1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Structurebody Problems

The frame is rusting out and broke while driving. The frame is almost totally destroyed from rust . The rear started swinging violently but luckily got it stop without crashing. The entire frame is a joke. I can't believe it hasn't been recalled STILL. The body is in perfect shape but a frame that can snap at any moment....I thought Toyota put safety first?

CRITICAL FRAME RUST CAUSING TRAILING ARMS TO DETACH UNDER NORMAL USE.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AND COMPLETELY FRACTURED OFF OF THE FRAME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT ON A CITY STREET AT NORMAL SPEEDS. I FELT AND HEARD A LOUD POP, THEN HAD SEVERE REAR END INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING ME TO "LIMP HOME" TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

RUSTED FRAME. HOLE RIGHT THROUGH IT. CAN'T SELL, REGISTER OR DO ANYTHING WITH IT. CAR HAS 188K MILES, DRIVES LIKE A TANK, AND HAS YEARS LEFT IN IT, BUT NOT WITH A RUSTED OUT FRAME. NO ONE SHOWED IT TO ME BEFORE I TRIED TO SELL IT. I HAVE OWNED FOR 7 YEARS, 2ND OWNER.

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT AND THE SWAYBAR HAS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. *TR

THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE IS RUSTING OUT TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 68K MILES. THE REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET HAS A HOLE INSIDE

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SWAY BAR ATTACHMENT RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED FROM FRAME. AND ON OTHER SIDE SWAY BAR LINK SNAPPED. IN ADDITION THE FRAME NEAR IT IS ROTTING AWAY. NOTICED IT WHILE DRIVING IT WAS SWAYING BADLY. IN ADDITION THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL UNLATCH OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING.

CAN NOT GET INSPECTION BECAUSE OF FRAME RUSTED

WHILE ON A CITY STREET WITH A 45MPH SPEED LIMIT, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THE BACK END OF THE CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL TO THE SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED AND BROKE WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY THE ONLY OWNER AND THE BODY IS IN NEAR EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO ACCIDENTS.

MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME IS COMPRISED AND DEEMED UNSAFE AND UNDRIVABLE DUE TO SEVERE FRAME RUST. I HAD TO REMOVE IT FROM THE ROAD SINCE THE BODY ROCKS ON THE FRAME AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

SENT MY VEHICLE FOR SAFETY INSPECTION AND IT WAS FAILED. BADLY RUSTED FRAME WAS SITED AS ONE REASON.

TAKEN MY 4RUNNER FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AND MY MECHANIC FOUND EXTREME RUST DAMAGE ON LEFT REAR FRAME SUPPORT. ADVISE ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A 2 1/2 FOOT LONG RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME. PICTURES ATTACHED. CHECKING TO SEE IF TOYOTA HAS IMPLEMENTED RECALL ON YOUR DEFECTIVE FRAME MATERIAL. IT LOOKS LIKE THE RUST ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR MANY YEARS.

LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING AFTER IT WAS SERVICED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEN THEY TOLD ME MY FRAME WAS RUSTED AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON RUSTED FRAMES.

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST OPEN HOLES AND CRACKS OVER TIME.

WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER, WHO HAS SERVICED THIS TRUCK SINCE PURCHASED, IN MARCH 2018, THAT THE FRAME HAD RUST THROUGH AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM WITH OUR TACOMA. THE DEALER HAD NEVER PRESENTED US WITH THE OPTION OF REPLACING OR BEING BOUGHT OUT OR BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRAME. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OLD TRUCK, BUT GIVEN THE LOCAL DEALER NEVER TOLD US OF ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEM, WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. IN FACT, JUST A YEAR EARLIER THE WE HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR BASIC SERVICE (OIL CHANGE), AND TOLD THE SERVICE REP THAT MY WIFE WAS PLANNING A 1,000 TRIP AND ASKED IF THE TRUCK WAS OKAY FOR THE TRIP, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE - HOW IT BEEN FINE A YEAR AGO, WHEN THIS YEAR THE...

MAJOR ISSUE WITH FRAME RUST. IT NOW HAS A 6 INCH HOLE IN MY FRAME. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING

DURING A STATE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE I WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE FRAME RUSTED OUT FRONT TO BACK. YOU CAN EVEN STICK YOUR HAND INSIDE THE HOLLOWED OUT FRAME.

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK ONLY 20 DAYS AGO. I HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO TOYOTA ALL MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY TOO. THE TRUCK APPEARED TO BE IN IMMACULATE SHAPE. HOWEVER AFTER ITS 3RD DRIVE I NOTICED A SWAY WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I TOOK IT TOYOTA AND THEY DEEMED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE ENTIRE FRAME IS ROTTED OUT. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS CAUSING THE FRAME TO BREAK AND PEOPLE WRECKED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THESE 3RD GEN 4RUNNERS. SEEING AS HOW THEY RECALLED EVERY OTHER MODEL FOR THE SAME ISSUE EXCEPT THE 4RUNNER.

I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT I BOUGHT FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN 2001, AFTER ABOUT THREE TO FOUR YEAR LATER, I STARTED TO NOTICE RUST SHOWING UP ON THE REAR BUMPER AND ALSO UNDER NEATH THE VEHICLE SO I BOUGHT A GALLON OF RUST PROF PAINT AND STARTED TO COAT BENEATH THE TRUCK WITH THE HOPE TO STOP THE RUST FROM TAKING OVER THE VEHICLE. WELL THE LONG AND SHORT STORY IS I HAVE FINALY LOST THE BATTLE AFTER REPLACING REAR BUMPERS,TWO REAR SHOCKS AND A MUFFULER SYSTEMS. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY 4 RUNNER IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I WILL INCLUDE SOME PICS AND LET YOU DECIDE WHAT HAPPEN.

WHEN TO GET INSPECTION STICKER AND FAIL BECAUSE FRAME HAD HOLES ON UNDERCARRIAGE AND ALSO ON THE CHASSIS

FRAME IS LOADED WITH HOLES BODY PANELS ARE PERFECT. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION. WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES

BADLY RUSTED FRAME, BY MECHANIC UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT. STARTED MAKING NOISES UNDER THE CAR REASON WHY I TOOK TO THE MECHANIC.

AFTER MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE "FRAME IS VERY RUSTED AND IS ROTTING OUT WHERE REAR SUSPENSION MEETS FRAME. DO NOT RECOMMEND TO DRIVE."

EXTENSIVE UNDER BODY FRAMES SCALY RUST AND WITH SPECIFIC SERIOUS DAMAGE TO REAR STRUTS BASE. WHOLE PIECE SUPPORTING STRUT BASE BROKEN COMPLETELY BROKEN AROUND AND SUNK IN CREATING LOUD NOISE WITH THE LIST IMPACT. I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES AS PROOF.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE WOBBLING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

THE FRAME OR THE CHASSIS AND ALL AROUND IT ARE HEAVILY CORRODED THAT I WAS ADVISED BY THE INSPECTOR AND THE TIRE PLACE (COSTCO) WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT NOT TO DRIVE IT AS IT IS UNSAFE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TOYOTA TACOMA OF THE SAME YEAR WITH THE SAME KIND OH CHASSIS WAS RECALLED BY TOYOTA. MY QUESTION IS WHY NOT DO THE SAME FOR THE 4RUNNER?

I OWN A WONDERFUL 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD SPORT VEHICLE. THE FRAME IS DISAPPEARING DUE TO SEVERE RUST. THE HEAT SHIELD HAS WORN AWAY, AND NOW MY FEET GET VERY HOT AFTER JUST 20 MINUTES OF LOCAL DRIVING. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A GARAGE, NOTHING FUNCTIONALLY WRONG WITH MY SUV.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED HOWEVER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HOISTED ON THE LIFT, THE SUB FRAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE FRAME RUST TO THE SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPROMISED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO REPAIR WHILE ON A LIFT. THE RADIATOR WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FRAME RUST FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TORSION BAR ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS SERIOUS SIGNS OF FRAME DECAY THAT SHOULD NOT BE PRESENT ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND USE. THERE ARE THREE AREAS OF FRAME PERFORATION THAT SUGGEST A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL AND/OR DESIGN OF THE FRAME. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT ON 1998 MODELS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE WITHIN THE NHTSA SITE AS WELL AS OTHER SITES AROUND THE INTERNET. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND WAS MET WITH AN UNWILLINGNESS TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH PHOTOS OF THE FRAME PERFORATION TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE DETERIORATION.

LIKE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TOYOTA COMPLAINTS, FRAME RUST. TOOK THE 1998 4RUNNER FOR NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE OF MASSIVE EROSION DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME CONNECTING REAR CONTROL ARMS. 4RUNNER ESSENTIALLY UNDRIVEABLE AT THIS AT THIS POINT. CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND, AS EVERYONE ELSE ON THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS SITE SAYS, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ALTHOUGH THEY DID TAKE CARE OF THE TACOMA PROBLEM.

RUSTED FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR, HOLES IN FRAME, WHICH HOLDS THE SWAY BAR. MECHANIC NOTICED DURING OIL CHANGE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DO. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE OIL AND FUEL FILTER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE CORROSION TO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000.

FRAME IS ROTTING OUT BY CONTROL BRACKETS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WILL NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER. ITS NOT SAFE AND WILL CRUMPLE ON IMPACT.

REAR FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE SWAY BARS ATTACH, FRAME MOUNTS BROKE WHILE TOWING A TRAILER ON SR 22 IN SOUTHERN OHIO. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE GAINING CONTROL AND STOPPING THE 4RUNNER.

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH PREMATURELY ON MY TRUCK. TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.

RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS 1998 4RUNNER THINKING IT WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. AFTER THE PURCHASE WE BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE THE BACK BRAKES FIXED. WHILE HE WAS DOING THE MAINTENANCE HE SAW THAT THE WHOLE UNDERBODY FRAME OF THE TRUCK IS RUSTED OUT AND ISN'T EVEN DRIVABLE DUE TO THE FACT AT ANY MOMENT THE WHOLE BACK OF THE TRUCK COULD FALL OUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS STUFF HAPPENS BUT THROUGH MY RESEARCH THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON IN THE OLDER 4RUNNER MODELS ALONG WITH THE VERY SIMILAR FRAMED TACOMA WHICH HAS THE FRAME RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.

THE FRAME OF THE BODY IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE TO OUTSIDE, ITS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE BEFORE ONE CAN REALIZE WHAT IS GOING ON SINCE THE OUTER PART OF THE VEHICLE FRAME SOMEWHAT SEEM TO BE OK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE LEFT REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM ATTACHMENT POINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD, HIT A POTHOLE AND THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM RIPPED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. FOUND OUT FRAME WAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. I HAD JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAD GONE THROUGH PA INSPECTION TWO MONTHS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. ITS A SHAME, THE REST OF THE TRUCK, MOTOR, INTERIOR, BODY PANELS, WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION. *TR

TOYOTA ADVISES THAT FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 14 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 87,000 MILES. *TR

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

I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE FRONT PORTION OF THE REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. THIS WAS POINTED OUT TO ME BY AN AUTO BODY REPAIR PERSON WHO'S FATHER HAD A TACOMA THAT RUSTED OUT IN THE SAME SPOT. HIS VEHICLE WAS GRANTED 1.5 TIMES OVER KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE AND THE VEHICLE WAS SEIZED FROM HIM AT THE TIME DUE TO SAFETY. MY 4 RUNNER IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD WITH A KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF 6500.00. IT LOOKS AND RUNS GREAT. BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH THAT NOW AND CANNOT BE SOLD DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FRAME. IT ALSO CANNOT BE REPAIRED. EVENTUALLY THIS WILL RESULT IN A FAILURE AND DEPENDING ON WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT THE TIME WILL TELL HOW SERIOUS THE ACCIDENT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. THE RUST CAUSED THE FRAME TO FRACTURE COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE BOTH THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND TUNDRA WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

MY MECHANIC (JAY SHIEL OF FINE TUNES, MIDDLETOWN, CT) INFORMED ME THAT I HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF RUST UNDER MY VEHICLE. HE SAID HE KNEW THAT TOYOTA HAD PROBLEMS WITH INSUFFICIENT RUST PROTECTION ON THE TACOMA'S, BUT HE HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE 4RUNNERS. HE SAID WE SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AND ASK TO HAVE A REP LOOK AT IT. WE DID AND TOYOTA DECLINED. *TR