NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
192 reports110,000 miles · Sep 29, 2020
Structure
2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, ORIGINAL OWNER WITH ONLY 110,900 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT! VEHICLE HAS SEVERE RUST/ROT DAMAGE TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRAME. EXTENDS FROM MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER TO REAR CROSS MEMBER. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED. SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. REPAIR WILL BE NECESSARY SOON, …
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2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, ORIGINAL OWNER WITH ONLY 110,900 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT! VEHICLE HAS SEVERE RUST/ROT DAMAGE TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRAME. EXTENDS FROM MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER TO REAR CROSS MEMBER. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED. SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. REPAIR WILL BE NECESSARY SOON, AS I'M STARTING TO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70+ MPH). THANK YOU!
NHTSA ODI #11361721
295,000 miles · Sep 15, 2020
Suspension
THE VEHICLE IS IN IMPECCABLE CONDITION. THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOVE THE TRAILING ARMS AND THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE RAIL. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2006 AND HAVE BABIED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11355215
166,000 miles · Sep 5, 2020
SuspensionUnknown Or Other
I FOUND FRAME RUST WITH PERFORATION ON MY 02 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
NHTSA ODI #11353316
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2020
Unknown Or Other
FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND TRUCK WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE
NHTSA ODI #11352980
151,000 miles · Jun 16, 2020
Unknown Or Other
FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF BEING A DANGER TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. FRAME DID NOT EASILY APPEAR RUSTED WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 4 YEARS AGO. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THE COATING CONCEALED THE DAMAGE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO REPAIR. MY VEHICLE DRIVES PERFECTLY BUT IS NOT SAFE DUE …
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FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF BEING A DANGER TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. FRAME DID NOT EASILY APPEAR RUSTED WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 4 YEARS AGO. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THE COATING CONCEALED THE DAMAGE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO REPAIR. MY VEHICLE DRIVES PERFECTLY BUT IS NOT SAFE DUE TO THE FRAME DAMAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11329213
120,000 miles · Apr 28, 2020
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. TOYOTA OF LINCOLN PARK (1561 N FREMONT ST, CHICAGO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. TOYOTA OF LINCOLN PARK (1561 N FREMONT ST, CHICAGO, IL 60642) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11322518
146,000 miles · Mar 12, 2020
Service BrakesSuspensionUnknown Or Other
WHEN I HAD MY STATE INSPECTION IN JANUARY OF 2020, THE MACHANIC TOLD ME THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AGAIN. IT IS SEVERELY RUSTED THROUGH AND IN HIS OPINION IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I WAS TRAVELLING TO MY FATHER'S RESIDENCE AND THE BRAKES GAVE OUT. THE TECHNICIAN THAT REPAIRED MY BRAKE LINE ALS…
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WHEN I HAD MY STATE INSPECTION IN JANUARY OF 2020, THE MACHANIC TOLD ME THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AGAIN. IT IS SEVERELY RUSTED THROUGH AND IN HIS OPINION IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I WAS TRAVELLING TO MY FATHER'S RESIDENCE AND THE BRAKES GAVE OUT. THE TECHNICIAN THAT REPAIRED MY BRAKE LINE ALSO TOLD ME AND DOCUMENTED ON THE BILL THAT THE TRUCK IS REALLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 18 YEARS, AND ONLY DRIVEN IT FIVE WINTERS. I WASH THE TRUCK NUMEROUS TIMES DURING THE WINTER TO REMOVE SALT. IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE, AND I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ONE. WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE FRAME RECALL FROM TOYOTA?!? NOW I'M NERVOUS ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THOSE ON THE ROADWAYS.
NHTSA ODI #11317745
232,000 miles · Feb 27, 2020
Structure
RUST/ROT DAMAGE TO PASSENGER SIDE FRAME. EXTENDS FROM MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER TO REAR CROSS MEMBER. ALSO SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO REAR SHOCK MOUNTS. FAILED INSPECTION AS A RESULT. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED. SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY.
NHTSA ODI #11311971
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2020
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH A SEVERELY RUSTED FRAME. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70K ORIGINAL MILES ON IT, NO BODY RUST, BUT AN EXTREMELY RUSTED UNDERCARRIAGE AND FRAME. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO CONTINUALLY DRIVE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AS IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND COULD AFFECT OTHER COMPONENTS SUCH AS STEERING, SUSPENSION, BRAKES,…
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I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH A SEVERELY RUSTED FRAME. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70K ORIGINAL MILES ON IT, NO BODY RUST, BUT AN EXTREMELY RUSTED UNDERCARRIAGE AND FRAME. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO CONTINUALLY DRIVE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AS IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND COULD AFFECT OTHER COMPONENTS SUCH AS STEERING, SUSPENSION, BRAKES, ETC. SEEING AS HOW TOYOTA HAS ALREADY HAD A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEIR TRUCKS OF THE SAME YEAR FOR UNSAFE RUSTED FRAMES, I FEEL MY 4RUNNER SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FRAME REPLACEMENT RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11299973
Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2019
Power TrainService Brakes
WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE FEATURES ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED.
NHTSA ODI #11229403
NHTSA investigations
1DP18002 · Frame Corrosion
Opened Aug 17, 2018 · Closed Mar 18, 2022
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:frame And Members
On August 7, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Gary Weinreich alleging premature frame corrosion failure in model year (MY) 2002 - 2006 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The petitioner based his request upon a corrosion-related front suspension failure he experienced in his MY 2005 Toyota 4Runner, a class action lawsuit settlement involving other Toyota products, and other complaints of underbody corrosion in Toyota 4Runner vehicles that he found in NHTSA?s online complaint database. The petitioner submitted a complaint to NHTSA documenting his experience (NHTSA ID 11098055). On August 17, 2018, ODI opened DP18-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI?s evaluation included information provided by the petitioner regarding his vehicle, facts related to the class action lawsuit cited by the petitioner, and consumer complaint data received by NHTSA regarding underbody corrosion in third and fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner vehicles.The undercarriage of the petitioner?s vehicle exhibited severe corrosion damage indicative of seawater immersion. The vehicle?s service history shows that concerns with underbody corrosion were first noted by a Toyota dealer in a multi-point vehicle inspection performed on April 28, 2011. The invoice for that inspection noted ?severe and excessive amount of rust on the undercarriage and on the drive shaft transmission.? Two years later, on October 21, 2013, another multi-point inspection by a Toyota dealer observed further progression of underbody corrosion damage, noting: ?rust on shocks/struts and other components,? ?rust on exhaust system,? ?both splash shields severely rusted,? and ?undercarriage very rusty.? On July 17, 2017, approximately 10 months prior to experiencing the suspension failure incident, an independent repair facility performing routine oil change and brake maintenance informed the Petitioner of a concern with ?excessive frame corrosion? on his vehicle. The service history, severe general corrosion damage, failure age, and environment do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure.ODI?s analysis of NHTSA complaint data identified fifteen incidents of front lower control arm failure in fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicles. Two of the failures, including the petitioner?s vehicle, involve vehicles operated in ocean front communities with continuous exposure to aerosolized marine salts and potential exposure to seawater immersion. The remaining thirteen failures all involved vehicles owned or previously registered in states with the greatest use of deicing salts to treat road surfaces in winter months (?Salt states?). On average, the front lower control arm failures occurred after 13.1 years in service in highly corrosive environments. The failure ages and environments do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure. NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Since the information before the Agency is not indicative of a vehicle-based defect, it is unlikely that any investigation opened because of granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action if warranted or the p
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