2006 Toyota 4Runner Complaint Log

2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER PURCHASED NEW IN NOVEMBER 2006. THE FRAME HAS SUFFERED FROM SUCH BAD FRAME CORROSION THAT NUMEROUS MECHANIC HAVE REFUSED TO PUT THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT FOR FEAR OF COMPLETE FRAME COLLAPSE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED OTHERWISE BUT IS NOW A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE ADVANCED FRAME CORROSION. SERVICE PROFESSIONALS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH FRAME DISINTEGRATION IN A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE. I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A DEFECTIVE FRAME WITH REST OF THE VEHICLE IN SATISFACTORY AND OPERABLE CONDITION.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS OPENED THE AUTOMATIC OPEN/CLOSE MECHANISM FAILED AND CLOSED ON THE CONTACT'S RIGHT HAND. THE 4TH AND 5TH DIGITS OF THE RING FINGER AND PINKY WERE CRUSHED AND THE 5TH DIGIT OF THE PINKY OF THE RIGHT HAND WAS HYPEREXTENDED AND MAY HAVE BEEN DISLOCATED. THERE WAS POSSIBLE NERVE DAMAGE TO THE FINGERS AND SWELLING TO THE RIGHT ARM. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. A PHOTO AND X-RAYS WERE TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STUD SEPARATED AT 70 FT. LBS. OF TORQUE DURING TIRE ROTATION. THE PORTION OF THE STUD THAT BROKE OFF IN THE LUG NUT HAD STRETCHED APPROXIMATELY 1/8" BEFORE SEPARATING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THREE SEPARATE TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE TIRES WERE CHECKED AND BALANCED. THE VEHICLE DROVE BETTER FOR A SHORT WHILE, BUT THE SHAKING PERSISTED.

OPTICAL SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF MY 2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER: ANY INCREASED LIGHT SITUATION, @ NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY, PROVIDES A DOUBLE VISION OF THE LIGHT SOURCE THAT APPEARS ABOVE THE SOURCE ~ 8 TO 10 FEET @ ~ 1 MILE AWAY. AS THE VEHICLE GETS CLOSER TO THE SOURCE IT CONVERGES DOWNWARD TOWARD THE LIGHT SOURCE UNTIL IT REACHES THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT ALMOST MERGES COMPLETELY. THIS ACTION ACTUALLY CAUSES ME TO BECOME NAUSEATED WHILE DRIVING PRACTICALLY ANY DISTANCE CAUSING AN UNSAFE OPTICAL VIEW DISTRACTING ME WHILE I'M DRIVING TAKING MY ATTENTION TO THE DOUBLE VISION CONDITIONS. AT TIMES IT IS ALMOST HYPNOTIZING. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS COMPLAINT 3 OR 4 TIMES TO THE DEALER AND ONCE TO THE HOME OFFICE VIA EMAIL TO NO AVAIL. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS CONDITION IS COMMON ON THIS MODEL YET THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AS IT IS SEEN AS NOT A PROBLEM TO BE REPLACEABLE. NO PERSONAL ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED YET DUE TO THIS CONDITION. MAYBE OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PHENOMENON. *NM

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH A CLUNG IN THE DRIVELINE. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, ESPECIALLY THE LONG ONES. YOU THINK A CAR HAS BUMPED YOU IN THE REAR BUT NO ONE IS THERE. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME. INITIALLY THE DEALER THOUGHT THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ACTIVATING. THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO ACTIVATE UNDER 3 MPH BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS OFF ABOUT 2 OR 2 1/2 MPH SO THE BRAKES PROBABLY THOUGH THE CAR WAS MOVING WHEN IT WAS SITING STILL. MORE RECENTLY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SO THEIR OFFICIAL POSITION WAS THAT CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. BUT THE SISTER VEHICLE WITH LEXUS, THE GX470, HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON IT. IT HAS HAPPEND FROM THE PURCHASE DATE ON 9/1/06. IT NOW HAS A LITTLE OVER 6,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER TIRES WERE LOW PROFILE TIRES WHICH WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPPMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE WAS AUGUST 26, 2006 WHILE TRAVELING IN REVERSE AT 3 MPH . THE CONTACT STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE TIRE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2ND TIME A TIRE FAILED SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 5 MPH WHEN SHE HIT THE SIDE OF THE CURB. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REMINDED THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD TOLD HER THAT TIRE FAILURES OCCURRED OFTEN ON TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS. BRIDGESTONE ,DUELHER H/T P265/60R18. WITH DOT# ELXT JAJ4105.*AK THE CONSUMER WISHED TO CLOSE THE COMPLAINT AND NOT FILE. UPDATED 02/09/07. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SERVICE DEALER EXPRESSED THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE VIBRATION WAS NOTICEABLE FROM 5 MPH TO ANY HIGHER SPEED.

WE OWN A 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER - DURING THE FIRST YEAR WE TOOK IT IN THREE TIMES AND TOLD THEM THAT WHEN WE ARE AT A STOP THE SUV WOULD SHIFT FWD WHILE STILL APPLYING THE BRAKE. WE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN THE 2ND YEAR, STILL WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. EACH TIME THEY HAD NO ANSWER AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSE THEY COULD NEVER GET THE PROBLEM TO REPEAT. TO DATE THE SUV STILL DOES IT AND WOULD SAY AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWO DAYS SO MUCH SO WE HAVE JUST BECOME USED TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY TOYOTA SR5 WAS BOUGHT IN FEB 06, I HAVE 7400 MILES ON IT. MY RIGHT REAR TIRE SPLIT OPEN ON TREAD AND WAS SPLITTING AROUND THE EDGE AND SIDEWALL. LAST SATURDAY ON MY WEEKLY INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK THE TIRES HAD NO DEFECT. LUCKILY IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED A REPLACEMENT TIRE AND STATEDE IT WS A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS MADE BY BRIDGESTONE, K0305 D840Z P265/65R17 TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IS MADE FROM A DEFECTIVE LOT AND THAT MY OTHER TIRES AND TIRES CURRENTLY SOLD HAVE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS.

OUR 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH A V8 ENGINE HAS LOST ACCELERATOR RESPONSE ON TWO OCCASIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR WE HAVE OWNED IT. THE CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR INPUTS. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS JULY 2006 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 3800 MILES ON IT. THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE WAS CHANGED AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE FIXED UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2007 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 9800 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FROM FEBRUARY UNTIL AUGUST 2007. TOYOTA REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE AGAIN, THEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER, ALL OF WHICH DID NOT FIX THE VEHICLE. THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE WIRE HARNESS IN AUGUST 2007 WHICH HAS THE VEHICLE WORKING AGAIN. WE HAVE ASKED TOYOTA TO RE-PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM US BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE. IF THIS LOSS OF POWER WERE TO HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT! TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO RE-PURCHASE OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM SO THAT OTHER TOYOTA 4 RUNNER OWNERS AND FUTURE OWNERS ARE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SURF BOARD STRAPPED TO THE LUGGAGE RACK FLEW OFF. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR CROSS BAR DETACHED FROM THE RACK SIDE RAILS. NO WARNING SIGNALS WERE OBSERVED. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE FRONT CROSS BAR MOVED TOWARDS THE REAR HITTING THE REAR CROSS BAR FORCING ITS DETACHMENT. THE CROSS BARS WERE ADJUSTED TO THE SIDE BARS BY THUMB SCREWS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE BOARD COULD HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH FATAL CONSEQUENCES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONVINCED THE THUMB SCREWS WERE NOT SAFE TO STRAP ANY LOAD ON THE LUGGAGE RACK.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A VIBRATION WAS FELT COMING UP THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING 20MPH. THE VIBRATION WAS MORE PRONOUNCED AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND LESS PRONOUNCED AT LOWER SPEEDS, ALTHOUGH IT NEVER CEASED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE VIBRATION WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NEW 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS 10,000 MILES, LEAKING OIL FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL, I WAS TOLD IT WAS DEFECT OF THE SEAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER, I WAS TOLD THE SEAL HAS TO BE HAS REPLACED. NOW I AM WAITING SINCE THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. *NM

I HAVE A STEERING PROBLEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER V8 SPORT MODEL, 9191 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WANTS TO VEER FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN THE PROPER LANE. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA DISTRICT REP HAVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SUGGEST THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BEHAVIOR FOR THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIR IS NECESSARY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *JB

NOT UNTIL I READ THE ARTICLE ON YAHOO (INSIDE WASHINGTON MISSED SIGNS IN TOYOTAS RECALLS) DID I REALIZE I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. MY 4RUNNER CONSTANTLY LURCHES FOWARD AS I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN A STOPPED POSTION. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE WAY THE TRUCK WAS MADE SINCE IT WAS MY FIRST TOYOTA. NOW I REALIZE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. BUT HOW DO I GET IT FIXED? I DO NOT SEE THE 4RUNNERS AS HAVING THE RECALL ON THEM. *CN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERS IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER SENT A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WHOM COULD NOT DETERMINE A PROBLEM EITHER. UPDATED 06/15/06. *JB

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. MY DRIVERS SEAT CLICKS AND SHIFTS EACH TIME I ACCELERATE OR TURN, WHETHER ITS LEFT OR RIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED, HOWEVER WHEN THEY RETURNED IT TO ME, IT CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME. IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND FRUSTRATING. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR "SEAT CLICKS, TOYOTA 4RUNNER" AND PULLED UP MULTIPLE FORUMS OF TOYOTA OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN OLDER MODELS, AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA IS BEGINNING TO "SLOW" THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESS DOWN TO ENSURE HIGHER QUALITY THAN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE 4RUNNER MENTIONED AS A VEHICLE WITH DEFAULTS, BUT IT DEFINITELY NEED TO BE MADE PUBLIC. *JB

TOYOTA 2006 4RUNNER 4WD LIMITED DISCHARGES A SULFUR SMELL WHEN I ACCELERATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM GOING UP A HILL. THE SMELL IS STRONG EVEN WHEN MY WINDOWS ARE UP. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SMELL BEING A HEALTH ISSUE. I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY 2006. *JB

I HAVE A DRIVELINE VIBRATION ON MY 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER V8 SPORT MODEL, 4575 MILES, VIN [XX]. THE VIBRATION IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE DIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 72-74 MPH. THE VIBRATION CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A CYCLICAL DRONING VIBRATION AND CAN BE FELT ON THE DRIVER FLOORBOARD AND DEAD PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AS WELL AS SLIGHTLY ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VIBRATION IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN A LOAD IS PLACED ON THE ENGINE LIKE WHEN CLIMBING A GRADE. THE VIBRATION IS ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING FULL THROTTLE VERY HARD FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A CLUNK THAT CAN BE FELT AND HEARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CLUNK IS ALSO PRESENT WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP AFTER REMOVING THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND DISTRICT TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER. BOTH OF THEM INDICATE THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THE THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL THAT EITHER OF THESE ISSUES ARE NORMAL AND FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATED AND SHOULD BE FIXED. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DOUBLE VISION IN WINDSHIELD WHEN NIGHT DRIVING. *NM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MOTOR TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL FAILURES. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH AND ANYTHING AND EVERY THING HAS GONE WRONG. I EVEN HAD TO GIVE MY DAUGHTER CPR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE INHALATION. SHE WENT INTO RESPIRATORY FAILURE DO TO THIS SHE HAS SEVERE ASTHMA. *JB

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE NEW 4 RUNNER LISTED ABOVE, I BEGAN TO FEEL A CLUNK FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF IT BUT COULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN PUBLISHED REFERENCING THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID A SERVICE BULLETIN EXISTED ON THE LEXUS GX470, WHICH USED THE SAME DRIVETRAIN. TO THIS DATE THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, NOT ONLY CAN YOU HEAR IT BUT THE INERTIA ON OCCASIONS PUSHES THE VEHICLE FORWARD. SERVICE BULLETINS ARE 00207 AND 00106, NHTSA ID# ARE 10021759 AND 10021707. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL FELT VERY LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE DROVE AT LOW SPEEDS RANGING FROM 20-30 MPH. THE CONTACT TEST DROVE ANOTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND DID NOT HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD NEARLY TWO COLLISIONS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS CURRENTLY IN ARBITRATION TO HAVE TOYOTA BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON A NEWLY PURCHASED 2006,, TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES, P265/65-17R WITH 400 TOTAL MILES ON THE VEHICLE. BLOWOUT WAS FROM TREAD TO BEAD WITH NO SIGNS OF IMPACT DAMMAGE. PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TIRE. OLD TIRE NOT AVAILABLE - PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *AK

STARTING AT THIS DATE: ITS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE WHILE DRIVING WHEN NEEDING TO APPLY MY BRAKES SUDDENLY. I APPLY THE BRAKES, MEDIUM HARD TENSION, OPPOSED TO JAMMING ON THE BRAKES, THEN MOMENTARILY LET OFF BRAKES AND THEN TAPED BRAKES TO MORE GENTLY EASE OFF THE SITUATION. THE CAR THEN BUCKS VIOLENTLY AS IF HITTING SOMETHING. EXTREMELY SHOCKING. ONE TIME I HAD A PASSENGER AND AS SHE WAS SHOCKED TOO, ASKED ME WHAT I WAS DOING? I REPLIED, "NOTHING, THE CAR DID IT! I READ ONLINE THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE I DESCRIBE. *TR

WHEN MY 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS RUNNING OR WHEN ACCELERATION A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN AND THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. *NM

ROAD CONTAINED A TURN AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE SKIDDED "FISHTAILED" AND UPON CORRECTION SKIDDED THE OTHER DIRECTION. VEHICLE WENT INTO SMALL CULVERT DITCH AND ROLLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. *JB

2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR ISSUES SIMILAR TO RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE ALONG WITH HIS WIFE OWN A 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER BUT THEIR VEHICLES WERE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION ISSUES. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN BACKING UP OR GOING FORWARD AND PREPARING TO STOP, HE LET HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A VERY LOW SPEED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRONIC AND NOT MECHANICAL. *JB