Toyota 4Runner Complaints (1998)

250 consumer complaints on file.

#10090634September 8, 2004
SUSPENSION
MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF A HIGHWAY THAT HAD RUMBLE STRIPS. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE STRIPS AND THE CAR TIPPED AND THEN FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. IT WAS THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY SO THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. I READ AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY RECENTLY THAT WITHOUT THE ANTI-STABILITY SYSTEM THE TOYOTA 4-RUNNER COULD ACUTALLY FLIP AT SPEEDS OF 35 PMH. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10081596August 16, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED A MINOR COLLISION WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND BUMPED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CONSUMER THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD TAKEN OFF BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES. *SC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082889July 28, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 1998 TOYOTA SURGES AT STOP LIGHTS. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME. I WILL START TO KEEP A RECORD OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. AND IF I HAVE THE A/C ON. I TRY TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY SO FAR. TOYOTA DOES NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. THE DATE IS A GUESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082281July 20, 2004
TIRES
4 DUNLOP RADIAL ROVERS 235/75 R15 INSTALLED 2 OR 3 YEARS AND 30,000 MILES AGO ON MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I ALWAYS MAINTAINED RECOMMENDED PRESSURES AND JUST ROTATED THEM MYSELF LAST WEEK AFTER OUR PREVIOUS LAS VEGAS TRIP. ON OUR WAY BACK FROM LAS VEGAS JULY 19, 2004 2 PM NEAR FONTANA THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE PROGRESSIVELY UNTIL IT WAS UNDRIVEABLE ABOVE 45 MPH SO I PULLED OVER TO A SMALL TURNOUT. I CHANGED THE LEFT REAR TIRE THAT I FOUND HAD A MAJOR BULGE (3 INCH DIAMETER BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL WHICH CONTINUED ANOTHER 3 INCHES INTO THE TREAD.) CHANGED IT TO THE SPARE AND CAR STILL SHOOK WHEN DRIVEN. FOUND OUT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS WORSE, ABOUT 1/3 THE CIRCUMFERENCE WAS BUBBLED MAKING THE TIRE LOOK EGG SHAPED FROM THE SIDE. LOOKS LIKE MORE THAN TREAD SEPARATION, POSSIBLY BROKEN BELTS SINCE THE BUBBLES HAD AIR PRESSURE. DROVE 10 MILES TO A DISCOUNT TIRE CENTER AND HAD 2 TIRES CHANGED AT A PRORATED CHARGE (KUMHO VENTURE) THEY KEPT THE OLD TIRES. 45 MILES LATER AND JUST BEFORE MY EXIT ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. LUCKILY WE HIT TRAFFIC NEAR OUR EXIT AND WE WERE GOING 10 MPH WHEN THE THIRD DUNLOP WENT TOTALLY FLAT. I WILL HAVE THAT TIRE AND THE 4TH ONE CHANGED TODAY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081449July 7, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE EARLY IN THE MORNING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE ,BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING, IMMEDIATELY HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, STILL THE ENGINE WAS CONTINUED TO RUN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078404June 17, 2004
TIRES:SIDEWALL
WAS DRIVING DOWN I-95 AT 70 MILES AN HOUR AND MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE SIDE WALL BLEW OUT ON MY SUV. MY TIRES ARE 109S S2 KELLY SAFARI SUV, WITH GOODYEAR AS THE SUPPLIER. I TOOK THE TIRE INTO GOODYEAR AND TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THOSE TIRES, THEY HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034055May 11, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE REAR FENDER OF THE VEHICLE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT II TIRE. *AK *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062703March 20, 2004
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND COMPLETELY UNRAVELED FROM ITS RETRACTION COMPONENT (MOUNTED ON THE PILLAR) WHILE IN USE. SEAT BELT NOW REMAINS EXTENDED, AND WILL NOT RETRACT, EVEN WITH ASSISTANCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058959February 25, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN A CITY ROAD IN VA. BEACH A CAR ON OUR RIGHT HAND SIDE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR ENTERED THE INTERSECTION APPROX. 20-25 FEET AHEAD OF US. I IMMEDIATLEY HIT THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AS TO TRY AND AVOID A COLLISION. WE ENDED UP T-BONING THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. OUR 4-RUNNER WAS CLAIMED A TOTAL LOSE DUE TO A BEND FRAME. THE FRONT END DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT 4-6 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE FULL FRONT END AND PASSENGER FENDER WERE DESTROYED. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I ESTIMATE THE MPH OF IMPACT TO BE BETWEEN 35-40 MPH.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10056240January 31, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR TOYOTA 4RUNNER CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. MY HUSBAND HAD JUST PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, TAKEN OUR 2 SMALL CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR, WHEN WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE HOOD WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. IT TOOK 30-45 MINUTES TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054679January 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THIS TRUCK (AUTO, 6 CYL, 2WD) SOMETIMES STALLS, BUT ONLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ALWAYS IN MOTION, NEVER AT IDLE, JUST AS IF THE KEY WERE TURNED OFF. OCCURS VERY INTERMITTENTLY (7 TIMES SINCE SEPT 2003)... MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING HAS REGISTERED ON THE COMPUTER. INTERSTATE BATTERY IS 8 MONTHS OLD. EVERY OTHER TIME, I'VE PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP, BUT THIS MORNING IT WOULDN'T START FOR ALMOST TWO MINUTES IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. A FRIEND ALSO HAS 1998 4RUNNER; SAYS IT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO HER OVER TWO YEARS, BUT LESS OFTEN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS CAN'T BE A COINCIDENCE, AND IT CAN'T JUST BE THE TWO OF US. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA TODAY, BUT MINE IS THE ONLY COMPLAINT THEY HAVE ABOUT THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038120September 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED A MOUSE HAD CRAWLED INTO THE MASS AIR FLOW . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029394July 16, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR LEFT SEAT BELT DOES NOT UNLOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019973May 16, 2003
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *NLM *TT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10011092March 26, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT JULY 6, 2002. I DROVE A 98' TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THERE WERE FOUR PERSONS WHO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRBAG SEEMED TO PERFORM AS INTENDED, HOWEVER, TO THIS DATE I HAVE HORRIFYING PLASTIC MATERIAL COMING FROM THE INSIDE... AND OUTSIDE OF MY CHEEKS. IT HAS CAUSED VERY VISIBLE PATTERNS TO PROTRUDE FROM THE SKIN, CONSTANT PAIN, AND DESPERATE EFFORTS TO GET ANSWERS. THOUGH I HAVE BEEN TO MANY DOCTORS, I HAVE FAILED TO ESCAPE THE RESEARCH EVASIVE REALITIES OF MY PROVIDERS. LABS SIMPLY FAIL TO IDENTIFY, AND DOCTORS AGREE THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM... THEN SEND ME TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAYS THE SAME. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH KEEPING MY HOPE ALIVE. I AM NOW PAYING LABS I FOUND TO CONDUCT STUDIES OF THE SAMPLES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND SOME VERY CONCERNING MEDICAL ARTICLES THAT MIRROR MY SYMPTOMS POST AUTO ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THESE ARE FROM NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING DOCTORS IN GERMANY, AND JAPAN. I WROTE TOYOTA VIA-EMAIL SOME TIME AGO... NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE SEEN NO INTEREST ON THEIR SIDE. I FEAR THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM, AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO IT VERY SERIOUSLY! PLEASE HELP ME. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10009528March 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE WAS AN UNFAMILIAR RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. *DT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007750February 18, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE REAR AXLE BORKE
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10006880February 10, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING 10 MPH AND THE REAR AXLE BROKE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003233January 22, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH TAIL LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE BURNED OUT. THE "STONE MONTAIN GEORGIA" DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DEAD SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS CREATED A FIRE IN THE UPPER CENTER REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND HAS MELTED THE HOUSING THAT IN-CASES THE BULB. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT. I HAVE CEASED USE OF THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK AS THE FLASHING OF THE LIGHTS SEAMED TO ONLY MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE AND BLOW LIGHT BULBS MORE OFTEN. NOT ONLY IS THE PROBLEM A FINACIAL ISSUE WITH ME BUT IT IS ALSO A SAFTY FACTOR ENVOLVED AND I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM ON THERE DIME!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002832January 17, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONG APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW SHATTERS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LUCKILY OUR 3 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE. SHE CALLED THE POLICE AND HE SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota 4Runner