1999 Toyota 4RUNNER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME RUSTED OUT AND FRACTURED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, OPENED A CASE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

FUEL GAUGE READS INACCURATELY CAUSING A RUNNING OUT OF FUEL SITUATION, VERY DANGEROUS. GAUGE IS VERY ERRATIC, BUT USUALLY SHOWS 1/2 TANK WHEN IT RUNS OUT. SOMETIMES GOES ALL THE WAY TO FULL, SOMETIMES ALL THE WAY TO EMPTY. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL SENDER IN THE TANK WITH NO CHANGE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN # EL010-00 WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER 950312. TOYOTA SAYS THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. AM I NOW SUPPOSED TO SCRAP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN I WILL RUN OUT OF GAS BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE TANK IS ACTUALLY NEAR EMPTY? I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. I AM NOT ASKING FOR TOYOTA TO PROVIDE THE PARTS AT NO CHARGE, JUST THAT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ME. I AM FILING THIS INQUIRY ON BEHALF OF MY GRANDSON, AS IT IS HIS CAR. I, HOWEVER AM A RETIRED MECHANIC WHO WILL BE DOING THE REPAIR AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SOURCE THE REQUIRED PARTS.

THE MOUNTING POINT FOR THE REAR-AXEL STABILIZER BAR RUSTED THROUGH AND SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. ON MY DRIVE TO WORK (ON THE HIGHWAY) NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN DOWN-SHIFTING, AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED BADLY WHENEVER I WOULD BRAKE OR HIT A BUMP. WHEN I GOT TO WORK AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE THE REAR BRACKET HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAS 155,000 MILES AND HAS VERY LITTLE INDICATIONS OF RUST, BUT UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE INSIDE OF THE BOX FRAME ALONG THE GAS TANK IS RUSTED VERY BADLY. THE VEHICLE IS SINGLE OWNER AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH GREAT CARE, SO I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR. NOT TO MENTION THE WAY IN WHICH THIS FAILED AT THE ATTACH POINT FOR THE REAR AXEL IS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR WITH MY KIDS IN IT! FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, AND PICTURES ONLINE, TOYOTA SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING TO INFORM 4RUNNER OWNERS OF THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. WHEN I VISITED THE TOYOTA DEALER THERE WERE RACKS AND RACKS OF TUNDRA FRAMES THAT WERE BEING REPLACED (SEE PICTURES). WHAT IS TOYOTA DOING FOR 4RUNNER OWNERS?

I HAD JUST BOUGHT A USED TOYOTA 4RUNNNER FROM A DEALERSHIP AS MY FIRST VEHICLE FOR COLLEGE. BEFORE I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE I HAD TO GET IT INSPECTED AND CAME TO FIND OUT THE FRAME OF THE SUV WAS RUSTING AWAY. NOW I AM $7000 DOLLARS IN THE HOLE AND NO VEHICLE TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH AND NOW FORCED TO STAY HOME. I DID MY RESEARCH AND CAME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THAT ALL OF THE 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCKS HAD RECALLS FOR THEIR FRAME BUT NOT THE 4RUNNERS. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE THAT JUST ISNT RIGHT...

THE BALL JOINT ON MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I STOPPED AT MCDONALD'S BEFORE MY LONG JOURNEY ONTO THE FREEWAY, WITH MY 9 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE CAR, AND THAT SAVED US FROM A VERY BAD CRASH THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN OUR LIVES HAD WE BEEN GOING 60-70 MPH. HOW DOES A BALL JOINT BREAK IN HALF???