2000 Toyota 4RUNNER

I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK TO A BODY SHOP TO FIX THE FRAME AND BODY OF THE TRUCK, AS DIRECTED FROM TOYOTA. WHICH I WAS TOLD FROM TOYOTA IN PORTSMOUTH NH, TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT FIXED. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THEY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL, I HAD TO PASS SEVERAL VEHICLES, THE CAR WAS SHAKING AS I HAD THE BREAKS ON THE WHOLE TIME. IT WAS UPWARDS OF 80 MILES AN HOUR WITH OUT ANY CONTROL. MY SISTER WAS FOLLOWING ME, I ALSO HAVE PROOF FROM THE BODY SHOP, AS I BARELY MADE IT THERE, I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP THE CAR. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME, PROBABLY DRIVER ERROR, NOT THE CASE. WHEN I LEFT THE TRUCK WITH THE BODY SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THE FRAME AND BODY OF THE TRUCK WERE NOT REPAIRABLE. I PAID TOYOTA FOR TIRE ROTATION, OIL CHANGE, AND FILTERS, TO HEAR THAT I HAVE TO SCRAP THE CAR. I STILL FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING DUE TO THE TRUCK ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL, AND GOT NO SUPPORT FROM TOYOTA. *TR

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME RUSTED THREW AT AREA THAT HOLDS REAR AXEL IN PLACE REAR DRIVERS FRAME RAIL HAD RUSTED THROUGH WHERE IT MOUNTS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHEN FRAME FAILED VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND SWAYING TO THE POINT OF IMMEDIATE DANGER TO PASSENGERS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON HIGHWAY THIS VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FRAME FAILURE ON THIS AGE VEHICLE SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

FRAME RUSTED IN FRONT OF BOTH REAR TIRES LOAD BEARING AREA. TOYOTA REFUSES ANY WARRANTY OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM ON TRUCK FRAMES USED ON SUV'S. TACOMA FRAMES ALL RECALLED FOR SAME REASON. TOYOTA STILL STATES NOT TO UNDERCOAT WHEN PURCHASE IS NEW OR TO RUST PREVENT AT ANY WARRANTY/PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. CONSUMER PUT AT RISK TO A PROBLEM ONLY OBSERVABLE FROM A LIFT,AND TOLD TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS OR TOTAL LOSS,AND WILL NOT SELL THE FRAME EVEN AT FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. UPON READING BLOGS OF 4RUNNER OWNERS THIS IS A COMMON FREQUENT INCREASING SAFETY PROBLEM WITH ALL 4RUNNERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS IS A 13 YEAR OLD SUV, THAT DESPITE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND A DEPENDABLE ENGINE HAD TO BE JUNKED DUE TO AN ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH FRAME. AFTER NOTICING SOME INCREASED RATTLING UNDER THE CAR, MY HUSBAND FOUND NOT ONLY HAD THE MUFFLER BRACKETS RUSTED AWAY (SOME PIECES FELL OUT), BUT IT WAS ONE POTHOLE AWAY FROM SEPARATING FROM THE SWING ARM. VERY DANGEROUS (ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN) AND APPEARED TO HAVE RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NOT READILY NOTICEABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE TOOK IT OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA DOES'T SEEM TO BOTHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM LET ALONE DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I WAS DRIVING WITH 2 YOUNG KIDS AND TURNING AROUND AT A DEAD END WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW NOTHING. THE CAR STARTED SWAYING WHEN WE DROVE HOME. I LOOKED UNDER AGAIN AT HOME AND SAW MY REAR SWAY BAR HANGING DOWN BROKE/RUSTED OFF FROM THE FRAME. THE WHOLE FRAME BEHIND WERE IT BROKE WAS ROTTED RIGHT NEXT TO THE GAS TANK. THE 4RUNNER ONLY HAS 79,000 MILES AND HAS NO RUST ON THE BODY. I HAVE WASHED THE UNDERCARRIAGE REALLY GOOD OVER THE YEARS JUST TO KEEP IT CLEAN. THERE IS NO POINT IN HAVING A MOTOR THAT GOES 200,000 MILES IF THE FRAMES CANT MAKE IT TO 80,000. I SEE MANY MUCH OLDER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AS A FRAME SHOULD BE THE LAST THING TO RUST. IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THAT HAPPENED I EASILY COULD HAVE CRASHED BECAUSE THE 4RUNNER STARTED SWAYING BADLY. I WAS A HUGE TOYOTA FAN BEFORE BUT NOW I SEE ALL THEIR FRAMES ARE THIN CHEAP STEEL. *JS

REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING GEAR OIL FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL INTO REAR BRAKE DRUM HOUSING COVERING BRAKE SHOES, DRUMS, AND BRAKING COMPONENTS IN GEAR OIL. LOSS OF GEAR OIL IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAN CAUSE DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AS WELL AS FAILURE IN REAR BRAKING. A NOTORIOUS ISSUE WITH 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNERS DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OF REAR AXLE SEALS AND RETAINERS, THEREFORE FAILING TO PROPERLY SEAL COMPONENTS. SEALS BEGIN TO LEAK AGAIN SOON AFTER; EVEN WHEN REPAIRED, DUE TO POOR MATING OF SEAL AND RETAINER ON AXLE WITHIN THE AXLE HOUSING. *TT