Toyota 4Runner Complaints (1999)

330 consumer complaints on file.

#10443959January 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A LONG TRIP. THE DIFFERENTIAL STARTING MAKING A WHINING NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. I STOPPED AT AN OIL CHANGE PLACE AT MY DESTINATION TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE FLUID. IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY. TOPPED IT UP AND CHANCED DRIVING IT 400 MILES BACK TO CHICAGO. I MADE IT OK AND HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS SO RUSTED THAT IT HAD HOLES THAT ALLOWED IT TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC TRIED TO FIND A USED ONE BUT THEY ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNED UP COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF RUSTED DIFFERENTIALS ON TOYOTA TRUCKS SPANNING MANY YEARS. THERE IS ALSO EXTENSIVE RUSTING ON THE FRAME, AXLE SPARE TIRE MOUNT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A LONG TERM TOYOTA PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442577January 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
FRAME CORROSION! ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND IT'S ALREADY 'PANDORA'S BOX", HELP US OUT LIKE YOU HELPED ALL THE CUSTOMERS WITH RUSTED OUT TOYOTA PICKUPS PLEASE! I'M GETTING KILLED, GOING TO BE HOMELESS BY THE END OF THIS REPAIR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438714December 6, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION, STEERING
I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, WITH AN IMMACULATE BODY, HOWEVER THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED OUT SO BADLY THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE RAIL IN SOME PLACES. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND A FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOST SEVERE LOCATION OF THE ROT IN JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. TOOK IT FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A WELDER TO SEE IF IT CAN EVEN BE REPAIRED. THINKING OF FILING A CLAIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NY STATE. THE THING IS IT PASSED INSPECTION AT THE SMALL CAR BUSINESS I BOUGHT IT FROM( D AND D AUTOSALES IN BINGHAMTON NY-DON'T GO THERE!!!!!!) AND THERE IS NO WAY IT ROTTED LIKE THIS IN LESS THAN A YR SO I'M THINKING THEY PASSED IT JUST TO GET THE SALE. HAVEN'T CONTACTED TOYOTA BUT THEY MOST LIKELY WONT DO A THING FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436564November 21, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS RUST AND HOLES THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436200November 17, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TRASH CAN AND THEN THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435712November 15, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434011November 2, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FULL BLOWN FRAME RUST MECHANIC STATES IS 100% INVASIVE AFFECTING STEERING, ALIGNMENT, BRAKING, AND CHECKING OF DIFFERENTIAL AND REAR-END FLUIDS DUE TO SEIZED COMPONENTS. FRAME IS TOTALLY COMPROMISED, NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND RECTIFIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432710October 25, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THUMP. TOOK VEHICLE HOME TO INSPECT. NOTICED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING BRACKET WAS BROKEN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. COIL SPRING BRACKET THAT HOLDS COIL SPRING AND SHOCK IN IS RUSTED AWAY. COIL SPRING IS BROKEN OFF THE FRAME. MECHANIC AND AUTO BODY ADVISOR STATED THAT VEHICLE IS UN-DRIVEABLE. THE CHASSIS IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE ENTIRE FRAME COULD EASILY CRACK IN HALF IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. BACK BUMPER IS ALMOST DISINTEGRATED FROM RUST AND FRONT BUMPER IS RUSTING RAPIDLY. THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 120,000 MILES AND KEPT IN MINT CONDITION. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA THEY SAID NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE 4RUNNER IS NOT ON RECALL LIST. PLEASE HELP ME. I NOW HAVE NO DRIVEABLE VEHICLE AND NO MONEY TO BUY A NEW ONE. TOYOTA HAS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429521October 11, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST. THE 4RUNNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS STORIES DOCUMENTED WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES. MY TRUCK HAS HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU AND TOYOTA HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429197October 8, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH (COMPLETELY PERFORATED). RUST HOLE IS OVER 6 INCHES LONG AND 2 INCHES HIGH. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425817September 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN
REAR AXLE HOUSING DEVELOPS PREMATURE AND DETRIMENTAL METAL SCALING AND RUST, CAUSING DIFFERENTIAL BELL HOUSING TO LEAK GEAR OIL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 1999 THROUGH 2002 4RUNNERS IN A CONSISTENT MANNER AND PATTERN. TOYOTA MOTORS HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND USES THE DEFENSE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER, A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF QUALITY IN THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM SHOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AS TOYOTA HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HIDE AND DISTORT CLAIMS BY THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMER IN ORDER TO COVER UP THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.4RUNNERFORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1948 FOR ONE OF THE MANY THREADS RELATED TO THIS TOPIC THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE IT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403368May 25, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
DURING THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION, THE MECHANICS AT DEALER FOUND A RUST THROUGH HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL. THE HOLE MAY AND/OR WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BODY ACCORDING THE MECHANICS. THERE ARE ALSO CONSIDERABLE RUSTING ACROSS THE FRAME OF THE BODY, INCLUDING REAR BUMPER (REPLACED 4 YEARS AGO), FRONT BUMPER, SWAY BAR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM (STAINLESS STEAL EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER ARE REPLACED). ALL THE RUST RELATED REPAIR COST OVER THE YEARS IS ABOUT $5,000. WHAT CONCERNED ME THE MOST IS THAT HOW LONG I CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR WITH RUSTING PROBLEM GETTING WORSE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401478May 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386627March 6, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MARCH 6, 2011: 99 TOYOTA 4RUNNER: I NOTICED MY 4RUNNER PITCHING ON HIGHWAY EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. AFTER I BROUGHT INTO TOYOTA THEY INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE - REAR END DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM FRAME ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE - RIGHT REAR AXLE CLOSE TO COMPLETE FAILURE - TOYOTA STATED IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SEVERE RUST ON THE STRUCTURAL AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IS EXCESSIVE. ALSO LARGE HOLES IN DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. TOYOTA STATED THEY COULD FIND USED PARTS, INCLUDING SUSPENSION BRACKET & ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING & SWAY BAR COMPONENTS - WOULD COST UP TO $3000 TO REPAIR AT MY COST. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO FIND A MECHANIC TO WELD & REPAIR SUSPENSION BRACKETS. THE REAR TRANSFER CASE IS SO THIN THAT OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH RUST HOLES. FRAME RAILS & ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED & DETERIORATED, INCLUDING ENTIRE DISINTEGRATION OF THE REAR BUMPER WITH THE FRONT BUMPER HAVING MASSIVE RUST HOLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383194February 18, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
FRAME ON 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN FRONT OF REAR AXLE ATTACHMENT ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER HAS ALSO RUSTED TO POINT WHERE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID IS LEAKING OUT. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND WASHED REGULARLY WITH NO RUST ANYWHERE BUT FRAME AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND MUST BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO MECHANIC. TOYOTA STATES THAT THEY HAVE A VOLUNTARY BUY-BACK PROGRAM ON TACOMA'S OF SAME VINTAGE, BUT NOT FOR THE 4RUNNER? *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376272January 11, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2 YEARS AGO AFTER DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT WE NOTICED WITHIN A WEEK THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING. THEY EXPLAINED THAT HAD THEY KNEW IT WAS BROKEN, HOW WOULDN'T YOU, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SELL IT FOR THAT PRICE. I PAID FOR THE FIX AND WAS REASSURED THAT THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WELL, STARTING ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA GOODWILL AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY COVERED UNDER INITIAL WARRANTY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS AND COLUMNS ON THIS ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 36 K MILES SO ALOT OF GOOD THAT DOES. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE IF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS MY CASE, BUT I DOUBT ANYTHING WILL GET DONE UNLESS I CONTINUE TO CALL BACK. I WOULD THINK THAT TOYOTA WOULD WANT TO EXTEND SOME GOODWILL CONSIDERING THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS RELEVANT CONSIDERING THERE IS NO REAL WAY TO EXACTLY TRACK YOUR MILES AND BECOMING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY OR LATE AT NIGHT IS CERTAINLY NOT A GOOD THING TO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369131December 3, 2010
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 169,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361144October 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN
REAR AXLE HOUSING DEVELOPS PREMATURE AND DETRIMENTAL METAL SCALING AND RUST, CAUSING DIFFERENTIAL BELL HOUSING TO LEAK GEAR OIL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 1999 THROUGH 2002 4RUNNERS IN A CONSISTENT MANNER AND PATTERN. TOYOTA MOTORS HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND USES THE DEFENSE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER, A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF QUALITY IN THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM SHOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AS TOYOTA HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HIDE AND DISTORT CLAIMS BY THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMER IN ORDER TO COVER UP THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.4RUNNERFORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1948 FOR ONE OF THE MANY THREADS RELATED TO THIS TOPIC THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356745September 21, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST AND A HOLE NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 194000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347901August 7, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER AND THE FUEL GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING. IT BEGAN BY SHOWING A QUANTITY OF FUEL WHEN IT REALLY DID NOT HAVE ANY FUEL. THIS CAUSED ME TO RUN OUT OF FUEL AND ALMOST HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IT NOW MAY READ FULL, ZERO, 1/2 ETC. YOU CANNOT DEPEND ON THE ACCURACY. I CONTACTED DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY KNEW IT WAS A TOYOTA DEFECT BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT TELL ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR BETWEEN $500 - $1000!!! TOYOTA HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB # EL 010-00 TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BUT NOT OFFER REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THOSE UNAWARE AND COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota 4Runner