Toyota 4Runner Complaints (1998)

250 consumer complaints on file.

#10188942April 26, 2007
SUSPENSION
REAR BEARINGS HAVE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA #02V021, WHICH SITED THE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON ALL 1996-1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. THE PROBLEM WAS FOR 2WD BUT WAS ISSUED FOR 4WD VEHICLES ALSO TO AVOID CONFUSION. (MINE IS A 4WD) MY QUESTION IS, IF THE SPRINGS WERE UNDER-SIZED, WILL THIS CAUSE DAMAGE OR UNDUE STRAIN TO THE REAR BEARINGS? ALSO, TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL STATEMENT FROM THE NHTSA THAT STATES THAT "TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186789April 2, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY HE MADE A TURN AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SEPARATED, BROKE, AND THE TIRES CAME OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 16,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186153March 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN MY CAR ON 3/21/07 THE SOLENIOD OF THE STARTER DID NOT DISENGAGE AND A FIRE COMMENCED IN THE STARTER OF THE CAR. FORTUNATLY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND A PASSER BY,ALMOST IMMEDIATLY PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. DAMAGE TP THE AUTO WAS RELATIVELY SMALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184882March 12, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 80000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 15 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SHEARED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,870. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182806February 16, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED RECALL 02V021000 ON JAN. 2 2007 FOR THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE WENT TO BERKELEY TOYOTA IN BERKELEY CALIFORNIA AND HAS YET TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION FIXED.THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS TAKING TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68550 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD A FAILURE TO DATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180646January 24, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #02V021000. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER SINCE 2003. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS AND WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN THEY ARRIVED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179495January 23, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL *- THE VEHICLE IS 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 02V021000 IN DECEMBER. THE CONTACT STATED HAD APPROXIMATELY 4 APPOINTMENTS, AND EACH TIME THE PART DID NOT COME IN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY WILL CALL HIM WHEN THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A NOISE WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179267January 21, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
REAR BUMPER HAS A DESIGN FLAW CAUSING IT TO ACCUMULATE DIRT ON INSIDE "LIP". IF NOT CLEANED OUT PROPERLY, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO, RUST WILL START TO EAT THROUGH THE BUMPER FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUMPER IS COMPROMISED LEADING TO A LACK OF PROTECTION FROM THE REAR, NOT TO MENTION ONE UGLY SIGHT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179153January 19, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, PARKING BRAKE
I LOVE MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SR5 - BUT I HATE THE EXPENSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, CABLES ETC FOUR TIMES. IT IS NEVER JUST THE PADS. EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION - THEY ALWAYS NEED TO MACHINE THE ROTORS. AND, NO IT IS NOT MY DRIVING ABILITY. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (400-600) THE MECHANICS ALWAYS SAY THE SAME THING - "WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME ON THESE 4WD 4-RUNNERS - THEY JUST DON'T DESIGN THE BRAKING SYSTEMS PROPERLY FOR THIS TYPE OF TRUCK". TWICE I HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING SOMEONE IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF COMPLETE FAILURE, ONCE WHILE ONLY GOING 20 MPH. TOYOTA TACOMA'S APPEAR TO NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM - I THINK AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRS AND TWO VERY NEAR ACCIDENTS - SOMEONE AT TOYOTA SHOULD EVALUATE THIS BRAKING SYSTEM AND EITHER OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE OR OFFER A WARNING TO POTENTIAL BUYERS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173658November 16, 2006
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
***SECOND OCCURRENCE ON SAME VEHICLE*** WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT, A VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF OUR 4RUNNER. WE BRAKED FAIRLY HARD. UPON BRAKING, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT MADE A WHIRLING NOISE AND COMPLETELY LOST TENSION WHILE UNRAVELING. THIS CAUSED THE REAR OCCUPANT (PROPERLY BUCKLED IN) TO MOVE FORWARD DUE TO THE BRAKING FORCES, AND THE OCCUPANT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY NOT RESTRAINED IN MOVEMENT BY THE FAILING SEAT BELT. THIS SEAT BELT UNRAVELED SO FAR THAT THE OCCUPANT COULD HAVE EASILY SLID UNDERNEATH THE SLACK IN THE BELT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164617August 5, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WITHIN YEAR ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALERSHIP WAS DUE TO BRAKING EXCESSIVELY DURING RAIN ON LONG DOWNHILL RUN. SUGGESTED TO GEAR DOWN WHICH I NOW DO. SITUATION DID NOT REPEAT EXCEPT THAT I NOW INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE SIMILAR "PULSATING" WHILE BRAKING. WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER REPAIR SERVICE THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO REPLACE ROTORS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159171June 7, 2006
SUSPENSION
RE: CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V021000 COMPONENT: SUSPENSION I WAS TOLD BY JAY AT TOYOTA (800 3314331 EXT 5)THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. PLEASE RESEARCH & REPORT. I WAS GIVEN THIS CAMPAIGN NUMBER BY EFI AUTO SERVICE. MECHANIC STATED THAT HIS WIFE TOOK HER 1998 4 RUNNER SR5 INTO THE DEALER & REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHAT DETERMINES WHICH AUTO WILL BE SERVICED BY THIS RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132361August 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BECOME DISENGAGED, BREAKING THE TIE RODS AND THE FRONT HALF AXLE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR *JB THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130224August 2, 2005
CHILD SEAT:HARNESS:STRAP/WEBBING
CONSUMER'S CHILD IS NO LONGER ABLE TO FIT IN THE GRACO COMFORT SPORT CHILD SEAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS SUPPOSE TO FIT UP TO 40LBS.*MR *TT THE CONSUMER WISHES TO WITHDRAWAL HIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE HE HAS LEARNED OF A DIFFERENT WAY TO ADJUST THE SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122412May 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON HWY. 45 ABOUT 65 MPH. MY SISTER AND NEPHEW WERE IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HEARD A LOUD POP. I FELT THE POWER GO OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY - ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY NEPHEW SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE WE GOT A FLAT TIRE. THEN WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE GO TOUT, WE NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND -UNDER THE VEHICLE. WE LIFTED THE HOOD - AND NOTICED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GAS STATION, AND THEN PICKED UP THE NEXT DAY BY THE REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY WITH GAP INSURANCE. THE REPAIR SHOP IS TELLING ME THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER IT, AND THAT IT IS NOT A MANUFACTURE MALFUNCTION. I ALSO HAD JUST WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, HAD TO HAVE THE STARTER REPLACED, PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120541May 10, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE SHOULDER BELT ON. WE PARKED AND SOME HOW SHE GOT TANGLED UP IN THE BELT. WHEN I PUSHED THE SEATBELT RELEASE BUTTON IT LOCKED UP AROUND HER WAIST AND WOULD NOT LOOSEN TO GET HER OUT. EVERY TIME I MOVED HER TO GET HER OUT IT WOULD LOCK UP MORE UNTIL SHE WAS STANDING IN THE BACK SEAT WITH THE BELT SO TIGHT AROUND HER WAIST THAT IT WAS LEAVING MARKS AND I HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HER OUT. THIS CONCERNS ME AS A PARENT THAT THE BELT LOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY ARE GOING TO ORDER ME THE SEAT BELT WE WILL BE NEGOTIATING WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114263March 17, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND THE TAIL LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLOW. ONE OF THE LIGHTS IS CONTINUOUSLY OUT, BUT IT IS USUALLY THE LEFT SIDE MORE THAN THE RIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER 4RUNNERS ALSO HAVE BLOWN TAIL LIGHTS. IS THIS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT/RECALL? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110703February 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WITH 50 000 MILES, CONNECTING ROD BROKE WHILE DURING NORMAL USE, SHOT OUT THE ENGINE BLOCK, FLUID SPILLED, ENGINE SEIZED AND CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINE BLOCK; NEW ENGINE REQUIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104202December 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DRIVING ON FREEWAY 5 AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FROM THE SURFACE STREET AT 35 MPH, I HEARD A THUMP AND THE 4 RUNNER SLOWED TO A STOP. THE TRAFFIC WAS HELD TO A SCREETCHING HALT AS THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I MANAGE TO PUSH IT TO THE EMERGENCY SIDE PARKING. IT WAS TOWED TO FRANK TOYOTA OF NATIONAL CITY SAN DIEGO, CA. THERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR END AXLE GEAR HAS BEEN STRIPPED. I JUST ARRIVED TODAY SURVIVE A THIRD TOUR OF IRAQ AND THIS HAPPENED. THIS NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE AND POSSIBLY A LOT MORE PEOPLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090768September 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WE WERE ON VACATION DRIVING FROM ATLANTA, GA TO DAMARISCOTTA, ME. ON THE MORNING OF SATURDAY AUGUST 7, WE BEGAN OUR SECOND DAY OF TRAVEL JUST OUTSIDE OF HARRISBURG, PA. WE WERE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE BADLY. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR, A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH FEWER THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT, TO HARRISBURG TOYOTA. THE DEALER EVENTUALLY TOLD US WE HAD A BROKEN ROD AND NEED A SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT, FOR WHICH WE WERE CHARGED $5500, INCLUDING $3900 IN PARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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