Toyota 4Runner Complaints (1997)

261 consumer complaints on file.

#11075444February 28, 2018
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN BRAKING ON A CURVE ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY {55 MPH} THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND HOPPED UNCONTROLLABLY AND ALMOST LEFT THE ROAD. AFTER SLOWLY GETTING IT HOME, I INSPECTED THE SUSPENSION AND FOUND THE MOUNT FOR THE REAR TRAILING ARM BROKE OFF THE FRAME FROM RUST. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 155,000 MILES AND THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN VARY GOOD CONDITION. I BOUGHT THE TOYOTA FOR ITS KNOWN LONGEVITY AND DID NOT EXPECT THIS FROM TOYOTA. IF THIS HAD BEEN A STATE HWY {70 MPH} I'M SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH, INJURY AND POSABLE FATALITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073619February 19, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER "REAR FRAME RUST AND HOLES" MY TOYOTA 1997 4RUNNER (CURRENT MILEAGE 139,035) HAS THE RUST AND HOLES ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE & DRIVER SIDE FRAMES. TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER MECHANIC SAID " DO NOT DRIVE BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS." I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT $34,500 ON JUNE 1997. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE ONE. IT'S VERY RIDICULOUS THAT THIS EXPENSIVE CAR HAS THIS KINDS OF PROBLEM. LET ME HAVE RECALL SERVICE. I WILL APPRECIATE FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11064372January 23, 2018
SUSPENSION
MY 4RUNNER FRAME IS ROTTED OUT. CRACKED FRAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11053771December 10, 2017
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT CONTROL ARMS FELL OFF THE CAR. FRAME BUSTED IN HALF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051176November 29, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH AND FOUND RUST ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALLS FOR OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES FOR FRAME RUST, BUT NOT FOR THE 4RUNNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. *TT *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11048087November 22, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I ENTERED MY VIN AND THERE HAPPENED TO BE AN OUTSTANDING RECALL ON MY VEHICLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11047535November 20, 2017
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN INSPECTOR WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SWAY BAR DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11014157August 10, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXTENSIVE RUST , FRAME WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10995750June 18, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE THE REAR AXLE ARM ATTACHES. ARM MOUNT BROKEN LOOSE FROM FRAME. VEHICHLE IS UNDRIVEABLE AND VIRTUALLY NOT REPAIRABLE. (FRAME REPLACEMENT) RIDICULOUS TOYOTA!!! YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MAKE IT RIGHT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS!. MYSELF AND FMAILY OWN 7 TOYOTAS. MIGHT RECONSIDER EVER BUYING ANOTHER!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984813May 11, 2017
SUSPENSION
THE FRAME IS SO RUSTY THAT THREE SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS HAVE RUSTED (BROKEN) OFF. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10957911March 1, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 1997 4RUNNER ONLY HAS 116,XXX MILES AND ITS FRAME IS STARTING TO ROT. MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND IT'S ALSO ON OTHER 4RUNNERS. I GUESS IT HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS BUT IT IS NEAR THE BACK BY THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937334December 24, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS 1997 TOYOTA WHICH I'VE PLANNED TO KEEP FOR EVER. HOWEVER, THIS WEEKEND WHILE REPLACING A SHOCK ABSORBER I FOUND THAT THE FRAME, BY THE MUFFLER HAS RUSTED THROUGH, THE GASH IS APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES LONG. THERE ARE OTHER AREAS FAR BEYOND WHAT CAN BE CONSIDERED NORMAL RUST DUE TO AGING. THE DAMAGE LOOKS UNSAFE. I FOUND THE DAMAGE ON THE BELOW STATED DATE BUT THIS KIND OF DAMAGE MUST TO HAVE TAKEN YEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10927385November 22, 2016
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE FRONT OF THE TRAILING ARM SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE DISINTEGRATED FRAME CAUSING THE AXLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED AND BECAME WILDLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10926057November 15, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
GOING DOWN ROAD AT 50MPH CAR LET LOOSE VERY HARD TO HANDLE PULLED ME INTO BURM OF ROAD SWAYING BACK AND FOURTH. HAD CAR TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED FRAME BROKE LOOSE TOTALLY ROTTED FROM INSIDE OUT LOOKS LIKE COOKIE CRUMBLES. FRAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AS THIS IS 22ND 4RUNNER OWNED WITH SAME PROBLEM THIS TIME ALMOST SEVERE ACCIDENT. CONTACTING A LAWYER AS THIS ISSUE IS BEING NEGLECTED RESEARCH DONE AND THIS IS VERY COMMON IN 4RUNNERS AND A VERY GOOD CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914852October 8, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND HEARD A POP LIKE SOMETHING HAD BROKEN. PROCEEDED TO GET ON INTERSTATE ON RAMP AND WITHIN A MILE THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVING BACK AND FORTH. LUCKILY I ONLY HAD TO GO ABOUT A MILE TO MY EXIT. ONCE HOME I HAD DISCOVERED THAT PART OF THE FRAME HAD RUSTED INTO AT A VERY CRITICAL AREA OF THE FRAME. IT WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE AND WAS A PART WHERE A ROD MOUNTED TO IT THAT KEEPS THE REAR AXLE ALIGNED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A VEHICLES FRAME REGARDLESS OF IT BEING 19 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE AND TOYOTA SOMEHOW DOESN'T FEEL THE NEED TO RECALL WHAT IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR LOTS OF OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905949September 12, 2016
SUSPENSION
FRAME ROTTED APART HAVE TO HAVE SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IT ANY LONGER I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THIS TIME NOT IN OUR BUDGET MY WIFE AND I BOTH WORK NOT FINANCIALLY SET..DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TOTALLY ROTTED FRAME NEEDS REPLACING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10898337August 24, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CORRODED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882605July 5, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
RE: 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER - I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.THE FRAME RAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS SEVERE RUST PERFORATION IN THE BACK WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME RAIL. AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN/MATERIAL DEFECT AND A COMMON ISSUE ALTHOUGH PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN TO ME. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS GENERATION OF THETOYOTA 4RUNNER HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THERE A GREAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES STILL IN SERVICE WHOSE OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF HARMING THEMSELVES AND OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE. MUST THE NHTSA WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE TOYOTA IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE NHTSA FOR THIS DEFECT?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850302March 17, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STABILIZER BAR TO THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 263,514.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825944February 13, 2016
SUSPENSION
FRAME AND CERTAIN CRITICAL SUSPENSION PARTS HAVE RUSTED OUT, CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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