Toyota 4Runner Complaints (1998)

250 consumer complaints on file.

#10440136December 16, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I WAS DRIVING IF YOU WOULD GO THE SPEED LIMIT IT WOULD START TO SHAKE REAL BAD. COULD DRIVE IF YOU DROVE 25 TO 30 MILES A HOUR. PARKED IT AND GOT TO LOOKING AND THE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE BROKE IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL BY THE LOWER STRAIT TO REAR END. ## VIN PASSED ## 1998 4 RUNNER ## *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438783December 6, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
THE FRAME ON MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON THE REAR AND HAS BROKEN IN HALF. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. THE TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP (SAME MODEL YEAR TIME-FRAME) HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT THE 4RUNNER HAS NOT. THE 4RUNNER SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED AND A 15 YEAR EXTENDED FRAME RUST THOUGH WARRANTY APPLIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429184October 8, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING OUT I HAVE ONE OR TWO HOLES IN MY FRAME AND I SEE THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. I WORK FOR A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WE REPLACING ALOT OF TACOMA FRAMES DUE TO RUST. THE 4RUNNER FRAME IS THE SAME AS THE TACOMA SO I DON'T SEE WHY 4RUNNER FRAMES ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425725September 16, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. THE RUST CAUSED THE FRAME TO FRACTURE COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE BOTH THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND TUNDRA WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423455August 31, 2011
AIR BAGS
1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. CONSUMER STATES AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT *TGW THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, OVERTURNED AND CRASHED WHEN HE TRIED TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408905June 25, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 7 YEARS. TODAY, THE ONLY OCCASION OF THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED. DRIVING I-95 IN NORTH FLORIDA AT APPROX. 72 MPH, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO BEGIN A LANE CHANGE AS I APPROACHED A SLOWER VEHICLE TO THE FRONT. THE ACCELERATOR, OF ITS OWN ACCORD, PRESSED ITSELF TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, REACHING A SPEED OF 93 MPH WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH WERE TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE; THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SPEED. I CAME WITHIN A FEW FEET OF REAR-ENDING THE CAR I HAD BEGUN TO GO AROUND, AND JUST BEFORE IMPACT I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, WHICH CUT OFF THE MOTOR. I MOVED FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND WHILE COASTING, TURNED THE KEY BACK TO THE 'ON' POSITION, WITHOUT STARTING THE MOTOR. INSTANTLY THE MOTOR REVVED ON ITS OWN TO TACH REDLINE, AND I TURNED THE KEY TO THE 'ACC' POSITION; THE MOTOR SHUT OFF. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES, AND THE ENTIRE TIME THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS NOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MAT, AS I CHECKED THIS WHILE COASTING. THE PEDAL COULD NOT BE PRIED UP BY MY TOE, BUT WAS STUCK FAST. I HAD REDUCED SPEED TO ABOUT 30 MPH. AFTER 1/2 MI COASTING, THE PEDAL RETURNED TO THE NORMAL POSITION ON ITS OWN, AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. IT DROVE NORMALLY THE ENTIRE WAY HOME, ABOUT 60 MILES. IF I HAD PANICKED AND NOT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WITHIN THE FEW SECONDS I HAD, I WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY IMPACTED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH IN EXCESS OF 90MPH. THERE WAS TRAFFIC AROUND ME AT THAT POINT, AND IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE-CAR CRASH. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND I CANNOT LET HER DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. I FIND NO RECALLS, BUT THIS SITUATION MOST CERTAINLY WAS VERY REAL, AND VERY DANGEROUS. THIS IS NOT TO BE DISMISSED BY CALLING IT 'DRIVER ERROR', OR A PEDAL STUCK UNDER A MAT. I STAYED RATIONAL, AND CONTROLLED THE SITUATION. DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DIES, NHTSA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403862May 31, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE ROD WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,641.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395544April 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH. CAUSING ALL FLUID TO DRAIN, WHICH IN TURN WOULD CAUSE REAR END TO LOCK UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395186April 7, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT DID NOT HOLD AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES YET THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CITATION FOR THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 05/18/11
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350341August 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE
1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. THE READ DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED OUT SO BAD THAT IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE STATED THEY'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING. NO ACCIDENTS OR ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE ADDED TO THE DETERIORATION OF THIS. THIS 4RUNNER HAS NEVER GONE OFF ROAD AND 90% OF IS HIGHWAY MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350065August 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. UPDATED 11/08/10 * BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT TIMES. UPDATED 11/10/10.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348585August 10, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CV JOINT BOOT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CV JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 223000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345835July 28, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320083March 16, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON WAS DRVING THE VEHICLE 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER INTO THE MEDIAN. THE ACCIDENT WAS FATAL AND THE DRIVER DIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10317399March 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. IT, TOO, HAS RANDOM ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC FOR PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION NO LESS THAN 10 TIMES BUT NO PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED AND THEREFORE NOTHING WAS FIXED.. THE OCCURRENCES ARE SPORADIC AND UNPREDICTABLE. I DO A LOT OF FREEWAY DRIVING AND THUS, MOST HAVE OCCURRED ON FREEWAYS AND WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCE, THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292994November 20, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I AM AN OWNER OF A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER (1998), AND CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN EMERGENCY (HARDER THAN NORMAL OPERATIONS), THE REAR SEAL (PASSENGER SIDE) WILL BREAK, LEAVING ONLY THREE (3) WHEELS BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR SEALS AT 68K MILES. AGAIN AT 105KMILES THE SAME ISSUE. I STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THE TOYOTA REAR SEAL IS NOT WITHIN SPECIFICATION OF THE PRESSURE DELIVERED TO THE BRAKE LINES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, SINCE A SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS. *TR THANKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258021February 9, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY MECHANIC (JAY SHIEL OF FINE TUNES, MIDDLETOWN, CT) INFORMED ME THAT I HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF RUST UNDER MY VEHICLE. HE SAID HE KNEW THAT TOYOTA HAD PROBLEMS WITH INSUFFICIENT RUST PROTECTION ON THE TACOMA'S, BUT HE HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE 4RUNNERS. HE SAID WE SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AND ASK TO HAVE A REP LOOK AT IT. WE DID AND TOYOTA DECLINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241849September 11, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED OIL DRIPPING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239661August 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. DURING DECELERATION, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND ACCELERATES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLE SWITCH VALVE TWICE, WHICH CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR A FEW MONTHS. ON AUGUST 21, 2008 WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229627June 2, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EQUIPMENT
1998 TOYOTA 2WD 4RUNNER, DRIVER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. LIGHT COMES ON WHEN BRAKING, BUT NOT WHEN RUNNING. INSTALLING NEW BULBS DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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