAMES FOR TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS BUT NOT 4RUNNERS 4RUNNER IS BUILT ON SAME FRAME AS TACOMA. WHY NO RECALL? *TR

WENT TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN FULL EXHAUST REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD FRAME ROT SO EXTENSIVE THAT THE REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE DONE, AND THAT IN FACT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS FRAME FOR THE TACOMA AND THE TUNDRA AS WELL, AND THERE SHOULD BE ONE ON THIS GENERATION OF 4RUNNER. I HAVE A 1989 4RUNNER WITH 250K MILES AND NO SUCH ISSUES WITH FRAME ROT. NOW I'M OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SINCE I'LL HAVE TO JUNK THE CAR AND BUY A NEW ONE. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR