Structure. Review the 309 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 108 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports3 fire reports14 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

115 reports

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50,000 miles · Sep 22, 2017

SuspensionUnknown Or Other

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EXTREME FRAME RUST ON MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. HAS ONLY 82,000 MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED. BODY IN GOOD CONDITION, NO RUST AT ALL. HAS A LOT OF RUST IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ALSO, TABS, LINES ETC. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST AND I AM AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS ON A TACOMA FRAME. IT IS BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW BECAUSE I THOUGH THE TOYOTA BRAND WAS A WELL BUILT VEHICLE, BUT ALL THIS RUST MAKES ME THINK DIFFERENT. I HAVE A 1999 FORD TAURUS WITH WELL OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NO WHERE NEAR THE RUST THAT THIS TOYOTA HAS, AS A MATTER OF FACT THERE IS NO RUST ON THE FORD FRAME. I AM HOPING THAT I CAN GET SOME HELP FROM TOYOTA IN CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE MGR. WHEN IT HAD MUCH LESS MILES ON IT HIS RESPONSE WAS "WELL THE VEHICLE IS 7 YEARS OLD, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT" AND WOULD DO NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11025066

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2017

SteeringStructureUnknown Or Other

FRAME AND REAR AXLE HOUSING RUST - CAUSED THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS, WHICH PREVENT ROTATION OF THE REAR AXEL, TO DISCONNECT FROM THE HOUSING/FRAME. ALSO, STEERING HAS BECOME STIFF AND BUMPY AS YOU TURN THE WHEEL. THIS MAY BE DUE TO FRONT CROSSMEMBER RUST OR RUST ON THE STEERING UNIVERSAL JOINT.

NHTSA ODI #11001548

150,000 miles · Jun 7, 2017

Unknown Or Other

THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING AND CRACKING. ITS GETS STICKY, EXTREMELY SHINY AND GOOY DURING HOT WEATHER AND CAUSED A REFLECTION OF THE SHINY DASHBOARD ON THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, IN ATLANTA GEORGIA

NHTSA ODI #10993650

124,000 miles · Apr 4, 2017

Unknown Or Other

MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS EXPERIENCING MORE-THAN-NORMAL FRAME RUST. IT APPEARS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE TACOMA, SEQUOIA, TUNDRA RECALL. PARTS ARE RUSTING THROUGH AND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS COVERED IN RUST.

NHTSA ODI #10970542

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2017

Unknown Or Other

UNBELIEVABLE FRAME RUST TO THE POINT IT IS NOT SAFE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS AND CORRECT..

NHTSA ODI #10968524

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2017

StructureUnknown Or Other

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THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE SAFETY RECALL THEY DID ON 2004 4RUNNERS TOYOTA. I CALLED OVER A YEAR AGO AND NO ACTION HAS TAKEN PLACE. THE RECALL WAS OVER THE GAS PEDAL AND DASHBOARD, I ALSO HAVE A CASE NUMBER AND HAVE CALLED MANY TIMES AND THEY ONLY TELL ME TO WAIT. THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO CHECK THE CAR AND I ALSO WENT IN PERSONALLY SO THEY COULD ORDER THE PARTS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN, THE GUY TOLD ME TO GIVE IT SIX MONTHS AND NOW IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CALL. I KNOW THIS RECALL WARRANTY ENDS THIS YEAR 2017 AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE TOYOTA DON MCGILL IN HOUSTON DEALERSHIP IS WAITING FOR THE YEAR TO END SO ONE CAN PAY FOR THE CHANGES TO BE MADE, WHICH IS UNFAIR BECAUSE THIS IS A TOYOTA RECALL. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP BECAUSE THIS HAS TAKEN OVER A YEAR TO FIX NOW AND THE TOYOTA DON MC GILL IN HOUSTON HAS BEEN NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT I ALREADY DID MY PART I HAVE CALLED, I HAVE A CASE NUMBER AND I HAVE GONE PERSONALLY TO TALK TO THEM AND ORDER THE PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #10939099

95,000 miles · Nov 16, 2016

StructureSuspensionUnknown Or Other

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THERE IS LOT OF RUST ON FRAME, UNDER CARRIAGE AND ITS ALSO IN THE SUSPENSION. ITS ALSO CAUSING FLUIDS TO LEAK AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER ASSEMBLY DUE TO RUST. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AS CERTIFIED USED FROM PRESTIGE TOYOTA OF NJ WITH ONLY 5000 MILES IN AUGUST OF 2005, I PURCHASED THIS TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THEIR STELLAR REPUTATION IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY BUT I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE LESS THAN 109,000 MILES AND AT THE WAY THIS RUST IS PROGRESSING, I WILL HAVE TO JUNK THE CAR VERY SOON. I CANT RISK BEING ON THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY AND HAVE THIS RUST BUCKET FALL APART ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL BUT HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING COME THROUGH YET. PLEASE INCLUDE MY CAR IN ANY VEHICLE SAFETY RECALLS, OR CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST TOYOTA. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #10926529

85,735 miles · Nov 3, 2016

Unknown Or Other

THE FRAME OF MY 2004 4RUNNER HAS HOLES PERFORATED THROUGH THE FRAME. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS SERVICED IT THROUGH THE TOYOTA DEALER. IT ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT, HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, AND SHOULDN'T BE AT THE END OF IT'S LIFE AS SUGGESTED BY THE TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN MY T…

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NHTSA ODI #10924079

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2016

StructureUnknown Or Other

THE ENTIRE FRAME AND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED FROM FRONT TO BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10910182

199,000 miles · Sep 9, 2016

StructureUnknown Or Other

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I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO FREEDOM TOYOTA IN HAMBURG, PA TO GET SERVICED AND THEY TOLD ME MY FRAME WAS RUSTED THAT BAD THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION, AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY 12 YEARS OLD. I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER PREVIOUSLY AND THAT WAS 14 YEARS OLD BEFORE I GOT RID OF IT WITH 324,000 MILES. THE BUMPERS WERE KNOWN TO RUST OUT ON THOSE, AND THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON THAT ONE ALSO, BUT NOT AWARE OF THE EXTENT. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL REPLACE MY FRAME, OTHERWISE I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN. THE SERVICE GUY, NICKY AT FREEDOM TOYOTA SAID THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WOULD BE A RECALL ON THE 04 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS OR NOT. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I ONLY HOPE THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY CHILDREN DUE TO DRIVING IT WITH A RUSTED FRAME UNTIL I CAN GET A NEW VEHICLE OR GET MY FRAME REPLACED BY TOYOTA.

NHTSA ODI #10904885

Official recalls

16V065000 · Air Bags:side/window

Feb 5, 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.

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.

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