1998 Toyota 4 Runner

TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED AS MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED. INSIDE OF TIRES HAVE SHOWN SIGNIFIGANT WEAR AND AT THE TIME OF RECALL WE HAD TIRES CHECKED ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE WAS STEEL SHOWING ON ONE TIRE AND THAT TIRE WAS CHANGED OUT WITH THE SPARE. OTHER 3 TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF EXTREME WEAR AND WE WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT MADE IN DECATOUR, IL THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BEYOND PURCHASING NEW TIRES. THERE ARE ONLY 40000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND THE TIRES ARE WARRENTIED AT 50000. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE TIRES ARE A HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE WEAR AND THIS VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY USED FOR THE FAMILY.( DOT NUMBER: W2HH AWB25 TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT TIRE TREAD SEPERATION AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. COWORKER EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF SAME TIRE INSTALLED ON HER VEHICLE. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES DUE TO THE RECENT DISCLOSURE OF THE TREAD SAFETY PROBLEM AND THE REPLACEMENT OF TIRES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

THE TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE. I HAVE HAD BLOW OUTS BEFORE, BUT HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. FIRESTONE DID NOT HESITATE TO REPLACE IT. THEY DID SO UNDER THEIR ROAD HAZARD CLAIM. THE TREAD ON THE TIRE WAS EXCELLENT, WAS PROPERLY INFLATED AND MAINTAINED. I DID NOT HIT ANY OBJECTS ON THE HIGHWAY AND FIRESTONE FOUND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS INSIDE THE TIRE WHEN THEY BROKE IT DOWN. I CAN'T AND WON'T WAIT FOR ANY SETTLEMENTS AS TIRE SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD. I WILL HAVE THESE REPLACED BUT NOT WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. CAN YOU OFFER ME ANY ADVICE AS HOW TO PROCEED? I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONS ASSISTANCE LINE. THANKS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

BRAKES BECOME SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE HAS INCREASED NUMBER OF CLICKS TO TIGHTEN-THIS HAS OCCURRED AT APPROX 11,000 AND AGAIN AT APPROX 18,000 MILES; TOOK TO DEALER AT APPROX 11,800 INITIALLY WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY ONLY INSPECTED BRAKES (NO ADJUSTMENT)AND SAID BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAD TO RETURN TO DEALER AND HAVE SHOP FOREMAN DRIVE THE TRUCK WHO THEN TOLD MECHANIC TO ADJUST BRAKES. ONCE AGAIN I AM NOTICING BRAKES ARE SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE TAKES MORE CLICKS TO TIGHTEN (APPROX 18,000). I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS EXPECTED WITH TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES. HE SAID THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND ADJUSTED IF NECESSARY EVERY 5000 MILES (AT AN EXTRA CHARGE OF 30.00 DOLLARS). I EXPLAINED THAT THEY GO OUT OF ADJUSTMENT VERY QUICKLY AND NOT AT EXACTLY EVERY 5000 MILES, THEREFORE THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADJUST THEM UNTIL I HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN WHICH MEANS I AM SPENDING TIME AND MONEY (BESIDES THE EXPECTED 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE/ROTATE TIRES) WITH A PROBLEM I FEEL MAY NOT BE NORMAL FOR A $32,000 DOLLAR TRUCK AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARANTEE OR AT LEAST DESCRIBED AS A COMMON NECESSITY TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE PURCHASE( NOWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES IT STATE THAT BRAKES WILL NEED ADJUSTMENT FREQUENTLY DUE TO NOT SELF ADJUSTING).

ENGINE FAILED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS FOR NO REASON. BOTH TIMES SLOWING DOWN WHEN GOING TO TURN. NO ONE WAS HURT./// LOST CONTROL OF 4 RUNNER WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR EXIT RAMP AT 35 MPH AND WET ROAD. SPEED WAS NOT EXCESSIVE FOR CONDITIONS. CAR SPUN HIT GUARD RAIL AND THEN HIT AND DID A 360. 4 DAYS LATER, DRY FREEWAY AT 70 MPH CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO LEFT, SPUN 360 THEN INTO GRASS MEDIAN 360 , THEN 360 BACK ONTO FREEWAY AND CAME TO STOP, ONLY GOD COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM BEING A DISASTER. TWO PASSENGERS, NO ONE WAS HURT. CAR COVERED WITH GRASS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )