NHTSA Complaint #10651885 — 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

ON OCTOBER 11TH 2014, I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 4RUNNER, ON MY WAY TO WORK. HAD JUST TURNED OFF A ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55. AS I HIT 35MPH, MY CAR COMES TO A JOLTING STOP WITH A LOUD BANG AND DRAG ON THE TIRES. THE CAR STILL RAN, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO FINISH WALKING TO MY JOB, AS I WAS CELLPHONE-LESS AT THE TIME. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME, MISSING AN ENTIRE DAY'S WORK, WHICH WAS A LOSS OF 120$. THE GUY WHO TOWED ME TOLD ME IT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY REAR END. SO I HAD A FAMILY FRIEND WHO IS A RETIRED MECHANIC LOOK IT OVER TO SEE IF HE COULD SPOT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. FIRST THING NOTICED WAS MY EMERGENCY BREAK WAS ON AND FROZEN. THEY REMOVE IT, CLEAN IT, PUT IT BACK ON. I START THE CAR, GO TO MOVE IT AND THERES A CONTINUOUS LOUD BANG AND THE CAR AGAIN COMES TO THE STOP. THE EMERGENCY BREAK FROZE AGAIN. THEY ONCE AGAIN TAKE IT OFF, AND SO FAR IT HASN'T REFROZE. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS STILL MAKING THE LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, WHICH THEY HAVE CONCLUDED IS COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING UNIT. WHICH THEY FOUND A DECENT SIZED HOLE IN, WHICH IT APPEARS SOMEONE TRIED TO COVER WITH A YELLOW GLUE TYPE SUBSTANCE. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR, AND AM NOW CARLESS. AS I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT CAN COST UP TO $3,000 TO FIX. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH WHEN IT BROKE, AND THERE WAS NO ONE FOLLOWING BEHIND ME, OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN RE ENDED, AND HAD MORE TO FIX THAT I ALREADY DO. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL CAR, AND TOYOTA REALLY NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT!!! IT'S FAIRLY DANGEROUS. I LOVED THIS CAR BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. BUT NOW IT'S USELESS TIL I CAN AFFORD THIS FIX. *TR