NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
220 reports155,000 miles · Jan 16, 2012
Power Train
MY TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A LONG TRIP. THE DIFFERENTIAL STARTING MAKING A WHINING NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. I STOPPED AT AN OIL CHANGE PLACE AT MY DESTINATION TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE FLUID. IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY. TOPPED IT UP AND CHANCED DRIVING IT 400 MILES BACK TO CHICAGO. I MADE IT OK AND HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. THE …
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MY TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A LONG TRIP. THE DIFFERENTIAL STARTING MAKING A WHINING NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. I STOPPED AT AN OIL CHANGE PLACE AT MY DESTINATION TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE FLUID. IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY. TOPPED IT UP AND CHANCED DRIVING IT 400 MILES BACK TO CHICAGO. I MADE IT OK AND HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS SO RUSTED THAT IT HAD HOLES THAT ALLOWED IT TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC TRIED TO FIND A USED ONE BUT THEY ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNED UP COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF RUSTED DIFFERENTIALS ON TOYOTA TRUCKS SPANNING MANY YEARS. THERE IS ALSO EXTENSIVE RUSTING ON THE FRAME, AXLE SPARE TIRE MOUNT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A LONG TERM TOYOTA PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10443959
130,000 miles · Jan 5, 2012
Structure
FRAME CORROSION! ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND IT'S ALREADY 'PANDORA'S BOX", HELP US OUT LIKE YOU HELPED ALL THE CUSTOMERS WITH RUSTED OUT TOYOTA PICKUPS PLEASE! I'M GETTING KILLED, GOING TO BE HOMELESS BY THE END OF THIS REPAIR! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10442577
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2011
SteeringStructureSuspension
I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, WITH AN IMMACULATE BODY, HOWEVER THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED OUT SO BADLY THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE RAIL IN SOME PLACES. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND A FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOST SEVERE LOCATION OF THE ROT IN JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRIN…
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I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, WITH AN IMMACULATE BODY, HOWEVER THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED OUT SO BADLY THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE RAIL IN SOME PLACES. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND A FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOST SEVERE LOCATION OF THE ROT IN JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. TOOK IT FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A WELDER TO SEE IF IT CAN EVEN BE REPAIRED. THINKING OF FILING A CLAIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NY STATE. THE THING IS IT PASSED INSPECTION AT THE SMALL CAR BUSINESS I BOUGHT IT FROM( D AND D AUTOSALES IN BINGHAMTON NY-DON'T GO THERE!!!!!!) AND THERE IS NO WAY IT ROTTED LIKE THIS IN LESS THAN A YR SO I'M THINKING THEY PASSED IT JUST TO GET THE SALE. HAVEN'T CONTACTED TOYOTA BUT THEY MOST LIKELY WONT DO A THING FOR ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10438714
150,000 miles · Nov 21, 2011
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS RUST AND HOLES THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #10436564
130,000 miles · Nov 17, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TRASH CAN AND THEN THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TRASH CAN AND THEN THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ODI #10436200
142,000 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
NHTSA ODI #10435712
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringStructure
FULL BLOWN FRAME RUST MECHANIC STATES IS 100% INVASIVE AFFECTING STEERING, ALIGNMENT, BRAKING, AND CHECKING OF DIFFERENTIAL AND REAR-END FLUIDS DUE TO SEIZED COMPONENTS. FRAME IS TOTALLY COMPROMISED, NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND RECTIFIED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10434011
120,000 miles · Oct 25, 2011
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THUMP. TOOK VEHICLE HOME TO INSPECT. NOTICED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING BRACKET WAS BROKEN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. COIL SPRING BRACKET THAT HOLDS COIL SPRING AND SHOCK IN IS RUSTED AWAY. COIL SPRING IS BROKEN OFF THE FRAME. MECHANIC AND AUTO BODY ADVISOR STATED THAT …
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THUMP. TOOK VEHICLE HOME TO INSPECT. NOTICED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING BRACKET WAS BROKEN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. COIL SPRING BRACKET THAT HOLDS COIL SPRING AND SHOCK IN IS RUSTED AWAY. COIL SPRING IS BROKEN OFF THE FRAME. MECHANIC AND AUTO BODY ADVISOR STATED THAT VEHICLE IS UN-DRIVEABLE. THE CHASSIS IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE ENTIRE FRAME COULD EASILY CRACK IN HALF IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. BACK BUMPER IS ALMOST DISINTEGRATED FROM RUST AND FRONT BUMPER IS RUSTING RAPIDLY. THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 120,000 MILES AND KEPT IN MINT CONDITION. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA THEY SAID NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE 4RUNNER IS NOT ON RECALL LIST. PLEASE HELP ME. I NOW HAVE NO DRIVEABLE VEHICLE AND NO MONEY TO BUY A NEW ONE. TOYOTA HAS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10432710
100,000 miles · Oct 11, 2011
Structure
TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST. THE 4RUNNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS STORIES DOCUMENTED WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES. MY TRUCK HAS HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU AND TOYOTA HAVE BEEN PU…
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TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST. THE 4RUNNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS STORIES DOCUMENTED WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES. MY TRUCK HAS HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU AND TOYOTA HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR *KB
NHTSA ODI #10429521
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2011
Structure
FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH (COMPLETELY PERFORATED). RUST HOLE IS OVER 6 INCHES LONG AND 2 INCHES HIGH. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10429197