1998 Toyota 4Runner complaints

BOTH FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT APPROX. 75 MILES PER HOUR. THE FIRST FAILURE IN 1998 WAS IN THE EARLY EVENING ON INTERSTATE 45 IN HOUSTON TEXAS. THE LEFT TIRE BLEW WITH NO WARNING. THE TREAD SEPERATED AND THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS ON INTERSTATE 285 IN ATLANTA GA. AGAIN THE TIRE FAILED INSTANTANEOUSLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TWO REMAINING TIRES ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT WITH 49000 + MILES. ONE OF THE TWO TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED ARE STILL ON THE CAR. IT IS ON THE FRONT. EVER SINCE THEY WERE INSTALLED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A VIBRATION. ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES IS STILL ON THE VEHICLE AND THE SPARE IS IN USE. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SOON. IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO SEE IT YOU MUST RESPOND SOON. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R16 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TIRE TREAD WAS WEARING OFF ALSO, THERE WERE STRESS MARKS AND BUMPS AROUND THE TIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE. *AK THE VEHICLE SKIDS WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. TIRES ARE UNEVENLY WEARING AND RIDES PUMPY. *YH

PE00 020; VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. WHEN HE CHANGED TIRES THERE WAS ONE AND HALF INCH TEAR LOCATED IN THE INNER SIDE OF TIRE. TIRE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS#AT, P22575R15. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ONE OF THE TWO FIRESTONE DEALERS STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO INCORRECT PRESSURE USED AND THE SECOND DEALER CLAIMED IT TO BE DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH SAME TYPE.*AK

TIRE BLOWOUT -- TIRE WAS DESTROYED( DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWB487 TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH WILDERNESS AT III 31X10.50R-15 TIRES WHICH HAVE THE SAME ROUGH RIDE AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 265/75R-15 WILDERNESS TIRES. THE FIRESTONE DEALER REP SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THOSE TIRES TO RIDE THAT ROUGH. THEY RIDE AS IF THE TIRES HAVE BULGES ON THEM YET THEY DO NOT. I HAVE OWNED OTHER BRANDS OF OFF ROAD TIRES WITH SIMULAR DESIGNED TREAD AND THEY DID NOT RIDE NEAR AS ROUGH AS THESE DO.I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHETHER THESE TIRES MAY ALSO BE DEFECTIVE AS ARE THE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY. THE DOT NUMBERS ARE AS FOLLOWS VD60 AW4. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION.( DOT NUMBER: NOT AVAIL. TIRE SIZE: 265/75-15 )

BAD RIDE. BOUNCY SINCE ABOUT THE 1ST YEAR. I ROTATE & CHECK TIRE PRESSURE BUT NO CHANGE. NERVOUS THIS IS ALSO A BAD TIRE. IS THERE ANY CONCLUSIVE PROOF THAT THIS IS A GOOD/SAFE TIRE?( DOT NUMBER: W2HH TIRE SIZE: P22575R15 )

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P225/75/R15) TIRE BLEW OUT WITH HOLES IN THREE PLACES BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. *MJS

SUPPORT STRUTS ON LIFTGATE UNABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT LIFTGATE WHEN REAR WINDOW RETRACTED DOWN INTO DOOR - APPARENTLY DUE TO ADDITIONAL WEIGHT TOWARDS BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.

WHEN DRIVING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHICH CAUSED OVER $5,300 WORTH OF DAMAGE, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE, FORCING DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FRONT LEFT TIRE BEGINING TO CRACK ALONG TREAD, LOTS OF TREAD STILL ON TIRE. CAN PEAL BACK TREAD1/4 INCH IN PLACES. FRONT RIGHT HAS SMALL CRACKS SAME LOCATION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HH AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED AS MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED. INSIDE OF TIRES HAVE SHOWN SIGNIFIGANT WEAR AND AT THE TIME OF RECALL WE HAD TIRES CHECKED ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE WAS STEEL SHOWING ON ONE TIRE AND THAT TIRE WAS CHANGED OUT WITH THE SPARE. OTHER 3 TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF EXTREME WEAR AND WE WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT MADE IN DECATOUR, IL THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BEYOND PURCHASING NEW TIRES. THERE ARE ONLY 40000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND THE TIRES ARE WARRENTIED AT 50000. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE TIRES ARE A HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE WEAR AND THIS VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY USED FOR THE FAMILY.( DOT NUMBER: W2HH AWB25 TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SHE HEARD A NOISE ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE. TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF ANY ROAD HAZARD. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, P225/75 R15, AND DOT # W2HHAWB038.*AK *SLC

EXESSIVE TREAD WEAR, FLAT SPOTS,EXESSIVE NOISE,CONSTANT ROTATING AND BALANCING NEEDED.( DOT NUMBER: W2HAWB377 TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R15 )

CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT TIRE TREAD SEPERATION AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. COWORKER EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF SAME TIRE INSTALLED ON HER VEHICLE. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES DUE TO THE RECENT DISCLOSURE OF THE TREAD SAFETY PROBLEM AND THE REPLACEMENT OF TIRES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

THE TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE. I HAVE HAD BLOW OUTS BEFORE, BUT HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. FIRESTONE DID NOT HESITATE TO REPLACE IT. THEY DID SO UNDER THEIR ROAD HAZARD CLAIM. THE TREAD ON THE TIRE WAS EXCELLENT, WAS PROPERLY INFLATED AND MAINTAINED. I DID NOT HIT ANY OBJECTS ON THE HIGHWAY AND FIRESTONE FOUND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS INSIDE THE TIRE WHEN THEY BROKE IT DOWN. I CAN'T AND WON'T WAIT FOR ANY SETTLEMENTS AS TIRE SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD. I WILL HAVE THESE REPLACED BUT NOT WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. CAN YOU OFFER ME ANY ADVICE AS HOW TO PROCEED? I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONS ASSISTANCE LINE. THANKS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

BRAKES BECOME SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE HAS INCREASED NUMBER OF CLICKS TO TIGHTEN-THIS HAS OCCURRED AT APPROX 11,000 AND AGAIN AT APPROX 18,000 MILES; TOOK TO DEALER AT APPROX 11,800 INITIALLY WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY ONLY INSPECTED BRAKES (NO ADJUSTMENT)AND SAID BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAD TO RETURN TO DEALER AND HAVE SHOP FOREMAN DRIVE THE TRUCK WHO THEN TOLD MECHANIC TO ADJUST BRAKES. ONCE AGAIN I AM NOTICING BRAKES ARE SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE TAKES MORE CLICKS TO TIGHTEN (APPROX 18,000). I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS EXPECTED WITH TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES. HE SAID THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND ADJUSTED IF NECESSARY EVERY 5000 MILES (AT AN EXTRA CHARGE OF 30.00 DOLLARS). I EXPLAINED THAT THEY GO OUT OF ADJUSTMENT VERY QUICKLY AND NOT AT EXACTLY EVERY 5000 MILES, THEREFORE THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADJUST THEM UNTIL I HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN WHICH MEANS I AM SPENDING TIME AND MONEY (BESIDES THE EXPECTED 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE/ROTATE TIRES) WITH A PROBLEM I FEEL MAY NOT BE NORMAL FOR A $32,000 DOLLAR TRUCK AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARANTEE OR AT LEAST DESCRIBED AS A COMMON NECESSITY TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE PURCHASE( NOWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES IT STATE THAT BRAKES WILL NEED ADJUSTMENT FREQUENTLY DUE TO NOT SELF ADJUSTING).

ENGINE FAILED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS FOR NO REASON. BOTH TIMES SLOWING DOWN WHEN GOING TO TURN. NO ONE WAS HURT./// LOST CONTROL OF 4 RUNNER WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR EXIT RAMP AT 35 MPH AND WET ROAD. SPEED WAS NOT EXCESSIVE FOR CONDITIONS. CAR SPUN HIT GUARD RAIL AND THEN HIT AND DID A 360. 4 DAYS LATER, DRY FREEWAY AT 70 MPH CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO LEFT, SPUN 360 THEN INTO GRASS MEDIAN 360 , THEN 360 BACK ONTO FREEWAY AND CAME TO STOP, ONLY GOD COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM BEING A DISASTER. TWO PASSENGERS, NO ONE WAS HURT. CAR COVERED WITH GRASS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAULTY. NLM

CRUISE CONTROL REFUSES TO RE-ENGAGE AFTER USING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THEREFORE DISENGAGEING THE SYSTEM. RESUME FUNCTION NOT WORKING. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY JUMPS OUT OF GEAR.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING, SEAT BELT TO STUCK.

CIGARETTE LIGHTER.

SEAT BELT.

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND THE INSTRUCTMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ALARM AND KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

WINDSHILED DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WELL. NLM

REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED. NLM

REAR PANEL ADJUST ROD FAILED. MJS

TAIL LIGHT BULB FAILED. YH

REAR SPRING LOOSE,REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. YH

CIGARETTE LITHTER IS NOT WORKING. YH

ALARM SYSTEM OUT OF ORDER. YH

MUD FLAP FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSED GRINDING AND STICKING BETWEEN SHIFTS. YH

REAR DOOR LATCH STUCK, WOULDN'T OPEN. YH

REAR GATE HANDLE LATCH SHARP METAL CAUSING FINGERS TO CATCH WHEN CONSUMER ATEMPT TO OPEN THE GATE. YH

STRUCTURE IS NOT VERY STABLE IN WINDY WEATHER AT SPEEDS OF 55-65MPH. YH

SHOCK ABSORBERS FAILED. YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ENGINE KNOCKING AND STALLING. YH

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED. YH

HAD VEHICLE IN REVERSE & USING BRAKES HEARD LOUD CLICKING/GRINDING NOISES. TOOK TO DEALER. *AK

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ,LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT THE ABS LIGHT KEEP COMING ON, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY DON'T SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN FAST ENOUGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, ALMOST HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE BRAKES MOVING BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE IN HEAD ON COLLISION, FIRE ERRUPTED IMMEDIATELY. (QCAW)

WHILE DRIVING THE CHILD BECAME TWISTED IN SEAT BELT, IT WORKED LIKE A RATCHET TIGHTENING AROUND HER WAIST, CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEARBY POLICE STATION WHERE THEY HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO RELEASE THE CHILD. CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELT. *AK *TT

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND GOING UP A HILL, TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS.

THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO KICK INTO HIGH GEAR, COMING OUT OF THE OVERDRIVE AND REVS UP TO 3500 MPH WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.