1996 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

HELLO, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT OVER THIS WEEKEND DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE TIRE BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SMASHING INTO A CEMENT CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY MANY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME TIRES HAVE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE TIRES BLOWING OR TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN TO PREVENT THESE TIRES FROM KILLING ANYONE. THANK YOU, TRUC NGUYEN BELOW IS JUST A FEW COMPLAINTS I FOUND WHILE DOING MY RESEARCH FOR YOUR REVIEW. THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED! CHERYL OF TAXARKANA TX (3/10/04): MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY NEW CAR, A 2002 ISUZU AXIOM. THE TIRE BLEW FROM THE SIDEWALL AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT THE CENTER WALL UNDER AN OVERPASS. DID ABOUT $6,000 IN DAMAGE. THE POLICEMAN WHO DID THE REPORT SAID TIRE DEFECT. THE GENERAL MANAGER FROM M&M GOODYEAR SAID, TIRE DEFECT. SEVERAL OF GOODYEAR COMPETITORS (COOPER TIRE CO.) SAID TIRE WAS A DEFECT. CHARLES OF SOUTHSIDE AL (3/8/04): BOUGHT NEW SET OF REPLACEMENT GOODYEAR WRANGLE RT/S TIRES 02/22/04. 527 MILES LATER ON 03/03/04 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLOWS OUT CAUSING ME TO LEAVE THE ROAD WITH MINOR DAMAGE. SEARS FINALLY REPLACES THE TIRE 3 DAYS LATER DUE TO NOT BEING IN STOCK. THIS WAS LAST SATURDAY. THIS MORNING ANOTHER TIRE BLOWS OUT ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE (NOW ONLY 686 MILES). THIS TIME NO WRECK BUT THE RIM IS DAMAGED. BERNARD OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK AR (7/9/01): I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE MY TIRE BLEW OUT IN A CURVE AND FORCED ME TO HAVE TO DRIVE ACROSS A MEDIAN DRAINAGE DITCH. I AM NOT TRYING TO BRING ON SOME MAJOR LAW SUIT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO DO I TALK TO TO GET MY EXPENDITURE RECOUPED WITH A MAJOR INCIDENT. I DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR INJURIES, AND I AM ONLY LOOKING TO GET MY TRUCK PUT BACK IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION. *NM

OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. COOLANT IS LEAKING AND OIL SLUDGE IS BUILDING UP WITHIN THE MANIFOLD. IT IS USING 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND SMOKING WILL BADLY WHEN FIRST CRANKED. CAR CHECKED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR. *JB

HAPPENED TO NOTICED FLUID AROUND RIM. REPEATED REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. BELIEVE BACK SPACING OF SEAL AGAINST THE ABS RING IS OF A QUARTER OF INCH. CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND CREATE LOUD GRINDING HUM. BRAKES HAVE BECOME SOAKED IN GEAR OIL. CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND SMOKE PROFUSELY. BELIEVETOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE. *AK

HAPPENED TO NOTICED FLUID AROUND RIM. REPEATED REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. BELIEVE BACK SPACING OF SEAL AGAINST THE ABS RING IS OF A QUARTER OF INCH. CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND CREATE LOUD GRINDING HUM. BRAKES HAVE BECOME SOAKED IN GEAR OIL. CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND SMOKE PROFUSELY. BELIEVETOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AFTER GOING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER IN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE MEDIAN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. EVOQ FILED BY: EVELYN PRITCHETT 540-286-7169. *AK RECALL # COULD NOT BE FOUND BUT THE CONSUMER SENT IN A COPY OF A SAMPLE RECALL NOTICE FOR 1996-1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING OR RUFF ROAD CONDITIONS. *TC