Toyota 4Runner Complaints (1999)

330 consumer complaints on file.

#10508570April 17, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT 2 MPH, SHE HEARD A CLANKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD CRACKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE WELDED. AFTER REMOVING THE FUEL TANK, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503767March 20, 2013
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I HAVE BOUGHT TOYOTA'S FOR 25 + YEARS AND ALWAYS KEEP THEM WELL-MAINTAINED. THE VISIBLE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. A FEW YEARS AGO, I TOOK MY 4RUNNER IN FOR A MUFFLER REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A REAL PROBLEM WITH A RUSTING FRAME AND THAT THERE WERE SPOTS THAT WERE ACTUALLY TOTAL PERFORATION/HOLES. TWO YEARS LATER, MY VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A FUEL GAUGE ISSUE AND THE SHOP CALLED TO SAY THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SAFELY RAISE THE CAR. THE RUST ON THE FRAME WAS SO BAD THE PADS ON THE HOIST SLIPPED THRU HOLES IN THE FRAME. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN, THIS TIME TO THE DUNNING TOYOTA DEALER IN ANN ARBOR, MI. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AGREED TO HAVE THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL REP. LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE REP. COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF THE FRAME CORROSION. I ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE AND WAS TOLD "PROBABLY NOT". MONTHS LATER, MY VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE TOYOTA DEALER....UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR UPDATED 5/22/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE YET. UPDATED 06/12/2013 *JS STATUS UPDATE 07/31/14
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494683January 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE READINGS WILL VARY ALL OVER THE PLACE RAN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES NOW. IT SAYS 1/2 TANK BUT THERE WAS NO GAS IN THE TANK. I UNDERSTAND IT IS A KNOW ISSUE TOYOTA SHOULD FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493825January 22, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
WAS DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD AT 15 MPH AND A BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IN PLACE SNAPPED OFF THE FRAME. UPON INSPECTION THE FRAME APPEARS TO HAVE RUSTED STRAIGHT THROUGH. I UNDERSTAND THE CAR IS OLD AND HAS A LOT OF MILES BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT THE FRAME SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING TO GO ON A VEHICLE. THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION CONSIDERING THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, ITS A SHAME THAT DUE TO A FRAME MALFUNCTION THE CAR IS NO LONGER USABLE. WE ARE JUST LUCKY THEY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DIDN'T HAPPEN AT SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489356December 20, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR END TRAILING ARM WAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THEY DID TAKE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND SENT THEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 284,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486564November 30, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
THE FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. MOST NOTABLY ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TOWARDS THE REAR AXLE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES AND THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486410November 29, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THIS COMPLAINT IS TO REQUEST THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO FRAME RUST AND CORROSION PROBLEMS IN THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUES WITH SEVERELY RUSTED FRAMES IN THE TUNDRAS AND THE 1995-2000 AND 2001-04 TOYOTA TACOMA. I OWN A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 99,000 MILES THAT HAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND REAR AXLE. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DUE TO ONE OR MULTIPLE FACTORS. IT COULD BE DUE TO POOR PAINT OR POOR PREPARATION PRIOR TO PAINTING, DUE TO POOR STEEL OR DUE TO CONTAMINATION AT WELDS (FOR THE FRAME) THAT CAUSED THE PAINT TO FAIL RUST PROCEEDS VERY RAPIDLY FROM THE WELDS ON THE FRAME WHILE THE REAR AXLE IT SEEMS THE PAINT IS WORTHLESS TO PROTECT THE METAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486261November 27, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE, GIVES MISLEADING INFORMATION. ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATION THIS GAS TANK CAN HOLDS 18.5 GALLONS, BUT WHEN THE GAUGE SAID IT WAS EMPTY I FILLED IT ALL THE WAY UP AND IT ONLY TOOK ~13 GALLONS. THIS A FAULTY DESIGN AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR CUSTOMER. I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I HAVE A LONG TRIP ~ 500 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485168November 19, 2012
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH,THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484019November 12, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL SENDING UNITS ON THE '99 AND '00 4 RUNNER ARE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE TO NOT READ PROPERLY. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE GAUGE IS READING HALF FULL. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS BUT NO RECALL. BULLETIN EL010-00 AND EL010-99. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477068September 25, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
HAVING MAJOR FRAME ROT ON 99 4RUNNER. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR SAME ISSUES AND NOTHING FOR THE 4RUNNER. THE TACOMA AND RUNNER HAVE SAME FRAMES, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE. READING THE RECALL THEIR IS A SAFETY CONCERN ABOUT THE REAR SUSPENDED SPARE WHICH THE 4RUNNERS HAVE, SEVERE ROT WHICH IS COMMON ON ALL, BREAK LINE FAILURE WHICH HAPPENED TO MINE. DOES MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSES NEED TO BE IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THIS TO BE ADDRESSED?.. TOYOTA HAS GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND, I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. MY NEXT RECOURSE IS EITHER THE MEDIA OR AN ATTORNEY. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING ONLY THE SURFACE HERE. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468512July 31, 2012
SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
THE REAR AXLE SEALS REPEATEDLY FAIL ON THIS VEHICLE, I'M NOW HAVING TO MAKE A FOURTH COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF BOTH THE REAR AXLE SEAL AND CONTAMINATED BRAKE SHOES. FOR THE FOURTH TIME THE REAR AXLE SEAL HAS FAILED WHICH LEAKS BRAKE FLUID ONTO REAR BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN SEVERE REDUCTION OF REAR BRAKING POWER. ALSO, AS A RESULT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE PLACED UNDER UNDUE PRESSURE AND WARPING OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS OCCURS WHICH MUST ALSO BE ADDRESSED. WHILE I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINTS OVER THIS SAME ISSUE SINCE 2005 WITH BOTH TOYOTA AND THE NHTSB, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL INITIATED. THE LAST TIME MY REAR AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED WAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AGO. THIS VEHICLE ONLY SEES NORMAL WEAR AND USAGE. I AM NOT THE ONLY COMPLAINT AS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE BASED ON TOYOTA FORUM DISCUSSIONS AND A SEARCH OF NHTSB COMPLAINT FILINGS. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AGAIN REFUSED TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY WITH TODAYS COMPLAINT FILING ON 7/31/12. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465921July 16, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THIS COMPLAINT IS TO REQUEST THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO FRAME RUST AND CORROSION PROBLEMS IN THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUES WITH SEVERELY RUSTED FRAMES IN THE TUNDRAS AND THE 1995-2000 AND 2001-04 TOYOTA TACOMA. I OWN A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 71,000 MILE THAT IS SEVERELY RUSTED. SO MUCH SO THAT MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE SOME MAY BLAME THE CLIMATE FOR THE RUST, I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE TO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT BASED A DESIGN FLAW. I ALSO OWN A 1994 HONDA CIVIC THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH THE SAME CLIMATE AS THE 4RUNNER YET DOES NOT HAVE THIS DANGEROUS RUST ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT ALONE IN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. A SEARCH OF YOUR DATABASE SHOWS OVER 30 RUST COMPLAINTS (AS OF 7/9/2012) AND THIS IS ONLY BASED ON REVIEW OF THE 1999 4RUNNER MODEL. TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465049July 10, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR THE BRAKES AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR AND LEFT REAR FRAME WAS COVERED WITH RUST. THE RIGHT FRAME WAS WORSE THAN THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FRAME AND THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 231,000. UPDATED 08/7/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME RUST ON LOCATED ON THE TRAILING ARM AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. UPDATED 08/16/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462820June 23, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILS SAFETY INSPECTION. MANUFACTURER OFFERS NO REASONABLE RECOURSE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461083June 9, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS READS 1/2 FULL TO FULL. RAN OUT OF GAS 6 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS A TSB (EL010-00) OUT ON FUEL GAUGE INACCURACY. AFTER REPLACING AN EXPENSIVE SENDING UNIT, STILL NO HELP. ACCORDING TO THIS TSB I DO NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BOARD BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS IS A FACTORY FLAW AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANKS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460114May 31, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE RUST BEGAN NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND ENDED NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455250April 14, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
FRAME RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BROKE. WHEN IT HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. LEFT THE VEHICLE IN A CONDITION THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HIGH MILES BUT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. NO RUST ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I'VE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER 4RUNNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454701April 10, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
ISSUE IS WITH THE VEHICLE FRAME. VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS INSPECTION DUE TO UNSAFE RUSTING (DEFECTIVE) OF THE VEHICLE FRAME. 4 RUNNER FRAME SHOWING RUST PATTERNS COMPARABLE TO TACOMA AND TUNDRA, BUT 4 RUNNER WAS NEVER RECALLED LIKE OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452352March 20, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRAME ON MY 4RUNNER SHOWS EXCESSIVE RUST ESPECIALLY AT THE WELDED JOINTS AND WHERE THE SUSPENSION ATTACHES. THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS CONSIDERING THE BODY LOOKS GREAT AND THE FRAME ISN'T. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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