NHTSA Complaint #11349611 — 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES. I AM ON MY 3RD DIFFERENT SET OF TIRES THIS YEAR (INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL TIRES). NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THE TIRES ARE BALANCED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES RATHER VIOLENTLY AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED AND RE-BALANCED (INCLUDING ROAD-FORCE BALANCED, ETC.). ON-LINE FORUMS INDICATE THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. ALSO THIS WEEK I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE (THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING AND BINDING UP). APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER FROZE UP AND THE VEHICLE NEARLY WENT OFF THE ROAD. ALSO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS NOISY FROM THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. TOYOTA EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (I BELIEVE A BAD PINION GEAR). SHORTLY AFTER THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO IN AND OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON ITS OWN, AND WARNING LIGHTS AND CHIMES STARTED GOING OFF. THE DEALER THEN MADE REPAIRS BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE SINCE THEN AND THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED IT EACH TIME. ALSO IN THE LAST YEAR THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4-LANE ROAD. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE BUT THEN IT STARTED TO GO IN AND OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON IT'S OWN AGAIN WITH WARNINGS AND CHIMES GOING OFF. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STARTS TO GO IN AND OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON ITS OWN THE SHIFTER LEVER USUALLY STARTS TO FREEZE UP AS WELL (AND YOU MAY NEED TO USE BOTH HANDS TO FORCE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR). THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD A STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE SINCE NEW COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE CAUSE. ALSO VARIOUS HEAT SHIELDS HAVE EITHER BROKEN OR FALLEN OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT GO 4-WHEELING WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT'S METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED INCLUDING ALL SERVICE RECORDS AND RECEIPTS.