1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

I WAS IN REVERSE AND A JOLT AND POP OCCURRED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WHERE MY SON WAS SEATED. HE FELT IT AT HIS FEET AND ALL OTHER PASSENGERS HEARD AND FELT A JOLT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED RUST AND STRESS CRACKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR PASSENGER TORSION BAR.WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE WITH MY TWO FINGERS I PUSHED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. MY BRAKING PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN I HAVE TO STOP SUDDENLY IN SNOW OR EXTREME WET ROAD SURFACES THERE IS A METAL GRINDING AN NO BRAKES. WHEN THIS OCCURS IN SNOW I WAS IN 4WHEEL HIGH. I HAD NO BRAKES SO I PUT THE VEHICLE IN 2 WHEEL AND HAD BRAKES. IN RAIN I PUMPED THE BRAKES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET BRAKES. ALL DRIVING BRAKES OCCURRED AT 35 MPH IN CITY DRIVING WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND I WENT OVER AN OVERPASS WITH A BUMP AT THE BEGINNING OF IT, I HEARD A CLUNK THEN MY CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH VERY BADLY,I MANAGED TO PULL OVER ON THE EMERGENCY PULL OFF, I THOUGHT A WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE,I FOUND NO LOOSE WHEEL SO I STARTED LOOKING UNDERNEATH AND WOW!!!!!..THE TORSION BARS HAD BOTH RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND BOTH SWAY BARS WERE BROKE OFF,THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE BACK AXAL ON WAS THE BACK OF THE TORSION BARS,,,NEEDLES TO SAY MY FAVORITE CAR IS OUT FOR THE COUNT.

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO MOVE VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. I ALMOST WENT UNDER A COMMERCIAL TRUCK AS I COULD NOT CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF MY TRUCK.. I MANAGED TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AND CHECKED UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK FOR DAMAGE , BUT COULD SEE NOTHING. I DROVE SLOWLY TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND MY CAR STILL KEPT MOVING TO THE RIGHT AT 20MPH. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE REAR TRAILING ARM HAD BROKE DUE TO RUST, AND I WAS VERY LUCK TO BE ALIVE. (IT HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY MORNING WITH LITTLE COMMUTER TRAFFIC OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED) HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 4 RUNNERS 1998 AND LATER YEARS.I CALLED TOYOTA BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT OBLIGED TO ISSUE A RECALL FROM NHTSA?? OR WHATEVER IT IS CALLED. MY MECHANIC DID A WELDING JOB TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WHICH COST ME $750.00 TO FIX. I HAD NO RECOURSE DUE TO TOYOTAS RELUCTANCE TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE FORCE TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR A FATALITY BEFORE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS I INCURRED BUT TOYOTA DO NOT WANT TO KNOW!! I BEG YOU TO INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY. MY CAR IS IN PERFECT MECHANICAL ORDER EXCEPT FOR RUST AND ROTTING UNDERNEATH, BECAUSE TOYOTA DID NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHEN MANUFACTURING THIS MODEL. I AM STILL SCARED DRIVING THIS CAR BUT AM FORCED TO DO SO AND PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS GOING FORWARD. (PROBLEM : REAR CONTROL ARM BOTH SIDES BROKE DUE TO RUST IN CHASSIS) *TR