Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2002)

225 consumer complaints on file.

#10826027February 14, 2016
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE RECENTLY AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT I HAVE SOME MAJOR RUST ISSUES ON MY REAR AXLE AND DRIVETRAIN. HE SHOULD ME WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE BOLT AND CLIP THAN HOLDS THE BRAKE LINE DOWN ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN OFF OF THE DIFFERENTIAL COVER. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS NOW LEAKING GEAR OIL. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT IT IS TOO RISKY TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR AS IT MAY CAUSE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL TO BE DAMAGED AND THE WHOLE REAR AXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO SAID THAT IT IS A RISK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IS POSSIBLY UNSAFE TO KEEP DRIVING. HE STATED THAT IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MUCH LONGER I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE REAR AXLE CEASES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10822880January 28, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS ROTTING OUT WITH RUST. THE 4RUNNER HAS NEVER BEEN IN SNOW AND HAS BEEN TAKEN WELL CARE OF AND THE FRAME IS STILL ERODING AWAY WITH RUST AT AN UNNATURAL RATE. THIS ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED FOR THE SAKE OF SO MANY UNAWARE OWNERS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819143January 9, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
I VISITED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGE) AND INSPECTION OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RAISED ON THE LIFT, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASKED ME TO JOIN HIM AND THE SHOP MECHANIC IN THE SERVICE BAY WHERE I WAS SHOWN THAT THE FRAME / CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED THE POINT WHERE IN THEIR OPINION IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, I HAD AGREED WITH THEIR ASSESSMENT. AN ONLINE SEARCH FOR A RECALL NOTICE WAS PERFORMED, BUT NONE WAS FOUND. OTHERWISE, THIS VEHICLE IS IN METICULOUS CONDITION WITH NO BODY DAMAGE OR RUST OR ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10817486January 3, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON RIGHT SIDE FROM MIDDLE OF THE FRAME TO JUST OVER THE REAR AXEL. THERE ARE LARGE HOLES AND RUSTED SLOTS THAT ARE OVER 10 INCHES LONG DAMAGE STARTS BEFORE THE REAR SUSPENSHION SUPPORT AND CONTINUES TO THE OTHER SIDE AND THE SIDE WHERE THE RUST HAS CAUSED HOLES AND LONG SLOTS THE WHOLE FRAME CAN BE SQUEEZED EASILY WITH YOUR HAND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816350December 27, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RUST THROUGH ON THE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790501November 15, 2015
SUSPENSION
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER THAT WAS TAKEN IN FOR YEARLY STATE INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A REJECTION STICKER HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW. THE VEHICLE STILL LOOKS AND RUNS VERY WELL, BUT UNABLE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10786202October 26, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH. THERE IS A HOLE IN FRAME BECAUSE OF RUST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779459October 3, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WHILE REPLACING EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS. FOUND WHAT APPEARED TO BE MINOR RUST ON THE PASSENGER (RIGHT) SIDE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED A LARGER AREA OF RUST ALONG THE 3 WELDS ON THE INNER FRAME RAIL. CUT / GROUND THE METAL BACK TO GOOD METAL AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF PATCHING FOR MY YEARLY MAINE VEHICLE INSPECTION. EITHER TOYOTA HAS BUILT AN INFERIOR FRAME OR THE NEWER CHEMICALS BEING USED TO KEEP THE ROADS CLEAR IN THE WINTER TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS RUST WHICH COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL AT THIS POINT IN THE FRAME AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778598September 29, 2015
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME AND SOME SUSPENSION PARTS ARE VERY RUSTED, FRAME HAS HOLES AND IS BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD, ONLY 100100 MILES. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION POP'S WHEN STRESSED IN CORNERING. WHEN AT IDLE, YOU CAN HEAR THE VIBRATION FROM RUST CHUNKS IN THE FRAME. ALL HEAT SHIELDS RUSTED. SKID PLATES ON FRONT AND FUEL TANK SO RUSTED MUST REMOVE. NOW NOTHING IS PROTECTING THE FUEL TANK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777896September 27, 2015
POWER TRAIN
MY FRAME IS ROTTING OUT. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR AXLE BECAUSE IT HAD ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH. IT WAS ACTUALLY WEAPING GEAR OIL OUT OF SMALL HOLES THROUGH THE ROT. SOME OF THE FRAME HAD TO BE WELDED TO PASS INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764478September 17, 2015
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM ON THE VEHICLE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR END HOUSING AND AXLE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 11/20/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRAME OF THE WAS ALSO BADLY RUSTED. UPDATED 2.3.16 *JS *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763756September 14, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION
AFTER BUYING THIS VEHICLE I WAS UNDERNEATH VEHICLE TO REPAIR A AXLE SEAL LEAKING AND FOUND EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST ON PASSENGER REAR OF FRAME. BY EXTENSIVE I MEAN THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH! I HAVE LIVED IN OHIO ALL OF MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE AND OF THIS YEAR HAVE SUCH SEVERE FRAME RUST! AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED REAR END HOUSING WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE RUST ON THE FRAME IS SEVERELY PERFORATED AT POINT WHERE TRAILING ARM FOR THE REAR END ATTACHES TO THE FRAME! I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE BUYING VEHICLE BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OF SOME SORT! THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE FRAMES IN THIS CONDITION AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762899September 10, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOOK VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION, WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE WELDED. TOOK IT TOOK A WELDING SHOP, THAT DOES THIS TYPE OF WORK. WE WERE THEN TOLD BY THE GENTLEMEN DOING THE WORK THAT IT WAS THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD OF ISSUES WITH 4RUNNER RUSTING ISSUES AND SAID IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. HE KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY. WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAW A PHOTO OF IT AND STATED JUST FROM THE PICTURES IT WOULD BE OVER $2,000 TO FIX IT. WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS. JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES THEN IN JAPAN. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762726September 9, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME RUSTED UNDER 4 RUNNER AND ON BUMPER TOLD BY PERSON WORKING ON SWAY BAR LINKS. STATED EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRAME AND REAR AXLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761742September 4, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HAS HOLES IN PARTS OF IT. THE REST OF THE BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. ENGINE RUNS WELL AND THERE ARE OTHERWISE NO MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. UPON HAVING A MINOR REPAIR DONE, INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE FRAME IN THAT CONDITION AS IT IS ABOUT TO CRACK IN HALF. THIS SEEMS TO BE PREMATURELY FAILING COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716412May 14, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE RACK AND PINION WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILRUE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714231May 3, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ENTIRE FRAME AND OTHER PARTS OF THE UNDERBODY ARE RUSTED. THE BRAKES BOTH FRONT AND BACK WERE ALSO RUSTED. I PULLED OFF FROM THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED TO PICKUP MY DOGS. WHEN I TRIED TO LEAVE MY BRAKES WERE GONE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC HE SAID BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713384April 28, 2015
SUSPENSION
THE FRAME ON THE 2002 4-RUNNER HAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND CAUSED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO DEEM THE VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. EVEN THOUGH THIS A RECOGNIZED DESIGN FAILURE, TOYOTA REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED TUNDRA MODELS FOR THIS DEFECT, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 4-RUNNER DESIGN FLAW SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED COMPLETELY AT THEIR HINO JAPAN PLANT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712754April 24, 2015
SUSPENSION, STEERING
VEHICLE BUCKED AND SWAYED AS REAR FRAME SEPARATED AT THE JOINT ON DRIVER SIDE WAS UNAWARE OF ISSUE BEFORE THIS TRIED TO FIND SWAY BAR ISSUE IT WAS SPOTTED AT A DISTANCE BY COWORKER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10701395March 24, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
THE FRAME IS RUSTING ALMOST IN TWO. LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BREAK ANY TIME. REAR AXEL IS ALSO VERY RUSTED WITH PIECES FALLING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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