Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2000)

483 consumer complaints on file.

#10369620December 8, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED IT FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FRAME RUST AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR A RECALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THEY WOULD NOT WELD THE FRAME DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369186December 4, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I AM WRITING TO REPORT A DEFECT IN THE FRAME OF MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE FRAME EXHIBITS EXTENSIVE RUSTING. THE FRAME HAS HOLES AND HAS SEPARATED ALONG THE BOTTOM WELD. THE SOURCE OF THE WORST RUSTING APPEARS TO BE CONDENSATION FROM THE AC UNIT DRIPPING ONTO THE FRAME AND RUNNING ALONG IT. TOYOTA HAS DECLARED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO OPERATE, YET WILL DO NOTHING TO COMPENSATE FOR OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368852November 29, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE A 2000 4RUNNER WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED. THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUST UNDERNEATH THE CARRIAGE/FRAME TO THE POINT WHERE TIRE TECH WOULD NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE SPARE. THE POWER STEERING WHEEL FLUID IS NOW LEAKING FROM THE LINE DUE TO THE RUST. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED 2000 TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS FOR RUST PROBLEMS IN THEIR FRAMES BUT NOT 4RUNNERS OF SAME YEAR. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THEY WILL GLADLY INSPECT MY FRAME FOR A CHARGE. MY RUSTED SPARE TIRE MOUNT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ITSELF LET ALONE THE OTHER PROBLEMS DEVELOPING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367353November 24, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WE OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHOSE FRAME HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT A TOYOTA DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT (SECOND OPINION) VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT IT WAS AND HAD BEEN COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY SON, WHO DROVE IT 600 MILES TO COLLEGE, WAS PUT IN SERIOUS DANGER. WE TOOK A TOTAL LOSS ON THE CAR AFTER HAVING HAD IT DEALER SERVICED SINCE BUYING IT NEW IN 2000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. IT IS PRECISELY THE ISSUE TOYOTA FACED WITH THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA MODELS, WHICH THEY RECALLED AND STOOD BEHIND THROUGH REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT/DOLLAR CREDITS. WE AND THE DEALER CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY SEVERAL TIMES AND THE COMPANY REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THE 4RUNNER WITH THE SAME FRAME CORROSION PROBLEM AS THOSE MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364257November 6, 2010
STRUCTURE
TOOK 2000 4RUNNER IN TO GET MUFFLER REPLACED. THEY DISCOVERED EXTENSIVE FRAME ROT/CORROSION WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM MOUNT TIES INTO THE FRAME. THE WELDED SEAM OF THE BOX TUBING HAS RUSTED OUT. THEY WANTED TO LET US KNOW, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AND, THEY SUGGESTED WE CONTACT TOYOTA TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR IF SUB-PAR METAL WAS USED, BECAUSE THE FRAME SHOULDN'T BE IN SUCH A TERRIBLE CONDITION FOR A VEHICLE ITS AGE. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2000 4RUNNER, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE RECALLS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES. WE DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR, KNOWING THAT THE STRUCTURE IS COMPROMISED. AND, WE CERTAINLY CAN'T SELL THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION, KNOWING THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356637September 20, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN HE WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED RUST AND HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356165September 17, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR 5 WITH 143,000 MILES PER TOYOTA DEALER THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. UNLIKE TOYOTA TACOMA, NO 4 RUNNER RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353824September 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASING IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. IT IS BEYOND REPAIR AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351313August 23, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HEARD A NOISE IN BACK OF CAR..GOT MY TIRES ROTATED, WHILE UP ON THE RACK I NOTICED THE BACK PASSENGER BRACKET THAT HOLDS MY AXEL ON WAS ROTTED IN HALF, CALLED TOYOTA, MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL TOYOTA GARAGE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! AXEL COULD FALL OFF, COULD LOSE BREAKS, DRIVE SHAFT COULD FALL OUT PLUS THERE IS A HOLE IN MY FRAME. FRAME ROT AGAIN! WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS YET! THEY DEEMED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE...WHAT THE[XXX]?? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345662July 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN
REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER IS RUSTED AND FLUID LEACHES RIGHT THROUGH THE METAL SPRAYING FLUID ON TO SPARE WHEEL AND REAR BUMPER AND ANYTHING IN TOW. COVER IS EVIDENTIALLY CHEAP METAL AND IS POORLY DESIGNED AS THE COVER IS WELDED ON AND CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE. THERE IS NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE REMAINDER OF THE AXLE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION THEREFORE I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1500-$2000 FOR A REPLACEMENT AXLE WHICH IS 1/4 OF THE VEHICLE'S VALUE. TOYOTA CHOSE A POOR DESIGN AND MATERIAL FOR THIS PART AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AS IT IS THE ONLY WEAK LINK ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, UNFORTUNATELY THE REAR AXLE IS NOT AN OPTIONAL PART FOR ITS OPERATION. I HAVE REVIEWED SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS IN THE RANGE FROM '99 TO '02 WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND ALL REPORT NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE LOCATION. MY MECHANIC ADVISES THE ONLY REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE IS THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR AXLE WHEN ONLY A SMALL PLATE HAS FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343414July 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN
2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 6CYL 78000 MILES. NOTICED REAR END DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING OIL. DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE I PARK IT ON DIRT DRIVEWAY. NOT LEAKING AT SEAL OR NORMAL CONNECTION POINT. IS COMING THROUGH THE METAL ITSELF. THEY SAID THE METAL HAS BECOME ' POROUS '. LAST 4 RUNNER HAD 340,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD A DROP COME THROUGH THE METAL AND WAS USED EXTENSIVELY OFF ROAD. THIS VEHICLE MINIMALLY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART THROUGH SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR INFERIOR METAL. I AM GETTING NO HELP FROM DEALER IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE ON LINE AND WAS REFERRED TO THIS SITE THROUGH A LINK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336030June 13, 2010
STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STRUCTURE:BODY
2000 4RUNNER LIMITED RUSTING ON BODY WITH 66,000 MILES. FRAME AND UNDERSIDE ALSO RUSTING. LIVE IN UTAH, THEY USE SALT ON THE ROADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335725June 10, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT
2000 SPORT EDITION 4 RUNNER, ALL WORKING COMPONENTS AND FRAME ARE BADLY RUSTED. NOTHING CAN BE WORKED ON WITHOUT BREAKAGE OF PARTS AND BOLTS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS FROM THE EAST COAST WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS. CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN REPLACEMENT FRAMES OR THEIR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BACK FROM TOYOTA. OUR CAR IS FROM VERMONT AND NEW YORK WHERE I AM SURE THEY USED ROAD SALT AND THIS IS WHY THE UNTREATED FRAMES OF THESE VEHICLES CORRODED SO BADLY LIKE OUR 4 RUNNER. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE THE SAME OFFER FOR THE 2000 4 RUNNER. MY SON WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AND AT 18 YEARS OLD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR $9000.00. WE WERE CRUSHED WHEN WE REALIZED THE EXTENT OF RUST DAMAGE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE. NOTHING CAN BE REPAIRED WITHOUT HUGE EXPENSE, AND EVERY THING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS CAR NEEDS REPLACED. WHERE IS TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE AND SATISFACTION NOW? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334244June 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN
NO INJURY OR CRASH . . . REPORTING WHAT I BELIEVE MAY BE A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SAFETY DANGER. --- THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IN THE 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER I OWN SEEMS TO BE RUSTING UNUSUALLY QUICKLY. THIS IS A 10-YEAR OLD VEHICLE, BUT IT ONLY HAS 113,715 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN IT SUSTAINED A LEAK DUE TO CORROSION. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS BOTH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THEY ARE SEEING THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTAS. THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT IT SEEMS TO BE DUE TO TOYOTA HAVING THINNER METAL IN THE HOUSING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322406March 26, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER, DATED 2000, IS RUNNING BY ITSELF. I NEED TO KEEP PRESSING THE BRAKES HARD IN ORDER TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THIS IS HAPPENING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I BELIEVE THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320383March 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
RUSTED & LEAKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING ON 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314037February 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
IN AUGUST OF 2009 I PURCHASED A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH APPROXIMATELY 89,000 MILES ON IT. I DRIVE EVERY DAY FOR WORK AS A SALESPERSON SO I HAVE BECOME QUITE ACCUSTOM TO THE VEHICLE AND THE WAY IT HANDLES. FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE VEHICLE I HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. MORE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE, BUT ALSO WITH A STIFFNESS THAT OCCURS IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED RAPIDLY. THE ISSUES WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ARE BY FAR THE MOST DISCONCERTING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE ABS ENGAGES THE VEHICLE CEASES TO SLOW DOWN. THIS WILL HAPPEN EVEN IN CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING SLOWLY. FOR INSTANCE, AT 10 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE TWO TO THREE METERS WITHOUT SLOWING. THIS DISTANCE INCREASES WITH ADDITIONAL SPEED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS NOT SLIDING. THIS HAPPENS MOST COMMONLY ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE I SLID INTO AN INTERSECTION, OR BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I HIT A BUMP. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STIFFNESS IN THE BRAKE IS ALSO OF CONCERN TO ME. IF I AM TRYING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HILL I FIND THAT THE BREAK BECOMES VERY STIFF. THIS CAN OFTEN LEAD TO THE SITUATION WHERE THE DANGEROUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURS. THE PEDAL BECOMES VERY STIFF AND THEN IF I HIT A BUMP THE VEHICLE GOES OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION. ANY RESEARCH INTO A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313718February 24, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2000 THE ACCELERATOR STUCK MANY TIME WHEN YOU STOP UNDER THE LIGHT. TWO YEARS AGO I TOOK IT TO GEMAIN TOYOTA IN SARASOTA THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WRONG ,AFTER WHAT I SAW AND IT JUST HAPPEN TO THREE TIME THIS WEEK THE ACCELERATOR STUCK I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO CHECK ON CARS STARTED AT LOWER YEAR TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308363February 10, 2010
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF HOUSING IN GEAR CARRIER AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303772February 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON DURING LAST SUMMER, I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH MY WIFE AND 9-YR OLD DAUGHTER AT THE BACK SEAT. I HAD THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL AT ABOUT 65/70 MPH. BEFORE MOVING OVER TO MY DESTINATION OFF RAMP, I TRIED TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT TO MY HORROR IT WAS NOT CANCELING. THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE FASTER THE CAR TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD/ACCELERATING. I HAD TO TAKE AND SOMEHOW MANAGED A IMMEDIATE LEFT ON A T JUNCTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROL. I WAS ALMOST GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT RUNNING AT A SPEED APPROPRIATE FOR A BUSY CITY STREET. WE ALL STARTED PRAYING TO GOD. I WAS ON A BRIDGE/OVERPASS. THERE WAS NO WAY TO DRIVE OFF THE ROADWAY. I ALMOST PASSED OUT IN HORROR, BUT BARELY MANAGED TO MOVE OVER TO THE LANES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION (LUCKILY THERE WAS NO MEDIAN AND THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED). WHEN NOTHING WAS WORKING, I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO TURN THE ENGINE SWITCH OFF. AND STOP THE CAR WITH THE HELP OF THE BREAK WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED FEET JUST BARELY AVOIDING HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER STOPPING, I TRIED TO START THE CAR. AS SOON AS I TURNED THE KEY ON THE RPM JUMPED TO 6000/7000. AS I PUSH THE BRAKE HARD TO STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING, THE CAR WAS JUMPING VIOLENTLY. WE WERE SCARED, GOT OUT OFF THE CAR AND THE ROAD. I CALLED THE POLICE. BEFORE A POLICE OFFICER CAME, A KIND DRIVER STOPPED AND HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THE OFFICER LEFT WITHOUT EVEN TAKING A REPORT. I TOOK AND LEFT THE CAR TO THE NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER. NEXT DAY, THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE THROTTLE VALVE GETTING STUCK OPEN. I HAD TO PAY TO CLEAN THE VALVE. *TR UPDATED 04/22/10 *BF THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/05/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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