1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Steering Problems

The drivers side front lower ball joint completely sheared off at around 15 miles an hour. The wheel and tire separated from the vehicle.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I WAS PULLING INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH. THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE INITIAL NOISE I HEARD SOUNDED LIKE I HAD DRIVEN OVER A METAL TRASH CAN WHICH MADE ME SUDDENLY STOP MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS WHAT I SAW. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLAT PAVED ROAD AND MY LOWER BALL JOINT (ATM 1012460) CAME OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO SKID TO A HALT. MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS AND PUSHED INTO MY FENDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND OTHER PARTS. THIS PART (LOWER BALL JOINT) WAS REPLACED 8 MONTHS PRIOR ALONG WITH TIE RODS, AXLE, CONTROL ARM, UPPER BALL JOINT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS IN THAT AREA. RIEBES AUTO PARTS REPLACED THE FAULTY BALL JOINT, TIRE, FENDER, AND OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED. I JUST GOT IT BACK LAST NIGHT AND MY WIFE STATED IT FELT LIKE IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND ON THE WAY THE OTHER SIDE POPPED OF GOING 15 MPH ON A FLAT ROAD. SO ALL THE SAME DAMAGE AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE Y WIFE AND...

VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND CLUNKING. I WAS NEAR HOME AND ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. UPON TOWING TO THE MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED OUT AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. FRAME ROT WAS DISCOVERED ON THE SIDE RAILS. CAR IS CONSIDERED UNDRIVEABLE AND SHOULD BE TOTALED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON WAS DRVING THE VEHICLE 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER INTO THE MEDIAN. THE ACCIDENT WAS FATAL AND THE DRIVER DIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.