NHTSA Complaint #10163897 — 2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER

I HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2000 4RUNNER SR5. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN I COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS. THE MOTOR WAS RACING BUT NO POWER WAS GETTING TO THE WHEELS. IT WAS A SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE RIGHT AND WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. I THEN TRIED ALL GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE BUT NONE WORKED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. A USED TRANSMISSION WAS USED (REBUILT WAS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR CONSIDERABLY MORE MONEY). NO REAL DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE OF THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION HAD ABOUT 82000 MILES USAGE AT THE TIME. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS PERIODICALLY CHECKED AND ALWAYS WAS FINE BUT HAD NEVER BEEN REPLACED (THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS TO CHECK IT EVERY 30000 MILES, BUT DOESN'T SAY TO REPLACE IT UNLESS OPERATING UNDER SPECIAL CONDITIONS LIKE TOWING WHICH I NEVER DID). *JB