Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| SU00298 | 06/19/1998 | 601597 | Information on 4runner rear suspension. *yc | 08/12/1998 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||||
| 03019 | 09/29/2003 | 10004671 | Special service campaign (ssc) - 20a renotification rear suspension modification for owners whose vehicles have not yet had ssc 20a repairs completed. *tt | 12/30/2003 | |
| 02051 | 10/16/2002 | 10000267 | Special service campaign 20a regarding renotification of rear suspension modification. *tt | 02/20/2003 | |
| TC02003 | 02/15/2002 | 629499 | Information regarding rear suspension modification. *yh | 04/02/2002 | |
| 02006 | 01/18/2002 | 628690 | Subject regarding special service campaign to modify the rear suspension. *tt | 03/19/2002 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 10/09/2003 | 102000 | 1 | 12/04/2001 |
| I was driving on an interstate loop at approximately 30 mph. at the top of the loop, as i straightened the wheel the vehicle began to rock back and forth as though it was going to flip over. the rocking turned into fishtailing, and the steering wheel was forcefully pulled to the left. this caused the vehicle to travel across two lanes of traffic and hit a guardrail, ending up facing oncoming freeway traffic. the airbags were deployed. i was 4 months pregnant and travelling with my 10 month old son. i was able to drive to safety in the median. this accident was a total mystery to me since i was not travelling at an excessive speed. the ground was slightly wet from a brief sprinkle. | |||
| 08/20/2004 | 1 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Consumer indicated that dealership told him that this vehicle was included in a recall. when vehicle was brought to the dealership floor manager won't honor the recall on certain 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive sport utility vehicles, a combination of heavy loading , simultaneous loading to rear gross axle weight rating and gross vehicle weight rating, and severe steering maneuvers could cause the 2-wheel drive to lose directional stability. *ak the consumer contacted toyota 13 times but they failed to fix the problem. this problem also caused excess tire wear. *nm | |||
| 12/17/2001 | 1 | ||
| Nar 3-11-03. while driving the consumers 4runner slipped out of control and caused an accident. damages cost approx $2000. soon after a recall was released by toyota about a faulty suspension. the consumer asked to be reimbursed for the repair made after the accident because it may have been the faulty suspension that caused the vehicle to lose directional stability. *cb *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer was unable to get the recall work performed, the dealer stated too many people dropped their vehicle's off on that particular day, even though consumer had a 9:30 am appointment. *ts *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer received a recall regarding the suspension, however when he arrived at the dealership, he was informed the parts were not available.*jb | |||
| 04/02/2000 | |||
| Ongoing problem with vehicle wandering across the road while driving at highway speed. dealer contacted. feel free to provide any further infromation.*ak | |||
| 06/01/2002 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle has a vibration underneath the vehicle and a clunking noise. the dealership is aware of the problem.*jb | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Mfr's# ssc & nhtsa# 02 v 021 000/rear suspension: consumer states dealer (andy dodge toyota; saint albans, vt; phone# 802/527-7512) wants to charge for recall repairs. manufacturer contacted dealer and dealer refuses to honor recall without charge. nlm in order for recall repairs to take place, the dealer has to take apart the sway bars. this particular vehicles sway bars are rusted and frozen and the dealer would have to cut them off. since the sway bars aren't a part of the recall, the consumer is expected to pay for replacement parts. *jg | |||
| 03/02/2002 | 1 | 05/11/2000 | |
| While driving at highway speeds in the snow, vehicle lost directional stability and spun out of control, causing a roll over. vehicle was totalled. consumer has just received a recall notice for rear suspension.*ak. there were 2 injuries.*jb | |||
| While driving the vehicle grease leaks on to the brake pad causing brake to malfunction. nlm | |||
| 3 | |||
| The vehicle has spun out on three occasions. nlm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 04/05/1997 | |||
| Vehicle continues to vibrates after multiple tire and wheel replacements. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 03/09/2005 | 116000 | 1 | 05/05/2002 |
| While pulling away from a stop position at 10 mph right, the side front of the vehicler dropped to the ground. the vehicle was towed to a repair shop, and the mechanic determined that the upper and the lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak the ball joint snapped, causing the front end of the vehicle to collapse. the consumer requested reimbursement for the faulty part and repairs. *sc *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 03/09/2005 | 116000 | 1 | 05/05/2002 |
| While pulling away from a stop position at 10 mph right, the side front of the vehicler dropped to the ground. the vehicle was towed to a repair shop, and the mechanic determined that the upper and the lower ball joints needed to be replaced. *ak the ball joint snapped, causing the front end of the vehicle to collapse. the consumer requested reimbursement for the faulty part and repairs. *sc *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||
| 05/01/1997 | 2 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Front struts failed. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 07/01/2000 | |||
| While traveling at 45 mph consumer ran over a small object on road, causing vehicle to flip. please provide any further information. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - MULTIPLE AXLE | |||
| 12/01/2003 | 6 | 08/01/1999 | |
| My 97 toyota 4runner has had repeated problems with leaking rear axel seals and bent rear axels. this causes the rear brakes to be soaked with lubricant and useless or pull to one side. my dealer has replaced 2 axels on the left rear and 1 axel on the right rear. numerous seals have been replaced. the rear brakes have been replaced twice because of this problem. besides an annoyance, besides a $1,000 repair bill, this problem is an extreme safety hazard for me and my family. | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 04/15/2000 | 1 | ||
| Nar 02/13/2003. when the consumer attempted to a turn, the rear of the vehicle suddenly began swinging in an anti-clockwise direction putting the vehicle out of control. the consumer now owns another toyota 4 runner and has since received a recall notice for the current vehicle. the cosumer is requesting reimbursement for the first toyota 4runner which had damaged possibly due to the suspension which is now on recall. recall# 02v021000 *jb | |||
| 04/20/2004 | 1 | ||
| The consumer received nhtsa recall 02v021000 regarding the rear suspension. no parts were available. *jb | |||
| 129000 | 1 | 07/01/2002 | |
| While attempting to make a turn under rainy road conditions rear end began to slide out of control. as a result, driver did a 180 degree spin, and stopped head on in a ditch. upon impact, none of the vehicle airbags deployed. *ak | |||
| 06/17/2003 | 65000 | 2 | 08/24/1997 |
| My daughter was involved in a rollover accident with a 1997 toyota 4-runner. she was ejected from the vehicle and the police have evidence to suggest that she was wearing her seat belt. i have taken the vehicle in to toyota twice to replace the rear suspension for a toyota recall. both before the recall and after the recall the rear end was sagging and was not stable. it is my opinion that the seat belt was defective and the rear suspension was defective. both conditions contributed to her death. *nlm in speaking with investigative sheriff the vehicle was traveling about 38-51 mph when the vehicle drove off an embankment. the vehicle rolled 2-3 times down a 50-70 foot drop. the driver's seat was damaged rearward and the driver slid out of the seat because of this damage. upon inspection the seat belt was still fastened. the investigative officer stated that due to the severity of the crash and damage to the seat the driver was ejected from the driver's side rear window. there did not appear to be a vehicle defect with the seat belt or seat. cw | |||
| 02/27/2003 | 55000 | 4 | 04/17/2000 |
| Safety issue, my vehicle has been operating for 6 years with defective rear-end suspensions parts. there is no way that these defective parts have not effected the performance of this vehicle and ultimately caused extra wear and tear on other vehicle parts. on top of it all i am getting no cooperation from my toyota dealership or toyota customer service. i have requested a full diagnostic test be performed on my vehicle and that any and all problems be fixed, i have been told that future problems cannot be predicted and i understand that, however the consumer should not be held responsible for the incompetence of a multi-billion dollar corporation such as toyota.*jb | |||
| 1 | 08/01/1996 | ||
| Rear suspension was retrofitted per recall notice with a new rear suspension parts, the consumer is not satisfied with the repairs and believes the vehicle is swaying and bottoms out when it had not done so before the recall work was performed, the consumer is seeking to have the parts removed and the original parts re-installed, dealer believes this problem is related to underinflated tires and worn shock absorbers. nlm | |||
| 03/01/2002 | |||
| We received a notice of a safety recall for our 1997 toyota 4runner. we made an appointment a week before 11/25/02 as the notice requested. we were informed that giving proper notice would ensure that the proper parts would be available at time of service. we worked our whole day around this appointment and brought another vehicle so that we could drop the 4runner off. we live 30 minutes from the closest toyota dealership in escondido. when we arrived, we were told that the parts were not available and that we would have to reschedule for another day. we were obviously very upset and left without getting the safety work done.this is an inexcusable situation. we specifically followed all instructions on the notice and made the appointment a week before actually bringing in the 4runner. this was to ensure that all parts would be available. if they weren't going to be available, they shouldn't have made the appointment for that day. and, at least, someone should have called us before we came in to tell us the parts would not be available.this would be inexcusable if this was a routine tune-up. we would simply go elsewhere. but, this is a safety recall, and this is criminal negligence. the person we spoke to at the dealership was friendly, but he tried to justify and rationalize the situation, stating that they can never be sure of everything they need until we actually bring in the vehicle. this made no sense. any questions about our particular vehicle could have been asked over the phone when the appt. was made. there was an implication that our parts had been given to a walk-in customer with the same safety recall needs.we still don't have our 4runner fixed, since our schedules are very difficult, and we have not had a day where we can make another appointment.the recall number is ssc 20a - 1996-1998 rear suspension safety recall.my wife has been continuing to drive this 4runner to get to work, and the repair was not made due to the negligence of toyota of escondido. | |||
| 04/01/2000 | 1 | 09/01/2096 | |
| Vehicle was recalled for potential rollover problem correction. factory recommended springs and stops installed. car now rides less stably than it did. top tips more and when going over bump springs and shocks bottom out. factory rep recommended tire and shock replacement to correct problem after $850 in repairs vehicle rides the same. toyota and dealer say this is a nhtsb designed modification which they can't reverse. they have reviewed internally with their legal department and refuse to do anything else. i contend their design is defective (diminshed ride quality and less top stability). can you help?*ak | |||
| 05/01/2002 | |||
| Parts for recall 02v021000 concerning rear suspension have not been available for over 2 months, and dealership didn't know when they will be available.*ak | |||
| 02/01/2002 | |||
| Recall 02v021000/ rear suspension. parts were not available.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2002 | 1 | 04/21/1997 | |
| While traveling on the highway the truck has a thumping noise coming from the rear. the dealership is aware of the problem.*jb the right rear seat will not fold. the brackets have been replaced twice and the seat is still half way folded. also the door indicator light illuminates and does not go off and the locks will not lock. they were inspected and no problem was found. the driver side mirror is falling. the brakes needed repairs performed. the front rotors had excessive rout out. *jg | |||
| 10/15/1996 | |||
| Rear suspension drops when rear of vehicle is occupied.. | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - AXLE - NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 10/12/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer stated while driving and with no warning the vehicle axle broke.dealer notified.*jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 06/21/2004 | 49246 | 1 | 03/03/1998 |
| Rear spring coil on the 4 runner collapsed.*ak | |||