Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 05/03/2010 | 139000 | ||
| Serious corrosion on rear differential casing at below fill bolt, leaking fluids. dealer unable to do anything because part is not a cover as in most vehicles. dealer only solution is to replace entire rear differential with all parts. this situation presents a serious threat to life as these components are severely and unusually rusted. | |||
| 09/09/2009 | 198199 | 1 | |
| I wanted to report this issue because it was unsafe and i was lucky i wasn't pulling my boat or traveling at high speeds when the failure occurred. basically the frame for my 4runner rusted all the way through. one brace that is welded to the frame to stabilize the rear of the vehicle broke off the frame on one side. the other side is holding on by a string. there are holes in the frame with pieces missing from rusting out. the frame could in my opinion break in half near the rear of the truck. this seems similar or worse than what i read about the tacoma trucks. i brought it to the toyota dealership and that was what the guys said there. the words directly from the service guys were - this is worse than any of the tacoma's they have seen. they had the regional toyota rep take pictures and run a report and said they would get back in touch with me soon. that was on 9/9/09. no word back yet. right now there is no recall on this vehicle that i know about so i wanted to make sure it was reported to you. this could have been a life threatening situation for me and multiple others on the road. they advised the frame was not safe to drive or tow any items and not to have more than two people in the vehicle at one time. the advised to get the frame welded by a welding company. *tr | |||
| 05/01/2009 | 170000 | 1 | |
| No crash or injury,but 1997 toyota 4runner differential is completely rusted through and leaks oil through numerous pinholes. it can't be patched and replacement is in the $1500 range. i can't take the vehicle on trips. i have found many instances of people complaining about this on the web - it seems to be a common problem. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 02/14/2013 | 212831 | ||
| Vehicle has been swaying and then recently the steering got bad so i took it to a toyota dealership where they told me that the frame was completely rusted through was told it was not safe to drive. | |||
| 12/01/2012 | 159000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that while attempting to decelerate, stopping power decreased and the abs erroneously engaged. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the rear under body frame had fractured in half due to corrosion. the contact also stated that the fuel tank was also corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure but did not provide any assistance. the approximate failure and current mileages were 159,000. mah | |||
| 12/01/2012 | 159000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4 runner. the contact stated that the brake did not engage at a normal stopping distance and the anti locked system activated when it was not needed. the vehicle was taken to the mechanic the vehicle was inspected and the failure was located at the rear under body frame. the frame was broken in half due to corrosion and the fuel tank was also corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer denied assistance with the repair. the approximate failure and current mileage was 159,000. li | |||
| 11/16/2012 | 152000 | ||
| Frame on vehicle completely cracked. there is numerous holes and rust perforation on the frame. local dealer deemed vehicle unsafe. toyota has a major problem with their older frames and they need to take care of 4runner owners like they did with tacoma and tundra owners. this is a serious issue and my life was in danger every day that i drove this vehicle. please, somebody do something about this before someone gets killed. i am left with a vehicle that is totally useless. | |||
| 09/04/2012 | 1 | ||
| I took my 1997 4runner in for routine maintenance and the mechanic discovered that my frame has completely rusted out and that my car is extremely unsafe to drive. i got the opinion of two other auto body shops and they all agreed that the car is unsafe and is beyond being repaired. toyota offered a buy back program for their tacoma's for the same reason however they will not buy back the 4 runners. i've found so many people having the same rust issue with the frames on their 4runners. i think toyota should step up and do the right thing. *tr | |||
| 09/04/2012 | |||
| I took my 1997 4runner in for routine maintenance and the mechanic discovered that my frame has completely rusted out and that my car is extremely unsafe to drive. i got the opinion of two other auto body shops and they all agreed that the car is unsafe and is beyond being repaired. toyota offered a buy back program for their tacoma's for the same reason however they will not buy back the 4 runners. i've found so many people having the same rust issue with the frames on their 4runners. i think toyota should step up and do the right thing. | |||
| 04/24/2012 | 171000 | ||
| This 1997 toyota 4runner has premature structural frame failure. the frame is rotting from the inside out. the frame rot is located in the rear on the drivers side where the rear suspension bracket is welded to the frame. this is an epidemic among older toyota trucks and suv's. toyota has already recalled the tacoma's of this model year due to the frames rotting. i have read countless numbers of complaints on the internet from other 4runner owners. it is time to push toyota to help all of the owners of these toyota's out. | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 243000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4 runner. while traveling 45 mph the contact noticed a clicking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was told that the driver's side rear quarter part of the sub frame was rusted. the vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer. the vin was not available. the current and failure mileage was 243,000. | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 243000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4 runner. while traveling 45 mph the contact noticed a clicking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was told that the driver's side rear quarter part of the sub frame was rusted. the vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer. the vin was not available. the current and failure mileage was 243,000. kmj | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 243000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4 runner.while traveling 45 mph the contact noticed a clicking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was told that the driver side rear quarter part of the sub frame had rusted thru. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. the vin was not available. the current and failure mileages are 243000. bml | |||
| 09/01/2011 | 150000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would sway from left to right. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they advised him that the frame was rusted and the suspension components were fractured from the frame. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were approximately 150,000. kmj | |||
| 09/01/2011 | 150000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would sway from left to right. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they advised him that the frame had rusted and the suspension components had fractured away from the frame. the vehicle has not been repaired and was unable to. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were approximately 150,000. tb | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 04/15/2010 | 225000 | ||
| Frame on a 1997 toyota 4runner rotting out. vehicle no longer road worthy and will not take a sticker. have been a toyota man my whole life but this makes me think twice about ever purtchasing another one. is toyota going to go good on this? funny how the tacoma was recalled but not the 4runner! same frame? i would have to guess yes... | |||
| 12/09/2010 | 180000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that after having his vehicle in the shop for other problems, the dealer called and informed him that his front frame on the drivers side of the vehicle had rusted. if he were to get in a crash the frame would just crumble and that it is unrepairable. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 180,000. tb | |||
| 05/04/2010 | 180000 | ||
| 1997 toyota 4runner frame rusting. i have worked from home since 2001, yet the frame is badly rusted. the vehicle has been garaged its entire life. a mechanic told me it is no longer safe to drive and is structurally unsound. this seems similar to the problem of rusted frames in toyota tacoma vehicles. | |||
| 05/01/2010 | 139000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 03/03/2010 | 219000 | 1 | |
| The sub-frame of my toyota 4runner suv has rusted beyond repair. the suspension box has rusted free from the frame rail. the vehicle has been rendered unsafe and cannot be driven. toyota wants $3,000 + labor to replace the frame. this is the same sub-frame toyota is currently replacing on their 1995 - 2010 tacoma pickup trucks at the company's expense. my sub-frame has the same type and depth of rust damage as the tacoma trucks. toyota should be replacing these sub-frames on their suv's as well as their tacoma trucks. *tr | |||
| 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. | |||
| 09/06/2008 | 1 | ||
| I recently found out that there is excessive rust damage to the frame of my vehicle, which resulted in hole and a 7 inch crack to the frame. toyota has a frame safety recall on 1995-2000 tacoma. i contacted toyota with the problem and they say there is nothing they can do. i have a 1997 4runner which sits on the same frame. nothing has been done to fix the problem. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS | |||
| 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 | |||