2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Structure Problems

THE RUBBER ON THE INSIDE THE TAILGATE HANDLE HAS MELTED AND ERRODED. IN WARM WEATHER, IT IS STICKY AND CAUSES BLACK TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON HANDS. IN COLDER WINTER MONTHS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS TO OPEN THE TAILGATE. IN QUICKLY SCANNING ALL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE RELATED TO THE 2007 4-RUNNER, ABOUT 10% ARE FOR THIS ISSUE! NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY OR VEHICLE OPERATION ISSUE, BUT INDICATES A FAULTY PART ON THE VEHICLE. UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS MODEL YEAR IS LONG OUT OF WARRANTY, IT SHOULD STILL BE CORRECTED, AS A GOODWILL MEASURE IF NOTHING ELSE. *TR

THE LIFT GATE HANDLE IS STICKY AND LEAVE BLACK RESIDUE ON FINGERS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS MELTED. I THINK IT IS A REAL PROBLEM. I'M RESEARCH HOW TO REPAIR, BUT ONCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS SITE I SEE THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. I THINK TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE REAR HATCH DOOR HANDLE TURNED INTO A MELTED RUBBER/PLASTIC MESS. OUR HANDS ARE COVERED WITH BLACK MELTED RUBBER TYPE MATERIAL WHENEVER WE TRY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH, I SEE THERE ARE ALLOT OF OTHER TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART IS CALLED, SWITCH ASSEMBLY, BACK PART #84840-35010. NO DOUBT THAT THE PART IS FAULTY. *TR

THE PAD (LOCATED ON THE HATCHBACK LATCH) WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR HAND TO PRESS DOWN TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK HAS MELTED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK AS THE RUBBER HAS MELTED & THE BUTTON NO LONGER RELEASES PROPERLY. WHEN I CALLED DON MCGILL TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX, THEY EXPLAINED THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM & IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $350 TO REPAIR SINCE IT INCLUDES REPLACING THE ENTIRE BUTTON & ELECTRICAL PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HATCHBACK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CANNOT OPEN THE HATCHBACK PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY HATCHBACK HANDLE WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. THE PARTS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY USED ON THIS HANDLE ARE FAULTY. *TR

THE BACK, TRUNK HANDLE SWITCH CONSISTS OF A BLACK, RUBBER TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT MELTS EVERY SUMMER. I LIVE IN TEXAS SO SUMMERS CAN GET EXTREMELY HOT. SO, IT HAS MELTED/GOTTEN HOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST BURNED ME AND MY HUSBAND'S FINGERS. ADDITIONALLY, IT WILL LEAVE BLACK STAINS ON OUR FINGERS REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE BUT ALSO A HAZARD. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WOULD REPLACE IT IS THE SAME MATERIAL. SO, I'M WRITING THIS TO HOPEFULLY GET A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA TO REPLACE THESE HANDLES WITH ANOTHER TYPE OF MATERIAL. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS NOT ONLY WITH 4RUNNERS THAT THIS HAPPENS ON BUT ALSO SIENNAS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS WITH ANY VEHICLES WE PURCHASE REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE LIVE. TOYOTA...

2007 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH BAD GROUND CLEARANCE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SCRAPES THE GROUND. TOYOTA REPS AND SERVICE REPS KEEP TELLING HER THAT GROUND CLEARANCE IS MEASURED DIFFERENT WAYS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WANTED A VEHICLE WITH HIGH GROUND CLEARANCE. THE DEALER TOLD HER THE VEHICLE HAD 9.1 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, BUT LATER THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT WASN'T TRUE. *JB