1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILING ARM REAR AXLE OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. MA 10/19/15 UPDATED 11/06/2017*CN

RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS 1998 4RUNNER THINKING IT WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. AFTER THE PURCHASE WE BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE THE BACK BRAKES FIXED. WHILE HE WAS DOING THE MAINTENANCE HE SAW THAT THE WHOLE UNDERBODY FRAME OF THE TRUCK IS RUSTED OUT AND ISN'T EVEN DRIVABLE DUE TO THE FACT AT ANY MOMENT THE WHOLE BACK OF THE TRUCK COULD FALL OUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS STUFF HAPPENS BUT THROUGH MY RESEARCH THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON IN THE OLDER 4RUNNER MODELS ALONG WITH THE VERY SIMILAR FRAMED TACOMA WHICH HAS THE FRAME RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.

RUSTED FRAME MULTIPLE AREAS. REAR STABILIZER BAR RUSTED OFF WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC LEAVING MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. I HEARD A NOISE, PULLED OVER AND LOOKED BUT DIDNT SEE THE PROBLEM. WHILE HOME I LOOKED AGAIN AND FOUND THE STABILIZER BAR HANGING RUSTED OFF OF THE FRAME. I HAD SOMEONE LOOK FURTHER AND THEY FOUND MULTIPLE AREAS WITH RUST INCLUDING THE OPPOSITE SIDE LOOKS READY TO DO EXACT THING AND LOSE THE STABLIZER BAR TO RUST

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