2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Structurebody Problems
260 NHTSA complaints on file
All Structurebody Complaints — Page 6
FRONT SUPPORT FRAME UNDER RADIATOR RUSTED THROUGH. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO FIX. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE QUESTION IS HOW WOULD THIS HOLD UP IN A FRONTAL CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 85,000 MILES AND THIS HAPPENS. IT IS IN A AREA WHERE SALT IS USED. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD, MANY LIKE ME WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN OF A BROKEN FRAME UNLESS THE SKID PLATE WAS REMOVED.THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION LINES RUNNING ALONG THE FRAME LISTED IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT. *TR
VEHICLE FRAME IS ROTTED AND UNSAFE HAD IT LOOKED AT , MY AUTO SHOP SAID IT IS UNSAFE CANNOT SELL THE CAR IN THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 4 YEARS AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN A HEATED GARAGE THROUGH THE WINTERS, HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED WAS I HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED AND THEY TOLD ME THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS ROTTED OUT. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE SO I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT , HAVE TRIED TO SELL IT TO DEALERS AND NO ONE WILL BUY IT WITH THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MATTER. *TR
THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THRU MAKING HOLES AND IF NOT REPAIRED WILL BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A RECALL WHICH IS CRIMINAL BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ALL OF THEIR OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES OF ALL AGES HAVE "RECALLS" BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO SO AS "YET" ON THE 04. DEALERS AND BODY SHOPS AND INTERNET SEARCHES SITE THOUSANDS OF THESE 4RUNNERS ARE AFFECTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
INSPECTION OF UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE REVEALED EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST AND PERFORATION THROUGH THE SIDES OF THE FRAME. LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT RUSTED THROUGH, CONTROL ARM SUPPORT RUSTED THROUGH. DEALER INSPECTED AND VERIFIED, NO PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. DEALER STATED COMMON PROBLEM IN NORTHEAST VEHICLES. *TR
DRIVERS DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WOULD NOT PERMIT DRIVER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK, THOUGH ALL ELECTRIC AND MANUAL ACTIONS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR APPEAR TO WORK, LATCH HANDLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS CONDITION WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE WHEN NEW IF THE DOOR WAS LOCKED. ALL OTHER DOORS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD OPEN FROM THE INSIDE IF LOCKED. DRIVERS DOOR LATCH FAILED PROHIBITING DRIVER FROM EXITING THE CAR AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACEMENT LATCH WOULD PERMIT EMERGENCY EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE IF THE LOCK WAS ACTIVATED. *TR
VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED ALONGSIDE THE CURB WHEN IT SUDDENLY JUMPED THE CURB, THE SIDEWALK ONTO THE UPHILL GRASSY LANDSCAPE, HIT AND SEVERED A TREE, AND ALMOST CRASHED THE HOUSE INCHES AWAY, THEN BOUNCED BACK TO THE STREET- ALL IN ABOUT 3 SECONDS. THE TIRES SPUN VIOLENTLY AND LEFT A THICK RESIDUE OF RUBBER AND THICK SMOKE THROUGHOUT. THE BRAKE WAS HARD AND STUCK , AS I MANAGED TO PUT THE STICK TO NEUTRAL AND THEN TO PARK. I WAS TRULY SHOCKED AND SHAKEN THAT I COULD HAVE HURT OR KILLED MYSELF OR OTHERS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED- THE FIRST IN JULY 22, 2009 WHEN THE SAME ACCELERATION HAPPENED WHEN I WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE, SURGED IN ABOUT 2 SECS. CRASHING INTO THE STORAGE AND THE GARAGE WALLS. REFERENCE: TOYOTA CLAIM NO.[XXX] (2009) AND NO.[XXX] (2012). IN BOTH CASES TOYOTA DISOWNED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. WHILE...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE DASHBOARD EXHIBITED CRACKS WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG HOUSING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,377.
LINEAR CRACKS APPEARED SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH (TOYOTA CALLS IT THE SAFETY PAD). CAR IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION, AND A SUNSHADE WAS USED DAILY. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT IN MATERIALS. *TR
AROUND THE END OF 2010, I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE COULD LOOK AT IT AT HIS NEXT VISIT. INSTEAD OF THE REP LOOKING AT IT AT A LATER DATE THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD ME BRING THE VEHICLE BACK SO HE COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF IT. I GOT NO HELP FROM THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER. MID 2011 THE ONE CRACK HAS DEVELOPED INTO 2 CRACKS WITH ONE BEING APPROX 15 INCHES LONG AND THE OTHER APPROX 4-5 INCHES LONG. DECEMBER 2011 I CALLED THE DEALER BACK AGAIN TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE FACTORY REP AND I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO CALL MY LOCAL DEALER. I CALLED BACK TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD...
Other 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Problem Areas
Unknown Or Other
114 complaints
Suspension
106 complaints
Service Brakes
57 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
29 complaints
Air Bags
25 complaints
Steering
25 complaints
Structure
22 complaints
Electrical System
19 complaints
Engine
18 complaints
Power Train
18 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
17 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
15 complaints
Structureframe And Members
13 complaints
Structureframe And Membersunderbody Shields
13 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
9 complaints
Seats
7 complaints
Visibility
7 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
6 complaints
Seat Belts
5 complaints
Wheels
5 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
4 complaints
Traction Control System
4 complaints
Visibilitywiper
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
3 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
3 complaints
Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
3 complaints
Fuel System Other
2 complaints
Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft
2 complaints
Power Traintransfer Case 4 Wheel Drive
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints
Air Bags Air Bagrestraint Control Module
1 complaint
Air Bagssidewindow
1 complaint
Carry Handle Shell Base
1 complaint
Chest Clip Buckle Harness
1 complaint
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
1 complaint
Equipment
1 complaint
Equipment Adaptivemobility
1 complaint
Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer
1 complaint
Exterior Lighting
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasoline
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
1 complaint
Power Trainaxle Assembly
1 complaint
Seat Belts Rearotherbuckle Assembly
1 complaint
Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light
1 complaint
Service Brakes Electric
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdisccaliper
1 complaint
Steering Steering Wheelhandle Bar
1 complaint
Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint
1 complaint
Suspensionrear
1 complaint
Tirestreadbelt
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System
1 complaint
Visibilityrear Window Wiperwasher
1 complaint