NHTSA Complaint #11354918 — 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

THIS IS A TOYOTA LIMITED MODEL THAT HAS A PROPRIETARY XREAS SUSPENSION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE INTERVALS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES THE SERVICE TECH FOUND THAT ALL FOUR STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND REQUIRED $4,500 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. A VISIT TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSTIC OUTCOME PROVIDED BY THE FIRST DEALER. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO STATED THE WARRANTY HAD LAPSED AND EXPRESSED NO DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE WHY AT 55,000 THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM SEALS AT ALL FOUR WHEELS WOULD FAIL. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OUTLINED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. THE SUSPENSION BECAME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT BECAME SO SOFT CERTAIN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. WHEN I HAD THE SYSTEM REPLACED I DIRECTED THAT ALL THE REMOVED PARTS BE RETURNED TO ME AND I HAVE THEM SAVED FOR POSSIBLE INSPECTION. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE STRUTS TAKEN DURING THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION. I BELIEVE THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA SEEMED TO POSSIBLY ADDRESS THIS IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0145-11. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR DESIGN AND PROVIDE FREE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT TO ITS PRODUCT OWNERS.