2002 Toyota 4Runner Body & Structure Problems

Frame rot

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while inspecting underneath the vehicle, he noticed that there was a hole in the subframe and that the subframe and sway bar were corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while receiving routine maintenance repair on the vehicle, the independent mechanic informed the contact that the subframe was rusted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.

Frame is excessively rusted. The recall that already exists for this issue only covers certain frames from Japan made with this steel. However, the same frames were imported to America and a large percentage of 4Runners were made with the same steel and didn’t receive a recall. Mine is one of them.

FRAME IS SHOWING EXCESSIVE RUST ALL OVER, A KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH 4RUNNERS AND TOYOTA TRUCKS. AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAYS VEHICLE PROBABLY HAS ONLY 1 YEAR OF LIFE LEFT BEFORE UNSAFE AND UNDRIVABLE. CAR HAS ONLY 100000 MILES ON IT, 1998 4RUNNER WE HAD MADE IT TO 250000 MILES- UNACCEPTABLE.

I RECENTLY HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND TO GET NEW TIRES. WHILE ON THE LIFT, THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS BEGINNING TO RUST THROUGH. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND AS I HAVE RESEARCHED POSSIBLE REPAIRS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED.

EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. HAVE HEARD OF OTHER TOYOTAS FROM THE SAME TIME THAT WERE RECALLED BUT NOT THE 4RUNNER EVEN THOUGH IT SUFFERS THE SAME ISSUES.

RUST/ROT DAMAGE TO PASSENGER SIDE FRAME. EXTENDS FROM MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER TO REAR CROSS MEMBER. ALSO SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO REAR SHOCK MOUNTS. FAILED INSPECTION AS A RESULT. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED. SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. TOYOTA OF LINCOLN PARK (1561 N FREMONT ST, CHICAGO, IL 60642) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND IS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS FRAME, IT'S ALREADY BEEN RECALLED ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND IT'S THE SAME IDENTICAL FRAME. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. JUST MAKING A NORMAL TURN ON A BEND IN THE ROAD MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL.

2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, ORIGINAL OWNER WITH ONLY 110,900 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT! VEHICLE HAS SEVERE RUST/ROT DAMAGE TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRAME. EXTENDS FROM MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER TO REAR CROSS MEMBER. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED. SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. REPAIR WILL BE NECESSARY SOON, AS I'M STARTING TO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70+ MPH). THANK YOU!

VERY EXCESSIVE RUSTING AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME NEAR WHERE THE LEADING ARM ATTACHES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HOLE HAS DEVELOPED VERY QUICKLY, ONLY IN THE SPAN OF A COUPLE YEARS. WHEN GOING AROUND LEFT CORNER >15MPH, A CLUNKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE PROBLEM AREA. VERY OCCASIONALLY A SIMILAR NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN GOING THROUGH RIGHT TURNS. VEHICLE HAS SPENT MOST OF ITS LIFE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, ALTHOUGH SOME TIME HAS BEEN SPENT IN SOUTH FLORIDA. REPAIR WILL BE NECESSARY SOON, AS I'M STARTING TO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70+ MPH). THANK YOU, HAVE A NICE DAY. *TR

VEHICLE FRAME HAS CORRODED, FRACTURED ESPECIALLY ON PASSENGER REAR OF VEHICLE. MANY HOLES ALONG FRAME. WAS HEARING LOUD THUNKING IN REAR OF VEHICLE TOOK IT IN FOR A VISUAL INSPECTION AND FOUND THE ISSUE.

WE PURCHASED A 4RUNNER FOR OUR 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THINKING IT WOULD BE SAFE, ESP IN MN. SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE (130 MILES) AND NOTICED IT HAD A BAD VIBRATION, ESPECIALLY OVER 40 MPH. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. WE WERE OUT OF TOWN AND WHEN WE GOT BACK, BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE FRAME WAS RESPONDED BEYOND REPAIR (SEE PHOTOS). NOT ONLY DOES THAT SCARE ME FOR MY DAUGHTER, BUT SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING IT A FEW YEARS AND HAD FRIENDS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILES FOR IT'S AGE AND BASED ON TOYOTAS REPUTATION OF LONGEVITY, WE NEVER EXPECTED THIS SORT OF ISSUE. WE'RE THANKFUL SHE WASN'T HURT, BUT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS DRIVING A VEHICLE AND NOT KNOWING IT COULD LITERALLY BREAK IN HALF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD!

I HAVE SEEN CLASSI. CARS FROM THE 60S WITH FRAMES IN BETTER SHAPE THAN MY 4RUNNER. THE REAR CONTROL ARMS BRACKETS ARE CLOSE TO DETACHING FROM THE FRAME. RUST IS EATING THE BACK HALF OF MY FRAME. THE FRAME RAILS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND WILL SOON NEED REPLACING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS BOLTS AND HARDWARE THAT CAN NO LONGER BE USED DUE TO RUST. THE FILL PLUG ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED AWAY AS WELL. THE QUALITY OF THIS STEEL IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF A VEHICLE THAT HAS PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN RUST THIS BAD ON A FRAME BEFORE.

AT A STOP LIGHT, WENT TO DRIVE HEARD LOAD POP CLANK. VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND DRIVING FUNNY. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND MY CONTROL ARM ( THAT STABILIZES MY AXEL ) MOUNT RUSTED OFF. MY ENTIRE UNDER CARRIAGE IS RUSTED OUT. THE CONTROL ARM SHIFTED

Premature rusted frame throughout, vehicle is garaged and well maintained 117,000 miles on my 2002 Toyota 4Runner. Auto body specialist estimates $3k-$4k to restore, at least.

EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRAME. RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, ON PASSENGER SIDE NEAR MUFFLER, BY REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS. RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. LIKELY RUSTED IN OTHER PARTS THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE.

MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME TO THE POINT THAT IT HAS BEEN DEEMED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE." IT ONLY HAS 180,000 MILES ON IT, THE RUST SHOULD NOT BE THIS EXTENSIVE.

MY 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER FAILED MASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT ENGAGING. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR. I WAS THEN NOTIFIED BY THE SHOP THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED & UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIR TO THE E-BRAKE UNTIL THE FRAME WAS REPAIRED. I'M DEVASTATED THAT MY WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE , WITH ONLY 130,000 MILES IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO FRAME ROT.