1996 Toyota 4Runner complaints

THE SUBJECT RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING.( DOT NUMBER: WZHH AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT LEFT REAR TIRE WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. REPLACED ALL FOUR FIRESTONES-STILL HAVE ONE AS SPARE( DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWB TIRE SIZE: P22575R15 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT ALONG THE INNER WALL OF THE TIRE. *SLC

TIRE FAILED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND WAS LOST (COULDN'T SEE IT AT NIGHT). LOCATION WAS ON INTERSTATE 15 JUST SOUTH OF BARSTOW CALIFORNIA. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY IN THE IN LOW 50S. BEFORE THE TIRE FAILUE, I FELT A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MILES, WHICH GRADUALLY GREW LARGER. SUDDENLY THE SOUND OF THE CAR CHANGED DRASTICALLY (AS THE TREAD SEPARATED, I PRESUME) AND I HEARD MUCH ROAD NOISE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE ROAD HAD CHANGED ITS SURFACE FROM ASPHALT TO SOMETHING MORE NOISY, LIKE A "CHIP-SEALED" ROAD SURFACE WITH OIL AND CINDERS, BUT THEN I HEARD MORE NOISE AND A BIT OF SIDEWAYS SHAKING, AND I PULLED OVER. I NEVER FELT THE CAR PULL SIDEWAYS AT ALL, OR EVEN SLOW DOWN (BUT, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON). WHEN I PULLED OVER, I HAD DRIVEN A GOOD 1/4 MILE OR SO ON THE FAILED TIRE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT LOST AIR PRESSURE, BUT BY THE TIME I GOT OFF THE ROAD, I COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS NO TREAD, AND THAT THE REMAINING SURFACE OF THE TIRE HAD BEEN SLICED BY THE RIM, AS IT ROLLED ON THE TIRE ONCE PRESSURE WAS LOST. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TIRE FAILURE UNTIL THE PUBLICIZED REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES ON SIMILAR SIZED TIRES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. I SUSPECT THE ISSUE WITH THE P235 SIZED FIRESTONE TIRES MAY WELL APPLY TO OTHER SIZES, SUCH AS MY P225 TIRES. WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE ALL OF OUR REMAINING TIRES WITH NEW ONES, AND WILL HOLD ON TO THE OLD ONES, IN CASE OF A RECALL ON THAT SIZE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

A SECOND TIRE HAD TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR IN ONE SECTION OF ITS TREAD. IT IS NOW MY SPARE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: W2HH AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH & WAS TURNING INTO CURB, ROAD WAS WET, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED THE ABS AND RPMS REVVED UP. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & SPUN AROUND, AND HIT A UTILITY POLE WITH REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE PAVEMENT IS WET AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEVICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPIING DISTANCE. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PORBLEM . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

REAR BRAKES BIND TO WHEEL EVEN AFTER RELEASE OF BRAKE PEDAL. MUST PUT INTO DRIVE AND PRESS ON ACCLERATOR TO RELEASE. WHEN ACCLERATOR IS DEPRESSED THE BRAKES RELEASES WITH A SUDDEN JOLT WHICH CAUSES RAPID ACCLERATION AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER'S TWICE FOR BRAKE REPAIRS, BUT DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE ONTO CYLINDER, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. MJS

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED TWO MASTER CYLINDERS AND LEAKING CALIPER, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND BURN ENGINE. DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK

DESIGN OF VEHICLE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF INSIDE TEATHER STRAP.

MY SISTER ALSO OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL BUILD AND THE EXACT SAME 3.4 L ENGINE AND SHE ALSO HAD THE SAME HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON HER ENGINE. MY ENGINE WAS IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED, NEW OIL EVERY 3000 MILES ETC AND STILL HAD THE SAME FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I DON'T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS LISTED AND SINCE ITS THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT BOTH ME AND MY SISTER HAVE HAD ON TWO NEARLY IDENTICAL '96 4 RUNNER'S, IT SEEMS A TAD COINCIDENTAL THAT WE'RE THE ONLY ONES HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THANKS, ERIK HORD

ON A STRAIGHT DECENT ROAD I APPLIED A BRAKE. SUDDENLY MY TIRE IS LOCKED W/ NO STEERING. THE ROAD WAS PARTLY COVERED BY SLUSHY SNOW AND WET. SINCE THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS, I DID NOT TRY TO PUMP. AS THE RESULT MY CAR HIT A SNOW BANK AND ROLLED OVER. THE USER'S MANUAL DOES NOT INDICATE ABS MAY NOT WORK.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY,AND WILL NOT WORK AT ALL IN WET WEATHER. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND REPAIRED ON ONE OCCASION ( REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS), PROBLEM STILL OCCURING. HELP IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP.

GOING DOWN HILL, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS IF ABS IS TRYING TO OPERATE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGINS TO PULSATE AND ROTORS ARE THEN FOUND TO BE WARPED.

THIS ACCIDENT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO A LAWYER AND AN ENGINEERING EXPERT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AXLE FAILED DUE TO A MECHANICAL DEFECT. ON WITNESS FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE SAID THE VEHICLE DROPPED.

THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN APPROACHING STOP LIGHTS. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO I WAS CROSSING THREE LANES OF TRAFFICE AND IT STALLED. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND WARRANTS REPURCHASING.

THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED WHEN THE FOUR BOLTS FAILED.

DURING A CRASH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE OWNER STATES THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE.

DURING A CRASH, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE OWNER STATES THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE.

GAS DOOR FAILED.

DESIGN OF VEHICLE STRUCTURE/BODY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR WHEEL WELL TO STOP MUD FROM HITTING VEHICLE.

AUTOMATIC POWER LOCKS FAILED.

GASKET FAILED.

INTERIOR MIRROR FAILED.

SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX WIRE HARNESS FAILURE.

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED.

SUSPENSION SPRINGS FAILED.

BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES NOISE.

HIGH SPEED MANEUVER TO AVOID ROAD HAZARD RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER/ACCIDENT.

FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY.

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING.

ROOF RACK HAD MISSING COMPONENTS, CONSUMER COULD NOT ATTACH SKI RACK.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LOADED AND UPON HITTING A BUMP, THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DELAER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND THE SPRINGS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 30 MPH,BEGAN APPLYING PRESSURE TO BRAKE, HEARD LOUD GRINDING NOISE, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSED ACCIDENT, ROD THAT HOLDS TIRE AND AXLE CAME OFF. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET FAILED.

VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE VIBRATION PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE; LOCKED ALL DOORS; INTERIOR LIGHT CAME ON WHEN PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED; HAD TO UNLOCK, RECLOSE & LOCKED DOORS AGAIN; TOOK TO DEALER; NO PROBLEM FOUND; DEALER TIGHTENED LOCKS. *AK

DUNLOP TIRES FAILED/BLEW OUT.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT ENGINE AND THERE WAS A FUEL SMELL. MANUFACTURER SAID DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS THE CAUSE. CONSUMER STATED IF MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, WHY NOT NOTIFY THE CONSUMERS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

REAR WINDOW INOPERATIVE.

WHILE TRYING TO AVOID ACCIDENT BRAKES FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK