1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Structurebody Problems

VERY RUSTED OUT UNDERCARRIAGE. MY OTHER IS ONLY 3 YEARS NEWER AND HAS NOTHING LIKE THIS ON IT. I WAS ADVISED TO SELL IT BY A SUSPENSION SHOP THAT NOTED MY BROKEN, RUSTED OUT UNDERCARRIAGE, BAD SHOCK AND THE CONDITION OF THE REAR OF THE TRUCK'S FRAME IN GENERAL. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK OTHER THAN THIS RUST.

FRAME RUST MAKES VEHICLE DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.

HEY I HAVE A 1997 4 RUNNER I HAVE A PROBLEM OF THE FRAME GETTING RUSTED OUT. IT IS ON THE 4 LINK WHERE IT HOOKS TO THE AXLE IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME MY REAR AXLE ABOUT CAME OFF AND IT ALMOST GOT ME INTO A RECK. ALL I DONE IS HIT THE BRAKES THEN HURT POP AND REAR END WENT CRAZY. I WAS ON A BUSY CITY STEET WHEN IT HAPPENED

THE FRAME SNAPPED FROM RUST AS I WAS DRIVING

THE FRAME ON MY 4RUNNER IS RUSTING ALONG THE REAR AXLE CONTROL ARM MOUNT (THE PIECE WELDED TO THE FRAME THAT YOU CAN SEE WHEN CROUCHED DOWN LOOKING UNDER THE REAR DOORS). THIS SEPARATES AND CAUSES THE REAR AXLE TO FLOAT AROUND WHICH MAY CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SEPARATE COMPLETELY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEY WERE BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

THE FRAME WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND NOT ENOUGH RUST PROTECTION WAS APPLIED BY TOYOTA. WE RARELY GET SNOW AND STILL THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED THROUGH. TOYOTA DID NOT MAKE A DRAIN HOLE SO THAT THE WATER IN THE FRAME WOULD EVAPORATE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES WHICH OTHERWISE LAST A LONG TIME. A LOT OF OWNERS HAVE 4RUNENRS WITH EXCELLENT ENGINE/TRANSMISSION BUT WITH RUSTED FRAMES. THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN ON UNSUSPECTING OWNERS.

MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME IS RUSTING TO THE POINT THAT IT'S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! I'VE ALREADY HAD THE RIGHT REAR SHOCKMOUNT AND BAR REPLACED, AND THE LEFT IS ON ITS WAY TO RUSTING COMPLETELY THROUGH. ON THE LEFT SIDE, HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK IS MOUNTED UP, AND WHEN THE SHOCK MOUNT RUSTS THROUGH AND BREAKS, IT WILL VERY LIKELY CAUSE SOMETHING TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK. THAT COULD BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE, SINCE I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, I MUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SO, IT IS LIKELY THAT IT WILL BE ON THE ROAD WHEN THAT HAPPENS. WHY IN THE WORLD HAS THIS VEHICLE NOT BEEN RECALLED WHEN YOU RECALLED THE TOYOTA TACOMAS FOR THE SAME ISSUE OF RUSTY FRAMES? THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A HUGE ACCIDENT INVOLVING MANY PEOPLE IF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT RECALLED AND TAKEN OFF...

FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED VEHICLE WELL KEPT AND IT JUST KEEPS ROTTING SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEY TRAILER ARM BROKE OFF THE TRUCK ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK.

1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER "REAR FRAME RUST AND HOLES" MY TOYOTA 1997 4RUNNER (CURRENT MILEAGE 139,035) HAS THE RUST AND HOLES ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE & DRIVER SIDE FRAMES. TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER MECHANIC SAID " DO NOT DRIVE BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS." I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT $34,500 ON JUNE 1997. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE ONE. IT'S VERY RIDICULOUS THAT THIS EXPENSIVE CAR HAS THIS KINDS OF PROBLEM. LET ME HAVE RECALL SERVICE. I WILL APPRECIATE FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH AND FOUND RUST ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALLS FOR OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES FOR FRAME RUST, BUT NOT FOR THE 4RUNNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. *TT *TR

EXTENSIVE RUST , FRAME WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION.

FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE THE REAR AXLE ARM ATTACHES. ARM MOUNT BROKEN LOOSE FROM FRAME. VEHICHLE IS UNDRIVEABLE AND VIRTUALLY NOT REPAIRABLE. (FRAME REPLACEMENT) RIDICULOUS TOYOTA!!! YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MAKE IT RIGHT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS!. MYSELF AND FMAILY OWN 7 TOYOTAS. MIGHT RECONSIDER EVER BUYING ANOTHER!

MY 1997 4RUNNER ONLY HAS 116,XXX MILES AND ITS FRAME IS STARTING TO ROT. MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND IT'S ALSO ON OTHER 4RUNNERS. I GUESS IT HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS BUT IT IS NEAR THE BACK BY THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME.

I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS 1997 TOYOTA WHICH I'VE PLANNED TO KEEP FOR EVER. HOWEVER, THIS WEEKEND WHILE REPLACING A SHOCK ABSORBER I FOUND THAT THE FRAME, BY THE MUFFLER HAS RUSTED THROUGH, THE GASH IS APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES LONG. THERE ARE OTHER AREAS FAR BEYOND WHAT CAN BE CONSIDERED NORMAL RUST DUE TO AGING. THE DAMAGE LOOKS UNSAFE. I FOUND THE DAMAGE ON THE BELOW STATED DATE BUT THIS KIND OF DAMAGE MUST TO HAVE TAKEN YEARS.

GOING DOWN ROAD AT 50MPH CAR LET LOOSE VERY HARD TO HANDLE PULLED ME INTO BURM OF ROAD SWAYING BACK AND FOURTH. HAD CAR TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED FRAME BROKE LOOSE TOTALLY ROTTED FROM INSIDE OUT LOOKS LIKE COOKIE CRUMBLES. FRAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AS THIS IS 22ND 4RUNNER OWNED WITH SAME PROBLEM THIS TIME ALMOST SEVERE ACCIDENT. CONTACTING A LAWYER AS THIS ISSUE IS BEING NEGLECTED RESEARCH DONE AND THIS IS VERY COMMON IN 4RUNNERS AND A VERY GOOD CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT.

I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND HEARD A POP LIKE SOMETHING HAD BROKEN. PROCEEDED TO GET ON INTERSTATE ON RAMP AND WITHIN A MILE THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVING BACK AND FORTH. LUCKILY I ONLY HAD TO GO ABOUT A MILE TO MY EXIT. ONCE HOME I HAD DISCOVERED THAT PART OF THE FRAME HAD RUSTED INTO AT A VERY CRITICAL AREA OF THE FRAME. IT WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE AND WAS A PART WHERE A ROD MOUNTED TO IT THAT KEEPS THE REAR AXLE ALIGNED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A VEHICLES FRAME REGARDLESS OF IT BEING 19 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE AND TOYOTA SOMEHOW DOESN'T FEEL THE NEED TO RECALL WHAT IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR LOTS OF OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CORRODED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

RE: 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER - I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.THE FRAME RAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS SEVERE RUST PERFORATION IN THE BACK WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME RAIL. AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN/MATERIAL DEFECT AND A COMMON ISSUE ALTHOUGH PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN TO ME. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS GENERATION OF THETOYOTA 4RUNNER HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THERE A GREAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES STILL IN SERVICE WHOSE OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF HARMING THEMSELVES AND OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE. MUST THE NHTSA WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE TOYOTA IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE NHTSA FOR THIS DEFECT?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STABILIZER BAR TO THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 263,514.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS CONCERN. I JUST PURCHASED A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 173,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS MADE AWARE BEFORE BUYING THE VEHICLE THAT THERE IS SOME RUST UNDERNEATH AND SO I EXAMINED THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS NOT MAJOR AND IS REPAIRABLE. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS QUITE LARGER THAN I INITIALLY ASSESSED. I REALIZE THAT THIS MAKES ME RESPONSIBLE FOR A BAD DECISION BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BRING THESE RUST ISSUES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA WITH THE HOPE THAT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS WILL AFFECT A RESPONSE THAT WILL HOLD THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE. I REALIZE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 15 YEARS OLD AND HAS HIGH MILEAGE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE ROTTING FRAME...

PURCHASED WITH 165,000 MILES. ALMOST NEW FOR A MODERN VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS NOTIFIED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT, THE REAR END WAS READY TO COLLAPSE, AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND NOTIFIED THE SAME THING. TOYOTA MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS. THIS VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED ITS ENTIRE LIFE IN KENTUCKY, NOT MICHIGAN. RUSTING OUT AT 165K IS UNHEARD OF FOR A MODERN VEHICLE IN THESE CONDITIONS. DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO SELL IT TO THE JUNKYARD. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY I DON'T HAVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 261,909. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE REAR END PART THAT CONNECTS TO FRAME BROKE FREE FROM WELD ON FRAME CAUSED SERIOUS SWEARVING ON ROAD AT 65 MPH MY KIDS WERE SCARED TO DEATH COULD OF CAUSED A ROLL OVER BUT KEPT IT ON ROAD

DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE PART FROM REAR END THAT CONNECTS TO FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. VIOLENT SHAKING OCCURRED AND FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD. FRAME LOOKS GOOD EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT THE SAME LOCATION ON BOTH SIDE.

CARS REAL END STARTED TO SWAY WHEN DRIVING, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH, THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL ISSUED,NOTHING THEY COULD DO!!!!. THIS TOYOTA ONLY HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT!! IT SHOULD BE GOING FOR ANOTHER 100,000, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE BUY TOYOTAS!! MY SON BOUGHT THIS CAR 3 YEARS AGO, TOOK ALL HIS MONEY NOW HE HAS NO CAR TO DRIVE OR MONEY TO BUY A NEW ONE. TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. SINCE THIS HAPPENED I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. THEY RECALLED THE TACOMA FOR THE SAME REASON.. SAME YEARS. NEED A RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER!!! *TR

I HAVE A 1997 4RUNNER THAT IS CATASTROPHICALLY RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME AND HAS BEEN A DANGER SINCE PURCHASING. THE AMOUNT OF RUST HAS COMPLETELY EVAPORATED MY INVESTMENT. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE REPLACED THE FRONT TIE ROD HE NOTICED THE REAR SUBFRAME AREA AND THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 144,216. RK

ORIGINAL OWNER, BOUGHT NEW. KEPT VEHICLE VERY WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR INSPECTIONS ON A LIFT AND NO EVIDENCE OF FRAME RUST OR OTHER PROBLEMS. THEN ON ABOVE DATE AN INSPECTION SHOWED MANY SPOTS OF RUST ON THE FRAME - IT HAD BEEN ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. MULTIPLE BODY EXPERTS SAID IT WAS TOO FAR GONE TO REPAIR AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT FAIL WHEN MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON THE HIGHWAY, POTENTIALLY KILLING US AND ANYONE AROUND US. TOYOTA CUSTOMER "EXPERIENCE" REPS REFUSED EVEN TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM - AND I ESCALATED THIS AS FAR AS I COULD. THEY HAD NO ANSWER FOR WHY THEY BOUGHT BACK TACOMAS, TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIAS (WHICH HAVE THE SAME FRAME) BUT DID NOT EVEN ISSUE A MAINTENANCE ADVISORY FOR THE 4RUNNERS. IF THEY WON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE A RECALL. THE REST OF THESE...

HAVING COMPLAINED ABOUT A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, I WAS SOLD A NUMBER OF REPAIRS OVER THE LAST 15,000 MILES, INCLUDING REAR STABILIZER LINKS AND REAR SHOCKS. HOWEVER, THE NOISE PERSISTED. AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS, I HAVE NOW DISCOVERED THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE PORTION OF THE FRAME IN THE AREA UNDER THE REAR SEAT HAS TOTALLY ROTTED AWAY AND THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM WELDMENT IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE (SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE) AND UNSAFE. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER ADVISED ME OF ANY PROBLEM, LEADING ME TO SPEND THE MONEY ON THESE OTHER REPAIRS. THIS FRAME DESIGN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PROBLEM BY TOYOTA A FEW YEARS BACK. TOYOTA PROVIDED RELIEF FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE TACOMA. OBVIOUSLY THE 4RUNNER SUFFERS THE SAME PROBLEM AND...

RUST. THE FRAME HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, AS HAS THE REAR FENDER. 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH MAJOR RUST ISSUES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE HEARD A CRACK. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

FRAME IS RUSTING OUT ALONG FULL LENGTH. THE OUTSIDE LOOKS FINE IN MOST PLACES BUT THE INSIDE IS FLAKING OFF. IF YOU HIT IT WITH A HAMMER IT WILL GO RIGHT THROUGH AND MAKE A HOLE. I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAMES ON INTERNET SITES. *TR

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SWAYING AND THEN RECENTLY THE STEERING GOT BAD SO I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, STOPPING POWER DECREASED AND THE ABS ERRONEOUSLY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR UNDER BODY FRAME HAD FRACTURED IN HALF DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 159,000..... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THEY BRAKES WOULDN'T PERFORM AS DESIGNED. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS RANDOM, BECAUSE OF THE REAR -END SWAYING FROM BEING DETACHED. UPDATED 03/11/13

FRAME ON VEHICLE COMPLETELY CRACKED. THERE IS NUMEROUS HOLES AND RUST PERFORATION ON THE FRAME. LOCAL DEALER DEEMED VEHICLE UNSAFE. TOYOTA HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THEIR OLDER FRAMES AND THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF 4RUNNER OWNERS LIKE THEY DID WITH TACOMA AND TUNDRA OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER EVERY DAY THAT I DROVE THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE, SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS TOTALLY USELESS. *TR

I TOOK MY 1997 4RUNNER IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT MY FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THAT MY CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I GOT THE OPINION OF TWO OTHER AUTO BODY SHOPS AND THEY ALL AGREED THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND IS BEYOND BEING REPAIRED. TOYOTA OFFERED A BUY BACK PROGRAM FOR THEIR TACOMA'S FOR THE SAME REASON HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT BUY BACK THE 4 RUNNERS. I'VE FOUND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME RUST ISSUE WITH THE FRAMES ON THEIR 4RUNNERS. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

THIS 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS PREMATURE STRUCTURAL FRAME FAILURE. THE FRAME IS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE FRAME ROT IS LOCATED IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC AMONG OLDER TOYOTA TRUCKS AND SUV'S. TOYOTA HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE TACOMA'S OF THIS MODEL YEAR DUE TO THE FRAMES ROTTING. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS. IT IS TIME TO PUSH TOYOTA TO HELP ALL OF THE OWNERS OF THESE TOYOTA'S OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR QUARTER PART OF THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 243,000.