2001 Toyota 4RUNNER

LESS THAN 20000 MILES AFTER I HAD A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED, BY TOYOTA, IN MY 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE INPUT. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND LET OFF OF THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL. I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING FURTHER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP LOW AND BEHOLD, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. TODAY, I HAD A SURGE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONTACTED TOYOTA FOR SERVICE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT FEEL THAT THIS ONE POSED A SAFETY HAZARD WORTHY OF REPORTING. *TR

VSC, STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIMITS POWER TO NORMALLY ACCELERATE FROM A STOP WHILE 4WD ENGAGED. HAPPENS 99% OF TIME WHEN IN 4WD RARELY IN 2WD MODE. DIRECTION DOESN'T AFFECT(CAN BE GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT) MAY RESULT IN REAR END OR SIDE IMPACT COLLISION BECAUSE FOLLOWING OR ONCOMING VEHICLE NOT EXPECTING MY VEHICLE TO BE AN OBSTRUCTION. NO HELP FROM DEALER. *TR

MY 2001 4 RUNNER WITH ONLY 125,000MILES HAS A RUSTED OUT REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS WAS SHOCKING TO ME BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RUST ON THE BODY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA WHO SAID THEY CAN REPLACE IT FOR $2200 PLUS TAX. I TOOK IT TO MY HUSBAND'S MECHANIC TO REPAIR/PATCH IT IF POSSIBLE. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY VEHICLES WITH MORE MILES THAN MINE IN MUCH WORSE CONDITION THAT HAVE NO RUSTED OUT REAR DIFFERENTIALS. HE FOUND IT VERY UNUSUAL. HE SAID THE METAL HOUSING IS VERY THIN (FROM THE FACTORY THAT WAY) WHICH IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC WELDED A PATCH OVER THE HOLE; HOWEVER THIS IS NOT A GOOD PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO MAKES MY 4 RUNNER HAVE NEXT TO NOTHING FOR TRADE IN VALUE FOR A TRUCK THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE A NICE TRADE IN VALUE. THIS MAKES IT A DOUBLE INSULT. AFTER TALKING TO MANY PEOPLE AND VISITING THE WWW.4RUNNERFORUM.COM WEB SITE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 4RUNNERS YEARS 1999 TO 2002. I WOULD IMAGINE MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE PROBLEM THAN HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE WEBSITE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING TOYOTA CAN/WILL DO TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AS IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM, MY 4 RUNNER HAS BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS A HISTORY OF GREAT VEHICLES. I KNOW THEY RECALLED THE TACOMA TRUCKS FROM THE LATE ' 90'S FOR FRAME RUSTOUT AND GAVE THE OWNERS 2 X THE TRADE IN VALUE TOWARDS A NEW TOYOTA. BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL, I KNOW TOYOTA IS WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. TOYOTA OFFERING A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PART OR "TRADE IN VALUE" TOWARDS A NEW TOYOTA WOULD BE A GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS KEEPING LOYAL CUSTOMERS. IF THEY DO NOTHING, IT MAKES ME HESITANT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA NOT KNOWING IF THE METAL HOUSINGS ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIALS ARE MANUFACTURED ANY BETTER IN 2010.. *TR

WHEN ON A LONG HIGHWAY TRIP ON THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 7, 2008, MY HUSBAND NOTICED BLACK SPOTS ON THE REAR WINDOW OF OUR 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (121,000 MILES). HE CLEANED IT OFF TO SEE IF IT RETURNED AS WE RESUMED OUR JOURNEY. WHEN WE NEXT STOPPED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES LATER, THE BLACK SPOTS WERE ON THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND CHECKED BENEATH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW TRANSMISSION FLUID DRIPPING OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO REPORTED THAT THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, AND THAT IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR, AND THAT HE HADN'T EVER SEEN THIS ON A CAR OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. HE INFORMED US THAT TOYOTA HAS RECENTLY RECALLED TACOMA VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEAR FOR SIMILAR CORROSION PROBLEMS. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE ARE LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS BEYOND REPAIR THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO SELL, AND WE HAVE MAINTAINED IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES. PLEASE HELP. *TR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE INCLUDING THE AXLE, DIFFERENTIAL, BRAKES, AND EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE CORRODED BEYOND REPAIR. UPDATED 08/27/08. *JB