NHTSA Complaint #10439801 — 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
SUSPENSION issue reported to NHTSA
Complaint Details
| ODI Number | 10439801 |
| Vehicle | 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER |
| Component | SUSPENSION |
| Date of Incident | |
| Date Filed | |
| Mileage | 150,000 miles |
| Crash | No |
| Fire | No |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Vehicle Towed | No |
| State | ME |
Consumer Description
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER RUSTED SO BADLY IN 9 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THAT THE STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE DIFFERENTIAL GEARS (THE HOUSING) CRACKED AND OIL SPILLED OUT ON THE ROAD. I DISCOVERED THE RUST DURING THE YEARLY STATE INSPECTION AND CONSEQUENTLY HAD THE DIFFERENTIAL INSPECTED BY MY TOYOTA DEALER (BERLIN CITY PORTLAND, ME) A FEW MONTHS BACK AND THEY SAID IT WAS STRUCTURALLY SOUND BUT RUSTY. I AM AN ENGINEER AND CLEARLY IT WAS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND OR IT WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN SHORT ORDER AS IT DID.... THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP RESULTING IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. THIS RUST PROBLEM IS COMMON ON MOST TOYOTA TRUCK FRAMES AND DRIVE TRAINS OWNED IN THE NORTH EAST. TOYOTA HAS ELECTED TO REPAIR THE TRUCKS AT NO COST BUT NOT THE 4RUNNERS WITH THE SAME FRAME AND DIFFERENTIALS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS [XXX]... THEY PUT ME AND MY FAMILY AT GRAVE RISK.... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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