Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 12/31/2012 | 220000 | 1 | |
| I was driving my toyota 4runner at highway speeds (60 to 70 mph) and it started getting hard to handle. if you accelerated it would turn hard to the right, if you let off the gas it would veer back hard to the left. we stopped and checked it out and the frame mount on the passenger side is rusted off. *tr | |||
| 12/31/2012 | 220000 | ||
| I was driving my toyota 4runner at highway speeds (60 to 70 mph) and it started getting hard to handle. if you accelerated it would turn hard to the right, if you let off the gas it would veer back hard to the left. we stopped and checked it out and the frame mount on the passenger side is rusted off. | |||
| 11/21/2012 | 145000 | 1 | |
| I own a 1997 4runner. during my driving the vehicle few weeks ago, the chassis located on the rear passenger side split apart and almost resulted in a fatal accident with my family. this failure, however, is purely an engineering design and manufacturing failures.hence, the vehicle has become un-drivable. when i contacted toyota and its dealerships, they said to repair the vehicle will cost me $8,100.00. hence, i feel that, in comparison to other vehicles from different brand of cars companies, therewith, whereby, they are still on some part of the world, are still drivable and useful. however, for the kind of money spent on the purchase, the required maintenance, the vehicle is that old they are liable for a fifteen year old vehicle. *tr | |||
| 11/21/2012 | 145000 | ||
| I own a 1997 4runner.during my driving the vehicle few weeks ago, the chassis located on the rear passenger side split apart and almost resulted in a fatal accident with my family. this failure, however, is purely an engineering design and manufacturing failures.hence, the vehicle has become un-drivable. when i contacted toyota and its dealerships, they said to repair the vehicle will cost me $8,100.00. hence, i feel that, in comparison to other vehicles from different brand of cars companies, therewith, whereby, they are still on some part of the world, are still drivable and useful. however, for the kind of money spent on the purchase, the required maintenance, the vehicle is that old they are liable for a fifteen year old vehicle. | |||
| 09/28/2009 | 125000 | ||
| 1997 toyota 4runner frame rotting out. there is a recall on the 1997 toyota tacomas for the same reason, the 4runner has the same frame and has the same problem. toyota refuses to add the 4runner to the recall or fix the defective frames. my 4runner is in excellent shape except the frame is rotting through in several locations. these 4runners should be recalled the same as the tacomas to fix the defect. | |||
| 02/20/2010 | 149112 | 1 | |
| We were southbound on i25, ext 261,state of colorado, going about 45 mph in lane #1 when my vehicle, a 1997 toyota 4runner suddenly veered to the left landing on the median hitting the guardrail and causing a 3 car accident. the weather was a little snow and the fwy surface appeared clear. *tr | |||
| 05/25/2009 | |||
| While driving on the highway at the speed limit (60 mph), the vehicle surged/jolted forward pulling to the right. i was unable to regain control of vehicle causing me to merge into the direction of a tractor trailer. i tried to turn away from tractor trailer to avoid collision. my vehicle hit the rear tire of the tractor trailer and i began to swerve out of control. my brakes didn't seem to help either, they didn't function. this resulted in the vehicle rolling over 3+ times, the car was totaled. all passengers were hospitalized but no other vehicles or people were hurt from the accident. my concern is regarding the periodic engine surge and/or jolting and lack of brake control. this is a safety hazard that must be addressed in order to avoid future incidents. we were very lucky to have not been killed in this auto accident. *tr | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/05/2007 | 190000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4runner. on august 5 2009, while driving approximately 55 mph he heard a noise and observed that the frame broke. the dealer stated that the left tie rod corroded and broke in half which caused the frame to fall off of the vehicle. the dealer also stated that the frame is not repairable. the manufacturer confirmed that there was no existing recall and will not offer any assistance. the failure and the current mileages were 190,000. | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 09/01/2011 | 150000 | ||
| My wife was driving the vehicle when she heard a sound and the vehicle swerved, and then continued to be difficult to control the remainder of the ride home. while i was trying to take her description and begin troubleshooting what could be wrong, i noticed the vehicle felt like it was on ice. it felt like the rear was trying to come around, a very weird feeling in the summer. trying to figure why, and several minutes of laying under this vehicle in my driveway i finally figured it out. the drivers side rear control arm attaching point is rotted and broken from the frame. i could not believe it. this is so dangerous. i have owned one of the recalled toyota tacomas, it was bought back from me by toyota motor corp. i own a 2000 toyota tundra and it is being recalled for rotting frames, and rotting spare tire brackets. i find it hard to believe that toyota is not doing anything about the 4-runners. this 4 runner is the same year as the toyota tacoma, and two years older that my toyota tundra. there are thousands of these on the road, and thank god this did not have a disastrous outcome. and by the way, both of my small children were in the vehicle when this happened. serious defect that toyota needs to take responsibility for. i cant sell this as a used vehicle and i can't trade it in to a dealer. help! | |||
| 08/21/2011 | 4255 | ||
| At 317,800 miles the front end was rebuilt. within a week the right front ball joint separated from its mounting resulting in a low speed single vehicle accident. i suspect counterfeit bolts, but unfortunately saved no parts. this was a falcon k90262 right lower ball joint. at 322,055 miles a second low speed accident occurred, the falcon k90263 left lower ball joint failed catastrophically pulling the ball from the socket. upon inspection the sealed joint appears not to have been lubricated at the factory and shows very visible signs of wear. repairs were made using another brand of parts. i have the part in a bag, where it was placed uncleaned, after repairs, should you wish to inspect it. had either of these accidents occurred at highway speeds the outcome would have been very different. thank you for your attention. | |||
| 09/01/2011 | 150000 | ||
| My wife was driving the vehicle when she heard a sound and the vehicle swerved, and then continued to be difficult to control the remainder of the ride home. while i was trying to take her description and begin troubleshooting what could be wrong, i noticed the vehicle felt like it was on ice. it felt like the rear was trying to come around, a very weird feeling in the summer. trying to figure why, and several minutes of laying under this vehicle in my driveway i finally figured it out. the drivers side rear control arm attaching point is rotted and broken from the frame. i could not believe it. this is so dangerous. i have owned one of the recalled toyota tacomas, it was bought back from me by toyota motor corp. i own a 2000 toyota tundra and it is being recalled for rotting frames, and rotting spare tire brackets. i find it hard to believe that toyota is not doing anything about the 4-runners. this 4 runner is the same year as the toyota tacoma, and two years older that my toyota tundra. there are thousands of these on the road, and thank god this did not have a disastrous outcome. and by the way, both of my small children were in the vehicle when this happened. serious defect that toyota needs to take responsibility for. i cant sell this as a used vehicle and i can't trade it in to a dealer. help! | |||
| 08/21/2011 | 4255 | ||
| At 317,800 miles the front end was rebuilt. within a week the right front ball joint separated from its mounting resulting in a low speed single vehicle accident. i suspect counterfeit bolts, but unfortunately saved no parts. this was a falcon k90262 right lower ball joint. at 322,055 miles a second low speed accident occurred, the falcon k90263 left lower ball joint failed catastrophically pulling the ball from the socket. upon inspection the sealed joint appears not to have been lubricated at the factory and shows very visible signs of wear. repairs were made using another brand of parts. i have the part in a bag, where it was placed uncleaned, after repairs, should you wish to inspect it. had either of these accidents occurred at highway speeds the outcome would have been very different. thank you for your attention. | |||
| 08/28/2011 | 168000 | ||
| Driver's side lower ball joint separated, axle dislodged and wheel pushed into wheel well. a separate, but exact incident happened on the passenger side of the same vehicle less than 5 years prior at 131,000 miles (http://www.arfc.org/complaints/1997/toyota/4runner/10173792.aspx). we were assured by toyota dealer repair facility at that time that this is a unique incident and upon inspect that the driver's side suspension was in good condition. the suspension has been checked in the interim and showed no signs of future failure. again, both sides have now failed on the same vehicle under light duty conditions. | |||