Toyota 4Runner Complaints (1998)

250 consumer complaints on file.

#10928399November 28, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904342September 7, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRAME ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS SEVERE RUSTING. RIGHT NOW THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE MOUNT ON THE CHASSIS THAT HOLDS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF THE FRAME. LOOKS JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'M WITHOUT A CAR AND WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I UNDERSTAND A NEW FRAME COULD COST $10,000 AND A NEW CAR COULD COST $47,000. MY TOYOTA HAS 240,000 MILES AND OTHERWISE RUNS GREAT. I DO LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST AND HAVE LIVED IN VERMONT DURING THE WINTERS. I TRY TO WASH MY CAR AND CHASSIS OFTEN DUE TO THE SALT. MANY PEOPLE ASK IF MY CAR IS FOR SALE BECAUSE I KEEP IT IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE BUT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE RUSTING CHASSIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO NEXT, HELP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895292August 12, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE WOBBLING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10876597June 25, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRAME HAS BECOME SEVERELY RUSTED AND HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO OPERATE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10875597June 21, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME OR THE CHASSIS AND ALL AROUND IT ARE HEAVILY CORRODED THAT I WAS ADVISED BY THE INSPECTOR AND THE TIRE PLACE (COSTCO) WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT NOT TO DRIVE IT AS IT IS UNSAFE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TOYOTA TACOMA OF THE SAME YEAR WITH THE SAME KIND OH CHASSIS WAS RECALLED BY TOYOTA. MY QUESTION IS WHY NOT DO THE SAME FOR THE 4RUNNER?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10871289May 27, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A WONDERFUL 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD SPORT VEHICLE. THE FRAME IS DISAPPEARING DUE TO SEVERE RUST. THE HEAT SHIELD HAS WORN AWAY, AND NOW MY FEET GET VERY HOT AFTER JUST 20 MINUTES OF LOCAL DRIVING. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A GARAGE, NOTHING FUNCTIONALLY WRONG WITH MY SUV.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10862784May 3, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED HOWEVER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HOISTED ON THE LIFT, THE SUB FRAME FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE FRAME RUST TO THE SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPROMISED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO REPAIR WHILE ON A LIFT. THE RADIATOR WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FRAME RUST FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TORSION BAR ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10861966April 28, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS SERIOUS SIGNS OF FRAME DECAY THAT SHOULD NOT BE PRESENT ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND USE. THERE ARE THREE AREAS OF FRAME PERFORATION THAT SUGGEST A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL AND/OR DESIGN OF THE FRAME. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT ON 1998 MODELS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE WITHIN THE NHTSA SITE AS WELL AS OTHER SITES AROUND THE INTERNET. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND WAS MET WITH AN UNWILLINGNESS TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH PHOTOS OF THE FRAME PERFORATION TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE DETERIORATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10861150April 24, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
I WAS IN REVERSE AND A JOLT AND POP OCCURRED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WHERE MY SON WAS SEATED. HE FELT IT AT HIS FEET AND ALL OTHER PASSENGERS HEARD AND FELT A JOLT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED RUST AND STRESS CRACKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR PASSENGER TORSION BAR.WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE WITH MY TWO FINGERS I PUSHED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. MY BRAKING PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN I HAVE TO STOP SUDDENLY IN SNOW OR EXTREME WET ROAD SURFACES THERE IS A METAL GRINDING AN NO BRAKES. WHEN THIS OCCURS IN SNOW I WAS IN 4WHEEL HIGH. I HAD NO BRAKES SO I PUT THE VEHICLE IN 2 WHEEL AND HAD BRAKES. IN RAIN I PUMPED THE BRAKES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET BRAKES. ALL DRIVING BRAKES OCCURRED AT 35 MPH IN CITY DRIVING WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10824832February 8, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
LIKE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TOYOTA COMPLAINTS, FRAME RUST. TOOK THE 1998 4RUNNER FOR NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE OF MASSIVE EROSION DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME CONNECTING REAR CONTROL ARMS. 4RUNNER ESSENTIALLY UNDRIVEABLE AT THIS AT THIS POINT. CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND, AS EVERYONE ELSE ON THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS SITE SAYS, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ALTHOUGH THEY DID TAKE CARE OF THE TACOMA PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821443January 21, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
RUSTED FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR, HOLES IN FRAME, WHICH HOLDS THE SWAY BAR. MECHANIC NOTICED DURING OIL CHANGE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DO. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820290January 14, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE OIL AND FUEL FILTER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE CORROSION TO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819149January 9, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME IS ROTTING OUT BY CONTROL BRACKETS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WILL NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER. ITS NOT SAFE AND WILL CRUMPLE ON IMPACT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809056December 8, 2015
SEATS
THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNT (LEFT FRONT) FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME LOOSE AND ROCK. THE SEAT MOUNT BENEATH THE CARPET HAD FAILED, ALLOWING THE MOUNTING BOLT TO FALL OFF. THE METAL BRACKET HAD TO BE WELDED WITH NEW, STRONGER METAL AND THE BOLT REATTACHED WITH SPOT WELDS. THIS FAILURE IS WIDE SPREAD AMONG ALL TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS FROM 1995-2002; TOYOTA IS AWARE AND HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT; ALL SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808589December 5, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE SWAY BARS ATTACH, FRAME MOUNTS BROKE WHILE TOWING A TRAILER ON SR 22 IN SOUTHERN OHIO. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE GAINING CONTROL AND STOPPING THE 4RUNNER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781276October 10, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE HAVING REPAIRS MADE TO DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING FOR A RUST HOLE, MECHANIC POINTED OUT RUST HOLES THOUGH FRAME ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE ABOUT MID VEHICLE. MECHANIC CAUTIONED THAT VEHICLE WILL SOON BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682303September 23, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRAME RUST ISSUES. *SMD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758655August 23, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MULTIPLE TOYOTA 4RUNNERS OF THIS ERA. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE AS WELL SINCE IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO RAISE WITH A VEHICLE LIFT THAT LIFTS AT THE FRAME. WHEN ACCELERATING TO 20-25 MPH AND LETTING OFF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYS TREMENDOUSLY AND IS GREATLY AMPLIFIED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BACK UP TO SPEED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749623August 18, 2015
SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND I WENT OVER AN OVERPASS WITH A BUMP AT THE BEGINNING OF IT, I HEARD A CLUNK THEN MY CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH VERY BADLY,I MANAGED TO PULL OVER ON THE EMERGENCY PULL OFF, I THOUGHT A WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE,I FOUND NO LOOSE WHEEL SO I STARTED LOOKING UNDERNEATH AND WOW!!!!!..THE TORSION BARS HAD BOTH RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND BOTH SWAY BARS WERE BROKE OFF,THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE BACK AXAL ON WAS THE BACK OF THE TORSION BARS,,,NEEDLES TO SAY MY FAVORITE CAR IS OUT FOR THE COUNT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735134July 20, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME ROT/RUST AND MECHANIC WON'T WORK ON IT TO REMOVE, REBALANCE TIRES. UNDER FRAME IS RUSTED OUT. NOT SAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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