2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Structurebody Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE REAR BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS ROTTED AND HAD HOLES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

OUR 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS AN UNSAFE FRAME FROM COMPLETELY RUSTING THROUGH. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE, AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT COMPLETELY COLLAPSED IN ON ITSELF, BENDING THE 1/4 INCH STEEL SUPPORT BRACKET. THE FRAME SHOWS THE SAME TYPE OF RUST THROUGHOUT.

THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED. THE FRONT SECTION HAS ROTTED THRU AND THE RIGHT SECTION HAS ROT THRU MORE THAN HALF WAY PASS THE MUFFLER AREA. ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE CARRAGE IS ROTTED AND THE TIRE CARRAGE IS SIEZED. I FOUND THIS WHILE JACKING UP THE TRUCK FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HEAR THE FRAME CRUMBLE.

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST CAUSING VEHICLE TO FAIL SAFETY INSPECTION.

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT I PURCHASED NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS ~129K MILES AND WAS GARAGED KEPT TO 11/2015. IT RECENTLY FAILED PA STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A RUST HOLE IN A FRAME RAIL. SINCE 11/2015, THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LESS THAN 5K MILES A YEAR. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCED A RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT FRAME RUST IN 4TH GENERATION 4RUNNERS IS AN ISSUE. AFTER LOOKING AT THE HOLE AND THE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE FRAME IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT MORE RUST HOLES WILL OCCUR. TOYOTA CREATED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A MORAL AND ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO THEIR CUSTOMERS TO MAKE IT RIGHT! TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN THE PROBLEM, NOT THEIR CUSTOMER! I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY RELATED...

THIS VEHICLE FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AT AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR CENTER DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. THEN HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO INDICATED "NEEDS NEW FRAME - ALL ROTTED - THERE'S NO WHERE TO WELD." THE BODY OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN GREAT SHAPE BUT HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO FRAME RUST. THIS RUSTING ISSUE SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE TACOMA. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THE FRAME ISSUE ON THE TACOMA BUT HAS NOT DONE THE SAME FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH 4RUNNERS.

EXCESSIVE FRAME ROT. 4RUNNER SHOULD OF BEEN PART OF THE TACOMA RECALL AND IS ABSURD IT WAS NOT IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL IS GONE. I HAVE HAD TO CONSTANTLY FIX WELD NEW METAL TO IT.

SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST HAS COMPROMISED THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL HOLES HAVE PERFORATED THROUGH THE FRAME AND IT HAS BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO FRAME RUST. TOYOTA NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE 4RUNNER FRAMES.

"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FAILED STATE INSPECTION TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER DUE TO EXTREME FRAME RUST. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF RUSTED OUT HOLES IN THE METAL FRAME . YES, IF I DROVE OVER LARGE POTHOLE OR INVOLVE IN A COLLISION, THIS VEHICLE WOULD SEPARATE IN PIECES AND NOT TO MENTION WHAT LEVEL OF BODILY HARM YOU WOULD SUSTAIN . EVEN THOUGH MY ODOMETER READS 255,000+ MILES, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO RUN ANOTHER 200,000 PLUS MILES WITH NO ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL ISSUES AND BODY LOOKS FANTASTIC FOR THE YEAR. ON-THE-HAND VEHICLE FRAME BELOW IS IN HORRIBLE CONDITION, WITH HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE METAL AND NO SIGNS OF ANY UNDER COAT PAINT PROTECTION (HATE TO LOSE SUCH A WONDERFUL VEHICLE). PLEASE ADD MY VEHICLE AND SAFETY CONCERNS TO THE LIST OF OTHER 4TH GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNERS OWNERS FACING THE SAME...

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST IN MULTIPLE SPOTS ON FRAME ON BOTH SIDES AND ON CROSSMEMBER. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM FOR THIS GENERATION OF 4RUNNER AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

MY FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THERE'S A HOLE IN MY FRAME RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THE DRIVER SITS. I'M INCLUDING A PICTURE OF THE FRAME DAMAGE AND DOCUMENTS FROM TOYOTA INDICATING THE FRAME RUST AND DAMAGE (HIGHLIGHTED IN RED) FROM WHEN THEY INSPECTED IT. NOT SURE WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING, BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE 4RUNNER IN 2018. THE INSPECTION FROM TOYOTA ON 12/15/2017 IS THE ONLY THING I CAN FIND DOCUMENTING THE RUST/DAMAGE, BUT IT DEFINITELY STARTED LONG BEFORE THEN. THE TACOMA'S AND TUNDRA'S BOTH HAD THEIR FRAMES RECALLED... WHEN'S IT OUR TURN?

EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST FOR A CAR THAT HAS BEEN GARAGE STORED IN MILD VANCOUVER BC CLIMATE. FRAME IS EXACT SAME AS TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH HAVE KNOWN FRAME RUST AND FRAME ROT, BUT NOT COVERED UNDER THE FRAME RECALL FROM TOYOTA

EXCESSIVE FRAME CORROSION

LARGE RUST HOLES IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME

EXCESSIVE RUSTING ON FRAME

WE HAD JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WHEN THE REAR END BEGAN SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AT TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BUT THEY COULD NOT HELP US. THE SAME FRAME WAS ON THE OTHER 3 MAKES AND WAS RECALLED AND THAT OURS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THEY ALL KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND I WISH THEY WOULD JUST DO IT BECAUSE IT JUST SITS OUT THERE AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION ALL BUT THE FRAME RUST.

MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WILL NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION AND IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AS THE FRAME IS ROTTED BEYOND REPAIR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE NEW TIRES PUT ON AND AM INSPECTION DONE WE NOTICED THE SEVERE RUST/ HOLES AND ALSO A CRACK IN THE WELD. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS PRETTY UGLY AS WELL, I DID NOT LOOK OVER THE ENTIRE FRAME BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE PROBABLY OTHER AREAS THAT ARE VERY BAD. I'VE READ ABOUT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO FRAME ROT IN THESE MODELS. TOYOTA HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I'M SUPPOSED TO GET A PHONE CALL FROM TOYOTA TOMORROW AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT THEN I'LL START CALLING ALL THE NEWS STATIONS AND START SPREADING THE WORD. I HAVE 45 THOUSAND DOLLARS INVESTED IN THE COMPANY THUS FAR AND WILL NEVER SPEND ANOTHER...

MY 4RUNNER HAS BEEN A VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE, YET HAS EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST. THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION IN MARCH OF 2018 AS A RESULT OF THE FRAME DETERIORATION. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE SINCE THEN, AND FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH A RECALL AS THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE ON THE TACOMA, TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA. I HAVE HEARD MANY SIMILAR REPORTS ON THE 4RUNNER FRAMES AND TOYOTA HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

I WAS WARNED BY MY TOYOTA DEALER THAT MY 4RUNNER MAY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE FRAME. THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS RUST SPREAD OUT AND IT HAS A FEW REALLY BAD AREAS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SPOT THAT WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND NEEDED A BRACKET TO BE WELDED OVER IT. IN THE IMAGE ATTACHED YOU CAN WHAT THE GENERAL STATE THE FRAME IS IN BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW THE WORST AREAS. I DON'T HAVE A CAR JACK AVAILABLE SO ITS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE WHOLE FRAME.

I HAD SOME ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR UP ON THE LIFT AND SAW SOME HOLES CREATED BY CORROSION INTO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TOYOTA TACOMA HAS THE SAME FRAME AND WAS RECALLED. WHY IS IT THAT THE SAME FRAME ON A DIFFERENT VEHICLE AND FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER, TOYOTA, ISN'T BEING RECALLED ON TEH 4RUNNER? I INSIST THAT THERE BE A RECALL AND WILL HOLD ALL ACCOUNTABLE.

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST HAS RESULTED IN THE FRAME ALMOST COMPLETELY DISAPPEARING, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND FORCED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. THERE IS LESS THAN AN INCH OF FRAME HOLDING THE REAR RIGHT AXLE IN PLACE

FRAME IS ROTTING APART. SEVERAL HOLES AND CRACKS

THE BACK OF THE TRUCK FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. STATIONARY. FRONT AXLE PICS INCLUDED AS WELL. RUST, WEAR AND TEAR. NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENED BC THE DEALERSHIP SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME LIKE THIS. RUSTED METAL PROVES IT HAPPENED AWHILE AGO. PLUS SOMEONE TRIED TO WELD IT TO COVER UP THE PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO PUT IN A RADIATOR AND NEW MUFFLER WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH.

SEVERE FRAME RUST

4RUNNER FRAME RUST. MULTIPLE TECHS HAVE TOLD ME MY FRAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED WITH AN EXISTING TOYOTA RECALL BUT WAS NOT.

EXCESSIVE FRAME DUSTING CAUSING DRIVING PROBLEMS

FRAME BROKEN

I WAS DRIVING MY 4RUNNER AT ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT SUDDENLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT. I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO SEE THE FRAME HAD ROTTED APART AND ONE OF THE SUSPENSION BAR MOUNTS HAD DROPPED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME.

RUSTED FRAME , LOOKING VERY DANGEROUS AND NOT SAFE

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A WEEK AGO. IT APPEARS THE DEALER THEMSELVES NEVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. IF THEY HAD, THEY WOULD HAVE KNOW IT WAS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST TO THE SUSPENSION, FRAME, AND EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH. JUST TODAY, A TOYOTA MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME THAT IT IS UNSERVICEABLE. IF I HAD OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR YEARS, THAT FINDING WOULDN'T BE AS PAINFUL TO HEAR. BUT HAVING OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK, THIS HAS MADE ME VERY ANGRY. IT ONLY HAS 88K MILES ON IT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

FRAME RUST THRU.DOCUMENTED BY THE DEALER. NOURSE IN CHILLICOTHE,OHIO

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE LURCHED TO ONE SIDE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS INTO THE OTHER LANE. WHEN I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN, THE VEHICLE LURCHED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, REQUIRING ME TO APPLY CORRECTIVE ACTION TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SUSPENSION LINK SUPPORT HAD MOSTLY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO RUST. I CAN BEND IT BACK AND FORTH WITH MY HAND. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY A HIGHWAY SPEED.

THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE, UNDRIVEABLE AND UNFIXABLE WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. WE CANNOT FIND A FRAME OR ANYONE TO FIX IT.

SEVERE RUSTING OF FRAME

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HOLES IN THE FRAME, WHILE ONLY HAVING ABOUT 100,000 MILES.

I PURCHASED MY 2003 4RUNNER BRAND NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS 70,000 ORIGINAL MILES. NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TRUCK IS GARAGED. ALWAYS MAINTAINED BY TOYOTA. NOT A SCRATCH ON THE TRUCK. INTERIOR LOOKS BRAND NEW. HOWEVER THE FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST. FOUND A FEW SPOTS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE RUST PROBLEMS

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR MANY YEARS AND I "KNOW" IT. I NOTICED THAT HE STEERING WHEEL HAD A VIBRATION ALBEIT SLIGHT, THIS WAS SOMETHING NEW AS WELL AS A NOISE I COULD HEAR UNDER THE CAR. I BROUGHT IT HOME COMPLAINED TO MY HUSBAND - HE LOOKED UNDER THE CAR & WAS APPALLED - THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED HE WAS ABLE TO STICK HIS FINGER THROUGH THE FAILING FRAME! I AM AFRAID THIS VEHICLE WILL KILL ME! WHAT IF IT DECIDES TO COMPLETELY BREAK AT AN AXLE OR PART OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. DO I DRIVE IT AND TAKE THE CHANCE OF GETTING HURT OR KILLED BEFORE SOMEONE WILL ORDER A RECALL. WE CAN SEND PHOTOS IF NECESSARY AS THIS WILL MOST CERTAINLY ADD VALIDITY TO THE CONCERN.

CURRENTLY THE FRAME RUST IS VERY SEVERE AND IS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT I AM BECOMING HESISITANT TO HAVE IT OUT ON THE ROAD. THERE ARE AREAS AROUND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND AXLES THAT ARE VERY RUSTED WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO CASUALTIES IF THE MOUNTS WERE TO FAIL.

FRAME RUSTING OUT

FRAME HOLDING/SECURING RADIATOR, SKID PLATE IS ROTTING AWAY. TOOK TOO DEALER/SERVICE DEPT.( KOOL TOYOTA) AND THEY TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES TO ADD TO THE HUNDREDS THEYVE ALREADY TAKEN AND SUBMITTED.

WE HAVE OWNED OUR 2003 4RUNNER IN OUR FAMILY SINCE NEW. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN INCREDIBLY WELL TAKEN CARE OF, WEEKLY WASHES ETC.. NOW AT 106,000 MILES OUR FRAME HAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RUST THAN EXPECTED OF A CAR OF THIS AGE AND CONDITION. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA HAS ADDRESSED MANY CORROSION INCIDENTS WITHIN TACOMA FRAMES AND NOT ADDRESSED THE FRAMES IN THE 4RUNNER ESPECIALLY BASED ON THE CONDITION OF OUR FRAME AND MANY OTHERS I SEE ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF 4RUNNER FRAMES FROM THIS GENERATION VEHICLE.

THE FRAME ON MY SUV IS VERY RUSTED AND CAUSING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS UNDERNEATH MY CAR (SWAY BARS, TIE RODS). JUST THE OTHER NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A SNOW STORM, I COMPLETELY LOST MY BRAKES. TWO OF THE MAIN BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. A NEW FRAME WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF MY PROBLEMS. THEY'VE RECALLED TACOMAS AND SEQUOIAS, WONDERING WHAT THE HOLD UP IS ON THE 4RUNNER RECALL?

EVERYTHING ABOUT MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS IN GREAT CONDITION EXCEPT WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION I WAS DEVASTATED TO FIND OUT THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE RUST CORROSION ON THE FRAME. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP IN 2003, I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER SERVICES FOR ALL MAINTENANCES AND YET THEY HAVE FAILED TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS RUST CORROSION PROBLEM UNTIL NOW THAT DUE TO THE RUST IS EATING THROUGH THE MAIN FRAME AND WILL NOT EVEN PASS THE INSPECTION. FOR THE SAFETY PLEASE HAVE IT RECALL AND GET IT DONE THE RIGHT WAY AS FOR TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA RECALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF A STATE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (BAIREL TOYOTA, 19045 PERRY HWY, MARS, PA 16046) WERE NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *TT*JB

PREMATURE CORROSION OF FRAME VSC LIGHT ON ATRAC SYSTEM PERMANENTLY DISENGAGED

FRAME IS SHOWING EXCESSIVE RUST. REMAINDER OF THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. ENGINE RUNS GREAT, BUT THE FRAME IS NOW IN A DANGEROUS STATE. GAS TANK SUPPORT IS COMPLETELY GONE.

THE FRAME IS VERY BADLY RUSTED ALSO TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE

MY ENTIRE VEHICLE IS RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY AND IS NOT IN DRIVEABLE CONDITION.

FRAME HAS SIGNIFICANT RUSTING ISSUES. FAILING CONNECTORS, HEAVY RUST SCALING OF FRAME WITH ONE AREA AT 3/4 FAILURE OF BOX FRAME.

MY 4RUNNER FRAME IS SHOWING EXCESSIVE RUST. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND I AM DILIGENT IN KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION. PLEASE CONSIDER MY 4RUNNER AS A FRAME REPLACEMENT CANDIDATE.