Structure. Review the 278 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

527 reports

65,000 miles · Nov 9, 2015

Service Brakes

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OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN A CITY AT 10 MPH WHEN ABS, VSC, TRAC AND EBRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH AN ALARM SOUND. BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESPOND ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. MANAGED TO SLOW CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING BY PRESSING EBRAKE AND PUMPING BRAKE PEDAL. TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER COMPLETELY FAILED AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. QUOTED $3100 FOR REPAIR. BASED ON SOME INTERNET SEARCHING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE ON THIS MODEL/YEAR. DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT PROVIDED SOME FIX FOR THIS ISSUE WHICH COULD PROVE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10789387

138,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015

Air BagsCrashInjury

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DRIVING 45 MPH IN A 45 MPH ZONE ON CITY STREET WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY AND PULLED IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF 4RUNNER. ALMOST ZERO TIME FOR BREAKING. 4RUNNER HIT PICKUP TRUCK BEHIND DRIVER'S DOOR AT NEARLY 45 MPH. THE TRUCK WAS WAS MOVING RIGHT TO LEFT. FRONT END OF 4RUNNER SEVERELY DAMAGED AND FRAME WAS BENT. 4RUNNER BUMPER MOUNTS JUST BELOW AIRBAG SENSORS WERE BROKEN OFF. AIRBAGS ON 4RUNNER DID NOT ACTIVATE. 4RUNNER DRIVER HAS SEVERE CONCUSSION AND OTHER INJURIES. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED BY THE PICKUP TRUCK DRIVER'S INSURANCE CARRIER. THE SAFETY ISSUE TOO FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SEVERE FRONTAL COLLISION...UPDATED 11/12/15 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10788164

62,000 miles · Oct 29, 2015

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000

NHTSA ODI #10787092

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2015

Suspension

THE FRAME IS ROTTING OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10783847

139,000 miles · Oct 7, 2015

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED, BUT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. ...…

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NHTSA ODI #10780676

65,257 miles · Oct 2, 2015

Unknown Or Other

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THE FRAME ON MY 4 RUNNER ROTTED SO BADLY IT WAS UNSAFE AND NOT REPAIRABLE. I TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE BRAKES WORKED ON. WHEN THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK, THEY ASKED ME TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT. THE FRAME WAS ROTTEN WITH RUST. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, NOT PRACTICAL TO REPAIR, AND COULD ONLY BE SOLD FOR PARTS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 65,257 MILES ON IT. THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT HE COULD POKE A SCREWDRIVER RIGHT THROUGH IT. LARGE RUSTY CHUNKS WERE FALLING RIGHT OFF OF THE FRAME. THERE ARE TWO STEEL U PIECES WELDED, ONE ON EITHER SIDE, TO THE FRONT OF THE FRAME FOR TOWING PURPOSES. ONE OF THESE WAS HANGING DOWN BY A RUSTY THREAD. I LATER PULLED ON IT WITH MY HAND AND IT CAME RIGHT OFF WITH A BUNCH OF SCALY RUST FLAKES. I HAVE SAVED IT AS EVIDENCE OF HOW BADLY THE FRAME HAD DISINTEGRATED. THE DEALER WOULD ONLY ALLOW ME $100 ON A TRADE IN, BUT I DID AS I HAD TO HAVE A VEHICLE TO DRIVE. I FELT VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE FRAME DID NOT BREAK UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AS I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! MY WORKING CAREER HAS BEEN AS AN ENGINEER AND I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH METALS AND CORROSION, BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN STEEL THIS PRONE TO ROTTING.

NHTSA ODI #10779405

180,000 miles · Sep 22, 2015

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE THREE LARGE HOLES IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #10767355

211,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015

Suspension

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2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2015 TO INSPECT THE FRAME RUST. THE RUST WAS VERIFIED BY THE DEALER, AND WAS SENT ON MY WAY, WITH NO WARNING THAT IT WAS UNSAFE. MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2015, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FRAME FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT BROKE FREE FROM THE FRAME AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE REAREND STARTED TO SHAKE, WOBBLE AND VIBRATE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD. TALKED TO DEALER, NO RECALLS ON SAID VEHICLE. TALKED TO TOYOTA CORPORATE, THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. TACOMA'S AND TUNDRA'S HAVE A RECALL, BUT NOT THE 4RUNNER. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED HERE ON JULY 5, 2015.

NHTSA ODI #10761118

137,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015

Structure

MY VEHICLE HAS SEVERE FRAME RUST AND ROT. PART OF FRAME AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR HAS HOLES IN IT AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IT WAS DRIVEN PRIMARILY IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.

NHTSA ODI #10761027

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2015

Unknown Or Other

FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST. MUCH MORE THAN WOULD EVER BE CONSIDERED NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #10760277

Official recalls

11V113000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: THE REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN EARLY APRIL 2011. THE REMEDY WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

03V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Apr 14, 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER, LOCATED ON THE FUEL RAIL, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED, CAUSING A DIAPHRAGM IN THE PULSATION DAMPER TO BE DAMAGED. IF THE DIAPHRAGM FAILS, FUEL MAY LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IF A HEAT SOURCE OR AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PULSATION DAMPER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 5, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

02V339000 · Wheels

Dec 17, 2002

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIVE FACTORY ALLOY WHEELS (MODEL 6934 AND 6936), WITH FACTORY LLAT, AND WITH PORT INSTALLED WR4, FOUR ALLOY WHEEL UPGRADE PROCESSED AT THE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA PORT AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PROCESSED AT THE PORT, AN ALLOY TIRE/WHEEL UPGRADE WAS INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDED 4 ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/ALLOY WHEEL WAS NOT CHANGED. THE SPARE TIRE REQUIRES THE USE OF A DIFFERENT STYLE OF WHEEL NUT TO ATTACH IT TO THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SPARE TIRE/WHEEL IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE USING THE WHEEL NUTS PROVIDED FOR THE UPGRADE ALLOY WHEEL, DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL COULD RESULT AND COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A LOOSE WHEEL.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT STYLE LUG NUTS, A WARNING LABEL FOR THE SPARE RE/ALLOY WHEEL, AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP18002 · 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

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal