2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Structurebody Problems

THERE IS A RUST ISSUE ON THE FRAME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW FRAME WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

WITH ONLY 129,000 MILES AND WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS MY FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH LEAVING MY VEHICLE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS IN GREAT CONDITION IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT, AND WAS NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR MISUSED IN ANY WAY. I NOTICED THE REAR END SWAYING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. HE SAID I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT WAS ONLY GOOD FOR PARTS AT BEST SINCE THE FRAME IS UNREPAIRABLE. IN ADDITION TO THE OBVIOUS PLACE IT IS CRACKED IT IS RUSTING AWAY IN MULTIPLE OTHER LOCATIONS. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT RUNS GREAT, BUT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. HAD I NOT NOTICED THE SWAYING I MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED OTHER MOTORISTS DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 55 MILES PER HOUR ON HIGHWAY 138. I HIT BLACK ICE AND DROVE STRAIGHT INTO A TREE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY FACE AND HEAD, FROM SMASHING INTO THE STEERING WHEEL.

FRAME TOTALLY ROTTED AWAY AND SUSPENSION DETACHED WITH 4 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE! THANK GOD I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. YOU ALMOST KILLED 6 PEOPLE TOYOTA!!!!

THE FRAME IS ROTTING OUT ALL ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO RUST. ITS STARTING TO RUST AROUND KEY FRAME BRACKETS. AFTER A MECHANIC LOOKED AT HE SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES 4RUNNER.

SEVERE CORROSION IN THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING (THE BOX BEAM ON THE RIGHT SIDE) OF THE CAR RESULTED IN THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF THE BOX BEAM. THE PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE THAT FELL OFF IS ABOUT 3 IN. WIDE BY 14 IN. LONG. THAT PORTION OF THE FAILED FLANGE ALSO INCLUDED THE CONNECTION OF THE STRUCT ROD SUPPORTING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE LOST OF THE STRUCT ROD SUPPORT TO THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY WIDELY SIDE TO SIDE AND TO ROLL LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE I WAS TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE SIDE WHEN I APPLIED BRAKING TO THE CAR. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATELY THAT WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD IN LESS THAN 40 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS IN MY IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING. OTHERWISE, A SERIOUS...

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY TORTION BAR SNAPPED OFF MY CHASSIS, COME TO REALIZE A HUGE SECTION OF MY CHASSIS ROTTED AWAY.

RUST HAS CONSUMED MY FRAME, SUSPENSION AND LOWER BODY PANELS.

CAR WAS TOWED TO BODY SHOP AND ONCE PUT ON LIFT MECHANIC OBSERVED SOCKS WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE ENITIRE FRAME ADVISING US THIS CAR IS NOT SALVAGEABLE TO DO A ROTTED FRAME AND FUTHERMORE IS A DEATH TRAP FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE ITALSO REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING.. CAR HAS UNDER 130,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED WITH ALL RECORDS IN TACT.. APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS SAFTEY ISSUE AND HAS NOT RECALLED ON THIS MAKE ,YEAR AND MODEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST-THROUGH AND FAILURE. LEFT AND RIGHT REAR HALVES OF FRAME CRACKED. REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKETS CRACKED AT WELDS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC FOR A UNRELATED ISSUE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THERE WAS RUST COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE FRAME. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE, THE CADILLAC CONVERTER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 4RUNNER AND NOTICE THE BACK BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISE. I ALSO NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BROKE. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TO THE SHOP I FELT LIKE THE BACKEND WAS SWAYING. I DROP MY CAR OFF EXPECTING TO HAVE SOME BRAKE WORK DONE, POSSIBLY EVEN A SWAY BAR OR SOMETHING REPLACED. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR BECAUSE IF THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK, IT WILL BREAK IN HALF. MY FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN HALF. NOW THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE FRAME FOR A WHILE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTS I CALL TOYOTA TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. I CALL TOYOTA AND THERE IS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2000 4RUNNER. I DID HOWEVER FIND...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE WELD JOINT WHICH JOINS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT POINT TO THE FRAME HAD SEPARATED ALLOWING TO CONTROL ARM TO MOVE FORWARD AN BACK. THIS IN TURN ALLOWED THE REAR AXLE TO TURN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ON INSPECTION THE FRAME IS HEAVILY RUSTED IN THIS AREA AND THE WELD HAS GIVEN WAY AND IS TEARING APART FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ALSO RUSTED, BUT THE JOINT HAS NOT YET SEPARATED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN

THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGE IN THE FRONT LEFT AND MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY.

4RUNNER WAS IN SHOP FOR MUFFLER REPAIR WHEN RUSTED RIGHT SIDE OF FRAME NEAR REAR TORSION BAR WAS POINTED OUT TO ME. MY CONCERN IS TORSION BAR WILL BRAKE AWAY AND CAUSE ACCIDENT.

ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, THE FRAME OF MY 4RUNNER WITHOUT WARNING HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE ON A HIGHWAY AND MY REAR CONTROL ARMS DISCONNECTED/PULLED OUT OF THE FRAME. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT IT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN. THE LACK OF ANY WARNING SIGNS WAS THE SCARY PART IN ALL OF THIS. AFTER A BIT OF BASIC SEARCHING ON THE WEB, INCLUDING NHTSA, IT APPEARS MY CASE IS NOT A UNIQUE ONE. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THIS THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PREMATURE FRAME RUST ISSUES. I FIND IT EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE THAT TOYOTA HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE TO SOMETHING SO SERIOUS. HYPOTHETICALLY, I CAN SEE A CAR FRAME FAILING BUT NOT A ROBUST TRUCK FRAME OF THIS ERA. IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, MY VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WASHED REGULARLY, GARAGED AND THE REST OF THE BODY IS RUST FREE...

TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO GET A REAR SEAL LEAK FIXED AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT MY FRAME WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF RUST AND EROSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A PAPER WHEN I PICK THE VEHICLE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

AFTER DROPPING MY KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL AND EXITING OFF THE INTERSTATE AT 45 MILES PER HOUR, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO FISH TAIL UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED WITHOUT WRECKING OR ENDING UP IN THE DITCH. AFTER SPEAKING TO A MECHANIC, HE SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000 4RUNNERS AND TO CONTACT TOYOTA. THE BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU LEAVING THE REAR AXEL WITH NO SUPPORT. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE, AT THE SAME EXACT LOCATION, MEANS THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A TOYOTA DEFECT. I BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULD GET ME AT LEAST 200,000 MILES. I'M CURRENTLY AT 118,000 AND IT ALREADY NEEDS TO GO TO THE JUNK YARD. I'M SHOCKED AND APPALLED THAT TOYOTA WOULD ALLOW THESE VEHICLES TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS...

TRAVELING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. I HEAR A LOUD POP AND MY SUV VEERS HARD TO THE RIGHT CROSSING THE LOW SPEED LANE AND BREAKDOWN LANE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEXT TO ME. SUV MISSED THE GUARD RAIL, BUT CLIMBED AN EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. RESULTING IN ME FORCEFULLY TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL, HITTING MY HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND BRAKING THE SIDE GLASS WITH MY HEAD. AFTERWARDS, LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS APPARENT WHAT HAD CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME, CAUSED THE SHOCK MOUNT, AND REAR CONTROL ARM TO TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN EXCESS IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM HAD CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000. UPDATED 7/9/15*CN

IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA WISHES TO NOT ADDRESS THAT THE FRAMES ARE NOT PROPERLY TREATED FOR RUST PREVENTION AND ARE PRONE TO RUSTING OUT AND FALLING APART AT A RATE THAT IS BEYOND REASONABLE. PICTURES FROM HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF 4RUNNER OWNERS ARE ALL OVER THE WEB AND TOYOTA FORUMS SHOWING THE SAME ISSUE. THE MOST PROBLEM SPOT IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME ON THE INSIDE NEAR THE MUFFLER, NEAR THE REAR AXLE. I CAN PHYSICALLY PUSH MY HAND RIGHT THROUGH THE RUSTED OUT FRAME. THE SIMILARLY DESIGNED TACOMA WAS RECALLED DUE TO THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH SO BAD IT WOULD BREAK APART. UNFORTUNATELY TOYOTA DOES NOT WISH TO COVER ALL THE BASES AND HAVE LEFT THE 4RUNNERS OUT TO RUST (PUN INTENDED)

UPON INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE WHILE ON LIFT, I FOUND AN AREA OF RUST PERFORATION ABOVE THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKET ON THE FRAME. THE AREA IS APPROX .5"X 3" IN LENGTH. *TR

EXTREME RUST AND DAMAGE DUE THE AFOREMENTIONED RUST. THE REAR CONTROL ARMS COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF THE FRAME. I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS 15 YEARS OLD BUT THIS MUCH RUST IS NOT NORMAL AND WILL CAUSE INJURY TO MANY PEOPLE IF THEY DO NOT NOW IT IS FAILING. *TR

FRAME IS RUSTING PREMATURELY. *JS

WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON LIFT BEING SERVICED MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO RESPOND TO HIS SHOP, OBSERVED LARGE SECTIONS OF VEHICLE'S FRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED AND MISSING, MECHANIC ADVISED FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *DT

SUSPENSION SYSTEM RUSTED APART CAUSING THE REAR SHOCKS TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER ARE EXPERIENCING WITH FRAME ROT. THERE ARE NEARLY 200 COMPLAINTS ON HERE FOR THIS ISSUE...IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. I CARY MY 2 YEAR OLD AROUND IN THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. SURPRISED TO FIND SUCH A POOR QUALITY CAR FROM TOYOTA AND THAT THEY AREN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHEN THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FRAME AND SAME PROBLEM. *TR

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY PERCH SPRINGS/SHOCK MOUNTS HAD ROTTED OFF. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A WELDER AND TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WAS SO ROTTED OUT THAT I SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO. SAID HE HAD A 2000 TUNDRA WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED. WHY HASN'T THE 4RUNNER BEEN RECALLED YET? *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 14 YEARS OLD HOWEVER, THE BODY, ENGINE AND INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WERE IN GREAT CONDITION. WE BECAME AWARE OF THE FRAME RUST WHEN TAKING IT FOR INSPECTION AND HAD SOME REPAIRS MADE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. WE TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLES AND WE WERE CHECKING THE BRAKES AND WE WERE GOING TO UNDERCOAT THE FRAME WHEN WE DISCOVERED THE LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST AND DAMAGE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND TRANSFERRED MY CALL TO "CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS". SPOKE TO A PHONE REPRESENTATIVE WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS CAUSE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS. MY RESPONSE TO THAT WAS OUR 1998 BLAZER NEVER HAD THE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST THAT THIS 4RUNNER HAS, BOTH DRIVEN IN THE...

WHILE DRIVING ON A FAMILY VACATION, THE 4 RUNNER HAD A NEAR CATASTROPHIC FRAME FAILURE. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THIS FAILURE CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND THE INABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNSAFE FOR OPERATION AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION REVEALED MULTIPLE FAILURE POINTS ALONG THE FRAME RAIL RELATED TO CORROSION. *TR

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT A LEAK FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SO RUSTED THAT THE FLUID WAS NOW LEAKING FROM THE POROUS RUSTED HOUSING. BUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED SO BAD THAT DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY NOW OTHERWISE IMMACULATE CONDITION 4RUNNER IS NOW USELESS AND RENDERED INOPERABLE. THIS IS A RAMP IF PROBLEM WITH TACOMA/TUNDRA FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND SAME MODEL YEARS. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL. *TR

RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE HAS RUSTED THROUGH APPROX 48 TO 60 INCHES. REAR STABILIZER BAR IS DETACHED FROM FRAME. ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF FRAME "IS COMPROMISED" PER MECHANIC/BODY SHOP. *TR

HI, I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 200K MILES AND I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP REPLACED. I DRIVE THE VEHICLE DAILY. THE MECHANIC DID NOT PERFORM THE WORK BECAUSE HE NOTICED THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND RECOMMENDED TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS. HE STATED THAT IF THE FRAME DID BEND OR SEPARATE THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCKLE AND THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY CONTROL, ESPECIALLY ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE MECHANIC RECOMMEND THAT I CHECK TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS. I DID CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND THERE WAS NOT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AND TOYOTA TACOMA HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE FRAME'S RUSTING THROUGH AND TOYOTA DID A RECALL/BUY BACK FOR THOSE VEHICLES. I WAS ON THE TOYOTA FORUM AND IT SOUNDS...

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 WITH 145,000 MILES. AT A REGULAR MAINTENANCE, I WAS SHOWN A PICTURE OF A HOLE IN MY FRAME. RIGHT HAND REAR OF FRAME WHERE LOWER TRAILING ARM BRACKET IS WELDED WAS RUSTED THROUGH WITH SUBSTANTIAL INSTABILITY CONCERNS AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF USE DUE TO INABILITY TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. . OTHERWISE FRAME FINE AND NO RUST/ROT ON LEFT HAND SIDE FRONT OR REAR. MY 4RUNNER HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT AND RELIABLE VEHICLE WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. IT HAD ONLY A RUST SPOTS ON THE FRONT BUMPER, AND THAT'S ALL! THIS IS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE, AND IS NOT ABUSED. I ONLY HAVE 145,000 MILES AND FEEL STRONGLY THAT A FRAME ON A VEHICLE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER, AS IN PAST VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH MY 4RUNNER, I DON'T WANT TO JUNK YARD IT OVER A BAD QUALITY FRAME FROM TOYOTA, BUT IT MAY...

I TOOK MY 4RUNNER TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE TODAY. WHEN ON THE LIFT HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT. HE FELT IT WAS UNSAFE AND NEEDED FIXED OR SCRAPPED ASAP. THIS VEHICLE RUNS GREAT AND I HAVE HAD NO OTHER ISSUES. THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND I ALWAYS HAVE MY FIVE YEAR OLD WITH ME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I AM NOT IN THE POSITION TO BUY A NEW VEHICLE RIGHT NOW. IT IS CRAZY THAT TOYOTA RECALLED THE FRAMES FOR TACOMA AND TUNDRA BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR 4RUNNER OWNERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT WAS 128,000. UPDATED 9/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO A SERVICE THAT BUYS JUNK CARS FOR A TOTAL OF $600.00. UPDATED 12/17/2014 *JS

UPON A RECENT MECHANICAL INSPECTION MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE FOR DRIVING DUE TO FRAME DEGRADATION DUE TO RUSTING. THE FRAME HAS SEVERAL LOCATIONS WITH HOLES AND DETERIORATION THAT SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE THE MECHANICAL RIGIDITY OF THE FRAME AND TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH THE FRAME AS THE ONLY EXCEPTION. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND HAVE DRIVEN AND STORED THEM IN THE SAME LOCATION BUT HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. FRAME RUST AND DETERIORATION TO THE EXTENT THAT MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED IS NOT TOLERABLE FROM ANY MANUFACTURER AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED DURING THE DESIGN, TESTING, AND MANUFACTURING STAGES OF PRODUCTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS, ALONG WITH PREVIOUS YEARS WITH IDENTICAL FRAME BUILDS, SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO THE TOYOTA TACOMAS OF THE SAME GENERATION THAT...

BROUGHT VEH IN FOR NHSI, WAS TOLD THAT VEH WOULD NOT PASS AGAIN DUE TO FRAME PERFORATION. THE RUST IS COMING FROM THE INSIDE OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE INNER FRAME RAIL ALONG WHERE THE MUFFLER IS LOCATED. SPOKE TO TOYOTA ON MANY LEVELS AND WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT THERE ARE NO FRAMES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND THAT THE "CHUCKS" TO BUILD THE FRAMES WITH HAD BEEN LOST SO TOYOTA WILL NOT BE MAKING ANYMORE. SO I CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM PROPERLY IF I WAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. PAID A BODY SHOP $650 TO WELD IN A PATCH TO GET ME BY AS I STILL OWE ON IT. TOO BAD TOYOTA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS THE SAME ISSUE TACOMA, SEQUOIA, AND TUNDRA HAVE. IF THE FRAME WAS TO SEPARATE @ THE CORROSION SIGHT @ HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WOULD RESULT IN INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, IT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

ON WORKING UNDER VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUCTURAL RAIL LEADING TO THE REAR OF VEHICLE WAS RUSTY SO I POKED IT AND MY SCREWDRIVER WENT RIGHT THROUGH, IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH, IT WILL NEED WELDING, AS I TOW A WORK TRAILER (AND FOR SAFETY REASONS OF COURSE). THEN THE THIN REAR WALL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED THROUGH AND STARTED LEAKING OIL, THE PART IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY AND I WAS QUOTED 1500.- FOR THE PART AND AT LEAST 500 LABOR, BY FALMOUTH TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THAT TOYOTA WASN'T STANDING BEHIND THEIR VEHICLE. IF I HADN'T BEEN UNDER THE CAR FOR OTHER REASONS THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IF YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

UPON TRYING TO SELL MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER WHO WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF GREENTREE TOYOTA, IN CT, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FORWARD OF THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE INSIDE FOR ABOUT 18 INCHES. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I HAD IT SERVICED AT TOYOTA IN SEPTEMBER 2013, NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN AT RISK SINCE THEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, YET TOYOTA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. THEY ISSUED A RECALL ON TACOMA FRAMES WHICH USES THE SAME FRAME AS THE 4RUNNER. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS RUSTED VERY BADLY LEAKING GEAR OIL. RUST IS EXTREMELY THICK. HUGE FLAKES MORE LIKE CHUNKS. LEAKING FROM REAR OF HOUSING WHERE RUST HAS PENETRATED FAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE A SLOW LEAK. REST OF 4RUNNER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK TO A BODY SHOP TO FIX THE FRAME AND BODY OF THE TRUCK, AS DIRECTED FROM TOYOTA. WHICH I WAS TOLD FROM TOYOTA IN PORTSMOUTH NH, TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT FIXED. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THEY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL, I HAD TO PASS SEVERAL VEHICLES, THE CAR WAS SHAKING AS I HAD THE BREAKS ON THE WHOLE TIME. IT WAS UPWARDS OF 80 MILES AN HOUR WITH OUT ANY CONTROL. MY SISTER WAS FOLLOWING ME, I ALSO HAVE PROOF FROM THE BODY SHOP, AS I BARELY MADE IT THERE, I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP THE CAR. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME, PROBABLY DRIVER ERROR, NOT THE CASE. WHEN I LEFT THE TRUCK WITH THE BODY SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THE FRAME AND BODY OF THE TRUCK WERE NOT REPAIRABLE. I...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS IS A 13 YEAR OLD SUV, THAT DESPITE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND A DEPENDABLE ENGINE HAD TO BE JUNKED DUE TO AN ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH FRAME. AFTER NOTICING SOME INCREASED RATTLING UNDER THE CAR, MY HUSBAND FOUND NOT ONLY HAD THE MUFFLER BRACKETS RUSTED AWAY (SOME PIECES FELL OUT), BUT IT WAS ONE POTHOLE AWAY FROM SEPARATING FROM THE SWING ARM. VERY DANGEROUS (ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN) AND APPEARED TO HAVE RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NOT READILY NOTICEABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE TOOK IT OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA DOES'T SEEM TO BOTHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM LET ALONE DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I WAS DRIVING WITH 2 YOUNG KIDS AND TURNING AROUND AT A DEAD END WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW NOTHING. THE CAR STARTED SWAYING WHEN WE DROVE HOME. I LOOKED UNDER AGAIN AT HOME AND SAW MY REAR SWAY BAR HANGING DOWN BROKE/RUSTED OFF FROM THE FRAME. THE WHOLE FRAME BEHIND WERE IT BROKE WAS ROTTED RIGHT NEXT TO THE GAS TANK. THE 4RUNNER ONLY HAS 79,000 MILES AND HAS NO RUST ON THE BODY. I HAVE WASHED THE UNDERCARRIAGE REALLY GOOD OVER THE YEARS JUST TO KEEP IT CLEAN. THERE IS NO POINT IN HAVING A MOTOR THAT GOES 200,000 MILES IF THE FRAMES CANT MAKE IT TO 80,000. I SEE MANY MUCH OLDER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AS A FRAME SHOULD BE THE LAST THING TO RUST. IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THAT HAPPENED I EASILY COULD HAVE...