1997 Toyota 4 Runner

DT: 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT MAJOR BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING BRAKING PROBLEMS AT 19,900 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY BECAME WEAK. THIS TOOK 6 MONTHS TO DIAGNOSE, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. SHE WAS THEN INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES. SHE HAS ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SINCE LATE 2003. WHEN CHECKED SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ESPECIALLY ON WET PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE. SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY THE ABS, SHE STATES IT WAS BRAKING DIFFERENTLY THAN PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER ON AUGUST 19, 2005. THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE WAS PULLING UP HIGHER THAN USUAL. THIS WAS CHECKED, AND THEY FOUND THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE SOAKED IN OIL. THIS REQUIRED THE SEALS, BEARINGS, RETAINERS, SENSOR RINGS AND THE REAR BRAKE SHOES TO BE REPLACED. SHE FELT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE REAR AXLE. *JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA EMAIL. THE BRAKES FAILED MANY TIMES ON MY CAR AND THEY WERE IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. EACH TIME THEY FIXED IT TEMPORARILY. ALSO, THEY INDICATED THAT OIL OR GREASE WAS LEAKING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND COATING THE BRAKE PADS, RENDERING THEM INEFFECTIVE. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES KICKING IN TOO OFTEN/ LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND JOLTING AT SLOW SPEEDS. LAST TIME IN THE REPAIR SHOP THEY GUARANTEED THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED, YET THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT, AND THAT NEW MODELS WERE DESIGNED TO FIX THIS FLAW. WHAT ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE DRIVING 1997 MODELS ? *AK

MY REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING ON THE BRAKE SHOES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED IT TWICE. ONCE IN THE WINTER OF 2002 AND AGAIN IN THE SPRING OF 2003. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY BRAKES FAILED AND I REAR ENDED SOMEBODY. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES WERE SATURATED WITH AXLE GREASE. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WOULDN'T TOUCH IT AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT A DEALER. THEY THINK I MIGHT HAVE TO GO AS FAR AS REPLACING THE AXLE IN ORDER TO STOP THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. *JB

DRIVING IN #1 LANE OF FREEWAY WHEN A STOPPED VEHICLE PROTRUDING INTO THE LANE NECESSITATED ME TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND AVOIDED THE CAR AND THEN SWERVED BACK TO THE LEFT TO AVOID CAR IN LANE TO MY RIGHT. AT THIS POINT I FELT THE CAR GET BUMPY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER FORWARD AND WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HAD SNAPPED OFF THE AXLE AND THE CAR WAS DRAGGING ON THE PAVEMENT I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND MY LEFT FOOT WAS BROKEN.*AK

ON FEB 24 2004 I WAS ADVISED BY ANDREW TOYOTA (GLENDALE WI) THAT I AGAIN NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS AND REAR BRAKES (DUE TO LEAKAGE) ON MY 1997 4RUNNER. THREE PRIOR TIMES, I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR AXLE SEALS AND REAR BRAKES ON THIS 4RUNNER SINCE 2001: 1. MAR 7, 2001-MILEAGE 71,411. 2. DEC 18, 2001-MILEAGE 83,044. 3. NOV 14, 2002-MILEAGE 90303 I PROVIDED DEALER WITH COPIES OF NHTSA PRINTOUTS SHOWING OTHERS' IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL 4RUNNER, BUT , OF COURSE, SERVICE MAGAGER AT DEALER DUANE DOMAGALSKI SAID HE AND TOYOTA REP (BEAUMONT) DO NOT THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM. AND, SINCE IT'S OUT THE WARRANTY PERIOD THERE WASNT ANYTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. THEY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION, REPEATEDLY, THAT TOYOTA COULD NOT CARE LESS ABOUT THE NHTSA OR ABOUT PEOPLES' COMPLAINTS, AND THAT IF THE DOT THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROBLEM DOT WOULD ISSUE A RECALL! LEAKING AXLE SEALS MAKE MY REAR BRAKES LESS EFFICIENT AND THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER AND TOYOTA SEEMED ANNOYED THAT I WOULD DARE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE 4RUNNER REAR AXLE SEALS. *AK

INITIALLY, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED. AXLE FLUID SOAKED REAR BRAKES, CAUSING DANGEROUS BRAKING AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE FRONT BRAKES. AFTER 11 REPAIR VISITS, INCLUDING NUMEROUS AXLE SEAL REPLACEMENTS, BRAKE REPLACEMENTS, AND AXLE REPLACEMENT, THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT PERSISTS. I.E. FLUID STILL VISIBLY LEAKING ONTO REAR BRAKE (PASSENGER SIDE), CAUSING CAR TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING, CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEATING OF FRONT BRAKES, AND CAUSING VIBRATION.

VEHICLE LOCKED UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. IT HAS BEEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. ALSO, REAR AXLE SEAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED. BRAKE PADS WERE CLEANED. IF PROBLEM REOCCURRED DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO REPLACE PADS. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THEY WERE JUST CLEANED. CONSUMER WAS VERY FUSTRATED AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE NO REMEDY. *AK