2002 Toyota 4 Runner

I BOUGHT A 2002 4RUNNER SPORT FROM JIM BARKLEY TOYOTA IN ASHEVILLE NC. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE BRAKES. I HAD THEM CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD THEM TURNED. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN ,AND I HAD TO PUT A NEW SET ON. THEN ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO REPLACE THEM, WHEN WE DID WE ALSO REPLACED THE PADS AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING AND WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND THEY WORKED ON IT AND STATED THAT IT WOULD BE $3000 TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE CALIPERS AND ACTUATOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. I AM SURE WHEN I PAY FOR THIS THE PROBLEM WILL COME BACK AND THEY WILL TRY TO GET EVEN MORE MONEY FROM ME.*AK

I HAVE 2002 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WITH 55,000 MILES. AFTER SEEING BLACK, DARK SMOKE FROM THE EXAUST SYSTEM, I THOUGHT IT NEEDED TUNE-UP. I TOOK TO JOHNSTONS TOYOTA DEALER FOR TUNE-UP (OVER $500.00), AND CAME BACK THE CAR WAS GETTING WORST. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT IT WHY? I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO FLUSH MY ENGINE (ANOTHER $100.00), AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR GOT EVEN WORST. TOOK BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT SERVER SLUDGE AND IT NEEDED TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE TO CLEAN/REPAIR (THEY ASKED ME TO PAY $6,100.00 WHICH I REFUSED). I ASKED DEALER TO CONTACT TOYOTA FOR POWER TRAIN WARRANTEE BUT THEY DECLINED BECAUSE THEY BLAMED FOR LACK OF LUBRICATION. IF ONE FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ENGINE INDICATED THAT LACK OF LUBRICATION, ONE SHOULD CONCLUDE THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE ENGINE (OR SOME OTHER RELATED PARTS) THAT CAUSE TO BURN OIL MORE THAN IT NEEDED. HOWEVER, TOYOTA REFUSE TO REVIEW OR TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT TOYATA DOES NOT BACK UP ITS WARRANTEE AND ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS OF ITS VEHICLE.*AK

2002 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER ENGINE PROBLEM. LIKE OTHER TOYOTA ENGINES, THIS ONE AT 48,000 MILES, HAS A SEVERE SLUDGE BUILD UP PROBLEM DESPITE MAINTENANCE THAT HAS FOLLOWED RECOMMENED PRESECIPTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR ITS POWER TRAIN WARRANTEE IN REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE ENGINE DESPITE THE MALFUNCTION. MUSSON PATOUT HAS ACTED IN A DISHONARABLE AND DISREPUTABLE MANNER IN REPAIRING THIS AUTOMOBILE ACCORDING TO WARRANTEES PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

COMPLAINT: DEFECTIVE VEHICLE SEVERELY ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN IN 'FORWARD DRIVE' ON A HILL. TOYOTA STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED AND FOUND VEHICLE OPERATING TO SPECIFICATIONS. *JB MY OBSERVATION IS THAT THE TOYOTA 2002 4RUNNER IS AN UNSAFE AND DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT I INTEND TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE TOYOTA 2002 4RUNNER IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I LIVED IN A FLAT AREA (MORRIS PLAINS). RECENTLY WE MOVED TO A LOCATION WITH A STEEP DRIVEWAY (700 FEET). SINCE MOVING TO OUR NEW HOME MY WIFE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE SEVERELY ROLLS OPPOSITE THE DESIRED DIRECTION WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL WHILE AT A STOP ON A STEEP HILL. THE PROBLEM IS EXAGGERATED WHEN THE ROADS ARE SLICK, AS THE CAR ALSO SPINS SIDEWAYS DUE TO LOSS OF MOMENTUM FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS FORCED TO COMPENSATE CREATING TOTAL LOST OF TRACTION AND DRIVER CONTROL. MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE TOYOTA ADVERTISED IT AS THE VEHICLE THAT CAN TAKE YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD. TOYOTA ACTUALLY SHOWS A VEHICLE CLIMBING A VERY STEEP MOUNTAIN. THAT IS FALSE ADVERTISING! WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE STEEP HILLS SAFELY UNDER A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PARK ON A HILL WITHOUT HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. IN GOOD FAITH, I HAVE PROCEEDED TO ADDRESS THE MATTER WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND DO NOT BELIEVE THAT AN INJURY OR DEATH HAS TO OCCUR PRIOR TO THE MANUFACTURER RECALLING THE PRODUCT FOR CORRECTION. TOYOTA HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE 2003 4RUNNER BUT WILL NOT CORRECT IT ON PREVIOUS VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY DON'T PERCEIVE IT AS A PROBLEM.