2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Structurebody Problems

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS MAJOR FRAME ISSUES THAT COULD BREAK AT ANYTIME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT! THESE FRAMES RUST OUT WITHOUT THE OWNERS KNOWING. THESE ARE FAMILY VEHICLES THAT ARE DRIVEN FOR MANY YEARS AND TOYOTA HAS HAD ISSUES WITH OTHER FRAMES ON DIFFERENT MODELS BUT SAME YEAR VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THESE FRAMES AND HAS NEVER RECALLED THESE MODELS. FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHERS PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME SUFFERED FROM MASSIVE CORROSION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST BUILD UP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS PERFORMING A REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE FOR AN UNRELATED FAILURE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

VEHICLE HAD NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF FRAME RUST. DROVE VEHICLE OVER A SMALL BUMP AT 5MPH & HEARD A SOUND FROM REAR. PARKED CAR. WHEN DRIVING AWAY LATER NOTICED A SWAY IN LOW SPEED DRIVING. GOT OUT AND SAW THE REAR DRIVERS FRAME RAIL HAD CRACKED WHERE IT MOUNTS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THAT SECTION HAD TO HAVE RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AS IT IS A BOXED FRAME AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE RUST ON THE OUTER FRAME. THIS IS A VERY ALARMING ISSUE AND A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN NORTHEAST BUT GARAGED. WE'VE HAD RUSTED BODY PANELS ONLY ON MUCH OLDER CARS - THIS SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR FLAW IN VEHICLE DESIGN. ESPECIALLY AS IT ISN'T VISIBLE AND JUST RECENTLY PASSED A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR

MY 17 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING OUR 4RUNNER, AND IT BEGAN SWAYING ALL OVER THE ROAD. LUCKILY, HE WAS ONLY A COUPLE MILES FROM HOME, AND MADE IT BACK SAFELY. THE FRAME HAS ROTTED AWAY FROM THE INSIDE OUT, LEAVING THE REAR AXLE COMPONENTS NOT PROPERLY "ATTACHED", AND MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY DISTANCE. THE BODY ON THIS VEHICLE IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION, AND I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UP TO 200,000 MILES, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE UNCOMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE TYPE. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. I WAS TOLD NOTHING WILL BE DONE AND NO FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS WILL BE MADE EITHER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS GENERATION 4RUNNER, AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO OFFER TO FIX OR MAKE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE JUST AS THEY HAVE DONE WITH THE TOYOTA TACOMA WITH ESSENTIALLY...

I DISCOVERED THAT MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS SEVER INTERIOR FRAME ROT IN FRONT OF THE REAR TRAILING ARM CONNECTION POINTS, MORE SO ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THIS WILL BECOME VERY UNSAFE AFTER A WHILE IF NOTHING IS DONE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I REMEMBER TOYOTA RECALLING TACOMAS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHY WILL THEY NOT UPHOLD TOYOTA QUALITY AND SAFETY AND RECALL A VEHICLE THAT IS BUILT ON BASICALLY THE SAME FRAME AS THE TACOMA? THE REST OF THE BODY IS PERFECT. THAT IN ITSELF PROVES A DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FLAW OF THE FRAME. *TR

FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST THAT HAS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BECOME WEAK AND UNSAFE. MULTIPLE HOLES IN FRAME HAVE DEVELOPED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WASHED REGULARLY AND STORED INDOORS FOR YEARS BUT HAS SEVERE FRAME ROT. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROBLEM WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES JUST THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA HAD ISSUES. THE FRAME ON THE 96-02 4RUNNERS ARE THE SAME AS THE TACOMA, ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE REAR SUSPENSION SETUP. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME RUST ISSUES. *TR

THE LONGITUDINAL FRAME RAILS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE BOX FRAME ON BOTH SIDES. THERE IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT RUST IN THE CROSS RAILS, PARTICULARLY AT THE ATTACH POINTS TO THE SIDE MEMBERS. AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP OWNER SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NEEDS A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RUST ON THE BODY. THE SHOP OWNER SAYS THAT HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF 4RUNNERS WITH THE FRAME IN THIS CONDITION AND THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT THE 4RUNNER AS IT HAS WITH THE SEQUOIA AND THE TACOMA, WHICH ALSO HAVE SEVERE FRAME RUST ISSUES. *TR

WENT TO GO AND HAVE MY 2000 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT PASS DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED OUT AND WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE....CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD SORRY THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. *TR

I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE 4WD SO I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE MY LOCAL SHOP. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE, THE AUTO SHOP DISCOVERED SOME MAJOR FRAME ROT TOWARDS THE BACK RIGHT WHEEL THAT EXTENDED INTO THE ARM THAT HOLDS UP THE BACK WHEELS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR IF I SIMPLY WENT OVER A BAD POT HOLE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY A SEPARATE AUTO PERSON THAT THE 4WD ISSUES I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING MAY ALSO BE THE RESULT OF THE FRAME RUST WHICH MOST LIKELY WARPED THE FRAME AND MESSED WITH THE GEARS INVOLVED IN 4WD. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION ON THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE A LOOK AND INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE. I...

EXSTENSIVE FRAME RUST. *TR

BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP FOR GENERAL MAINTENANCE. SERVICE TECH INDICATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE MIGHT NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. SERVICE TECH WAS CONCERNED EVEN LOWERING IT FROM THE LIFT. HE INDICATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS ISSUE ON A FAIR NUMBER OF OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT SHARE THE SAME FRAME DESIGN. I'M NOW LEFT WITH A CAR THAT WOULD BE VERY DRIVABLE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE DEFECTIVE FRAME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME EXHIBITED A LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE NYS THRUWAY IN THE VICINITY OF HARRIMAN, NY, THE STEERING BEGAN TO WANDER, AND THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHICH INSPECTED THE 4RUNNER AND FOUND EXTREME RUST DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE FRAME SUCH THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AGAIN, AND COULD ONLY BE SCRAPPED. THEY OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO BREAKING OFF, WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE WERE SHOCKED THAT SUCH A DANGEROUS RUST CONDITION COULD DEVELOP IN A TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT WAS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD, WAS BUILT AND INTENDED FOR HEAVY DUTY USE, AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED IN STRICT ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF-ROAD. WE NOTIFIED TOYOTA BY TELEPHONE AND LETTER OF THIS OCCURRENCE, AND WERE INFORMED...

FRAME RUST-THROUGH - VEHICLE'S FRAME HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE-OUT ALONG PASSENGER SIDE IN AREA OF MUFFLER ASSEMBLY. *TR

I HIT A POT HOLE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH AND BROKE THE FRAME OF MY 2000 4RUNNER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE FRAME HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND IS NON-REPAIRABLE AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING. THE TRUCK IS IN OTHERWISE GOOD CONDITION MECHANICALLY AND THE BODY HAS NO RUST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RUST AND THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TO THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE RUST FAILURE AND SENT THE PICTURES FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO REVIEW. THE DEALER DEEMED THE VEHICLE NON-REPAIRABLE AND UN-DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 167,200.

PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL IS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE INSIDE OF THE RAIL. *TR

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A DEFECT IN THE FRAME OF MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE FRAME EXHIBITS EXTENSIVE RUSTING. THE FRAME HAS HOLES AND HAS SEPARATED ALONG THE BOTTOM WELD. TOYOTA HAS DECLARED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO OPERATE, YET WILL DO NOTHING TO COMPENSATE FOR OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2000 4RUNNER WENT IN FOR PENNSYLVANIA STATE INSPECTION AND FAILED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED OUT. AS THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE SPOT WHERE THE HOLE WAS TO BE CUT OUT AND WELDED WITH NEW METAL. THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH OF MY 4RUNNER IS RUSTY AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAME THAT ARE TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS ALSO ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF BEING IN A CRASH AND HAVING A BRITTLE FRAME THAT COULD BREAK IN HALF EASILY. I REALIZE THAT IN COLD WEATHER STATES THERE IS THE THREAT OF SALT AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE CAUSING OXIDATION BUT MY WIFE HAS A 2000 NISSAN THAT HAS SEEN THE SAME EXACT WINTERS AND ROADS AND IS IN 10 TIMES...

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I HAVE NOTICED MY FRAME NEAR THE REAR SUSPENSION IS SO SEVERELY ROTTED THAT THE FRAME WILL NEED TO BE CUT AND RE-WELDED OR REPLACED ALL TOGETHER.THERE ARE MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE BOX FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME. WATER SEEPS IN THROUGH THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE RECENTLY AND THEY INFORMED ME AS WELL OF THE EXTENSIVE RUSTING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AND WILL BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO TWO REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF FRAME. THE REST OF THE 4RUNNER IS IN PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO SURFACE RUST, ROT OR OTHER BLEMISHES. HOWEVER, BELOW THE VEHICLE THE FRAME IS RUSTED EXTENSIVELY. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 4RUNNER WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED. THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUST UNDERNEATH THE CARRIAGE/FRAME TO THE POINT WHERE TIRE TECH WOULD NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE SPARE. THE POWER STEERING WHEEL FLUID IS NOW LEAKING FROM THE LINE DUE TO THE RUST. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED 2000 TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS FOR RUST PROBLEMS IN THEIR FRAMES BUT NOT 4RUNNERS OF SAME YEAR. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THEY WILL GLADLY INSPECT MY FRAME FOR A CHARGE. MY RUSTED SPARE TIRE MOUNT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ITSELF LET ALONE THE OTHER PROBLEMS DEVELOPING.

2000 4RUNNER LIMITED RUSTING ON BODY WITH 66,000 MILES. FRAME AND UNDERSIDE ALSO RUSTING. LIVE IN UTAH, THEY USE SALT ON THE ROADS. *TR