1999 Toyota 4Runner complaints

HAVING MAJOR FRAME ROT ON 99 4RUNNER. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR SAME ISSUES AND NOTHING FOR THE 4RUNNER. THE TACOMA AND RUNNER HAVE SAME FRAMES, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE. READING THE RECALL THEIR IS A SAFETY CONCERN ABOUT THE REAR SUSPENDED SPARE WHICH THE 4RUNNERS HAVE, SEVERE ROT WHICH IS COMMON ON ALL, BREAK LINE FAILURE WHICH HAPPENED TO MINE. DOES MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSES NEED TO BE IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THIS TO BE ADDRESSED?.. TOYOTA HAS GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND, I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. MY NEXT RECOURSE IS EITHER THE MEDIA OR AN ATTORNEY. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING ONLY THE SURFACE HERE. THANK YOU *TR

THE REAR AXLE SEALS REPEATEDLY FAIL ON THIS VEHICLE, I'M NOW HAVING TO MAKE A FOURTH COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF BOTH THE REAR AXLE SEAL AND CONTAMINATED BRAKE SHOES. FOR THE FOURTH TIME THE REAR AXLE SEAL HAS FAILED WHICH LEAKS BRAKE FLUID ONTO REAR BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN SEVERE REDUCTION OF REAR BRAKING POWER. ALSO, AS A RESULT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE PLACED UNDER UNDUE PRESSURE AND WARPING OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS OCCURS WHICH MUST ALSO BE ADDRESSED. WHILE I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINTS OVER THIS SAME ISSUE SINCE 2005 WITH BOTH TOYOTA AND THE NHTSB, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL INITIATED. THE LAST TIME MY REAR AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED WAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AGO. THIS VEHICLE ONLY SEES NORMAL WEAR AND USAGE. I AM NOT THE ONLY COMPLAINT AS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE BASED ON TOYOTA FORUM DISCUSSIONS AND A SEARCH OF NHTSB COMPLAINT FILINGS. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AGAIN REFUSED TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY WITH TODAYS COMPLAINT FILING ON 7/31/12. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS TO REQUEST THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO FRAME RUST AND CORROSION PROBLEMS IN THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUES WITH SEVERELY RUSTED FRAMES IN THE TUNDRAS AND THE 1995-2000 AND 2001-04 TOYOTA TACOMA. I OWN A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 71,000 MILE THAT IS SEVERELY RUSTED. SO MUCH SO THAT MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE SOME MAY BLAME THE CLIMATE FOR THE RUST, I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE TO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT BASED A DESIGN FLAW. I ALSO OWN A 1994 HONDA CIVIC THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH THE SAME CLIMATE AS THE 4RUNNER YET DOES NOT HAVE THIS DANGEROUS RUST ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT ALONE IN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. A SEARCH OF YOUR DATABASE SHOWS OVER 30 RUST COMPLAINTS (AS OF 7/9/2012) AND THIS IS ONLY BASED ON REVIEW OF THE 1999 4RUNNER MODEL. TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR THE BRAKES AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR AND LEFT REAR FRAME WAS COVERED WITH RUST. THE RIGHT FRAME WAS WORSE THAN THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FRAME AND THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 231,000. UPDATED 08/7/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME RUST ON LOCATED ON THE TRAILING ARM AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. UPDATED 08/16/12

FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILS SAFETY INSPECTION. MANUFACTURER OFFERS NO REASONABLE RECOURSE. *TT

THE FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS READS 1/2 FULL TO FULL. RAN OUT OF GAS 6 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS A TSB (EL010-00) OUT ON FUEL GAUGE INACCURACY. AFTER REPLACING AN EXPENSIVE SENDING UNIT, STILL NO HELP. ACCORDING TO THIS TSB I DO NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BOARD BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS IS A FACTORY FLAW AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANKS. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE RUST BEGAN NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND ENDED NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

FRAME RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BROKE. WHEN IT HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. LEFT THE VEHICLE IN A CONDITION THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HIGH MILES BUT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. NO RUST ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I'VE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER 4RUNNERS. *TR

ISSUE IS WITH THE VEHICLE FRAME. VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS INSPECTION DUE TO UNSAFE RUSTING (DEFECTIVE) OF THE VEHICLE FRAME. 4 RUNNER FRAME SHOWING RUST PATTERNS COMPARABLE TO TACOMA AND TUNDRA, BUT 4 RUNNER WAS NEVER RECALLED LIKE OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS. *TR

THE FRAME ON MY 4RUNNER SHOWS EXCESSIVE RUST ESPECIALLY AT THE WELDED JOINTS AND WHERE THE SUSPENSION ATTACHES. THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS CONSIDERING THE BODY LOOKS GREAT AND THE FRAME ISN'T. *KB

MY TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A LONG TRIP. THE DIFFERENTIAL STARTING MAKING A WHINING NOISE THAT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. I STOPPED AT AN OIL CHANGE PLACE AT MY DESTINATION TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE FLUID. IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY. TOPPED IT UP AND CHANCED DRIVING IT 400 MILES BACK TO CHICAGO. I MADE IT OK AND HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS SO RUSTED THAT IT HAD HOLES THAT ALLOWED IT TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC TRIED TO FIND A USED ONE BUT THEY ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNED UP COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF RUSTED DIFFERENTIALS ON TOYOTA TRUCKS SPANNING MANY YEARS. THERE IS ALSO EXTENSIVE RUSTING ON THE FRAME, AXLE SPARE TIRE MOUNT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A LONG TERM TOYOTA PROBLEM. *TR

FRAME CORROSION! ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND IT'S ALREADY 'PANDORA'S BOX", HELP US OUT LIKE YOU HELPED ALL THE CUSTOMERS WITH RUSTED OUT TOYOTA PICKUPS PLEASE! I'M GETTING KILLED, GOING TO BE HOMELESS BY THE END OF THIS REPAIR! *TR

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, WITH AN IMMACULATE BODY, HOWEVER THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED OUT SO BADLY THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE RAIL IN SOME PLACES. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND A FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOST SEVERE LOCATION OF THE ROT IN JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. TOOK IT FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A WELDER TO SEE IF IT CAN EVEN BE REPAIRED. THINKING OF FILING A CLAIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NY STATE. THE THING IS IT PASSED INSPECTION AT THE SMALL CAR BUSINESS I BOUGHT IT FROM( D AND D AUTOSALES IN BINGHAMTON NY-DON'T GO THERE!!!!!!) AND THERE IS NO WAY IT ROTTED LIKE THIS IN LESS THAN A YR SO I'M THINKING THEY PASSED IT JUST TO GET THE SALE. HAVEN'T CONTACTED TOYOTA BUT THEY MOST LIKELY WONT DO A THING FOR ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS RUST AND HOLES THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A TRASH CAN AND THEN THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

FULL BLOWN FRAME RUST MECHANIC STATES IS 100% INVASIVE AFFECTING STEERING, ALIGNMENT, BRAKING, AND CHECKING OF DIFFERENTIAL AND REAR-END FLUIDS DUE TO SEIZED COMPONENTS. FRAME IS TOTALLY COMPROMISED, NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND RECTIFIED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THUMP. TOOK VEHICLE HOME TO INSPECT. NOTICED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING BRACKET WAS BROKEN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. COIL SPRING BRACKET THAT HOLDS COIL SPRING AND SHOCK IN IS RUSTED AWAY. COIL SPRING IS BROKEN OFF THE FRAME. MECHANIC AND AUTO BODY ADVISOR STATED THAT VEHICLE IS UN-DRIVEABLE. THE CHASSIS IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE ENTIRE FRAME COULD EASILY CRACK IN HALF IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. BACK BUMPER IS ALMOST DISINTEGRATED FROM RUST AND FRONT BUMPER IS RUSTING RAPIDLY. THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 120,000 MILES AND KEPT IN MINT CONDITION. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA THEY SAID NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE 4RUNNER IS NOT ON RECALL LIST. PLEASE HELP ME. I NOW HAVE NO DRIVEABLE VEHICLE AND NO MONEY TO BUY A NEW ONE. TOYOTA HAS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TT

TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST. THE 4RUNNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS STORIES DOCUMENTED WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES. MY TRUCK HAS HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU AND TOYOTA HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR *KB

FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH (COMPLETELY PERFORATED). RUST HOLE IS OVER 6 INCHES LONG AND 2 INCHES HIGH. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR

REAR AXLE HOUSING DEVELOPS PREMATURE AND DETRIMENTAL METAL SCALING AND RUST, CAUSING DIFFERENTIAL BELL HOUSING TO LEAK GEAR OIL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 1999 THROUGH 2002 4RUNNERS IN A CONSISTENT MANNER AND PATTERN. TOYOTA MOTORS HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND USES THE DEFENSE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER, A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF QUALITY IN THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM SHOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AS TOYOTA HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HIDE AND DISTORT CLAIMS BY THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMER IN ORDER TO COVER UP THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.4RUNNERFORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1948 FOR ONE OF THE MANY THREADS RELATED TO THIS TOPIC THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE IT. *TT

DURING THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION, THE MECHANICS AT DEALER FOUND A RUST THROUGH HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL. THE HOLE MAY AND/OR WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BODY ACCORDING THE MECHANICS. THERE ARE ALSO CONSIDERABLE RUSTING ACROSS THE FRAME OF THE BODY, INCLUDING REAR BUMPER (REPLACED 4 YEARS AGO), FRONT BUMPER, SWAY BAR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM (STAINLESS STEAL EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER ARE REPLACED). ALL THE RUST RELATED REPAIR COST OVER THE YEARS IS ABOUT $5,000. WHAT CONCERNED ME THE MOST IS THAT HOW LONG I CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR WITH RUSTING PROBLEM GETTING WORSE?

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

MARCH 6, 2011: 99 TOYOTA 4RUNNER: I NOTICED MY 4RUNNER PITCHING ON HIGHWAY EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. AFTER I BROUGHT INTO TOYOTA THEY INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE - REAR END DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM FRAME ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE - RIGHT REAR AXLE CLOSE TO COMPLETE FAILURE - TOYOTA STATED IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SEVERE RUST ON THE STRUCTURAL AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IS EXCESSIVE. ALSO LARGE HOLES IN DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. TOYOTA STATED THEY COULD FIND USED PARTS, INCLUDING SUSPENSION BRACKET & ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING & SWAY BAR COMPONENTS - WOULD COST UP TO $3000 TO REPAIR AT MY COST. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO FIND A MECHANIC TO WELD & REPAIR SUSPENSION BRACKETS. THE REAR TRANSFER CASE IS SO THIN THAT OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH RUST HOLES. FRAME RAILS & ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED & DETERIORATED, INCLUDING ENTIRE DISINTEGRATION OF THE REAR BUMPER WITH THE FRONT BUMPER HAVING MASSIVE RUST HOLES. *TR

FRAME ON 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN FRONT OF REAR AXLE ATTACHMENT ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER HAS ALSO RUSTED TO POINT WHERE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID IS LEAKING OUT. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND WASHED REGULARLY WITH NO RUST ANYWHERE BUT FRAME AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND MUST BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO MECHANIC. TOYOTA STATES THAT THEY HAVE A VOLUNTARY BUY-BACK PROGRAM ON TACOMA'S OF SAME VINTAGE, BUT NOT FOR THE 4RUNNER? *LN

I PURCHASED A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2 YEARS AGO AFTER DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT WE NOTICED WITHIN A WEEK THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING. THEY EXPLAINED THAT HAD THEY KNEW IT WAS BROKEN, HOW WOULDN'T YOU, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SELL IT FOR THAT PRICE. I PAID FOR THE FIX AND WAS REASSURED THAT THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WELL, STARTING ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA GOODWILL AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY COVERED UNDER INITIAL WARRANTY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS AND COLUMNS ON THIS ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 36 K MILES SO ALOT OF GOOD THAT DOES. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE IF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS MY CASE, BUT I DOUBT ANYTHING WILL GET DONE UNLESS I CONTINUE TO CALL BACK. I WOULD THINK THAT TOYOTA WOULD WANT TO EXTEND SOME GOODWILL CONSIDERING THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS RELEVANT CONSIDERING THERE IS NO REAL WAY TO EXACTLY TRACK YOUR MILES AND BECOMING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY OR LATE AT NIGHT IS CERTAINLY NOT A GOOD THING TO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 169,000.

REAR AXLE HOUSING DEVELOPS PREMATURE AND DETRIMENTAL METAL SCALING AND RUST, CAUSING DIFFERENTIAL BELL HOUSING TO LEAK GEAR OIL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 1999 THROUGH 2002 4RUNNERS IN A CONSISTENT MANNER AND PATTERN. TOYOTA MOTORS HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND USES THE DEFENSE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER, A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF QUALITY IN THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM SHOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AS TOYOTA HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HIDE AND DISTORT CLAIMS BY THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMER IN ORDER TO COVER UP THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.4RUNNERFORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1948 FOR ONE OF THE MANY THREADS RELATED TO THIS TOPIC THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST AND A HOLE NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 194000.

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER AND THE FUEL GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING. IT BEGAN BY SHOWING A QUANTITY OF FUEL WHEN IT REALLY DID NOT HAVE ANY FUEL. THIS CAUSED ME TO RUN OUT OF FUEL AND ALMOST HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IT NOW MAY READ FULL, ZERO, 1/2 ETC. YOU CANNOT DEPEND ON THE ACCURACY. I CONTACTED DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY KNEW IT WAS A TOYOTA DEFECT BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT TELL ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR BETWEEN $500 - $1000!!! TOYOTA HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB # EL 010-00 TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BUT NOT OFFER REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THOSE UNAWARE AND COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE DRIVE TRAIN AREA WAS EXHIBITING SEVERE RUST. PRIOR TO NOTICING THE RUST, THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LEAK OF UNKNOWN FLUID FROM THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

OUR 1999 4RUNNER RECENTLY WENT TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION, WHERE WE LEARNED THAT THE FRAME ON THE TRUCK WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THERE ARE SOFTBALL SIZE HOLES IN IT. THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS A RESULT. THERE HAS BEEN A SIMILAR ISSUE ON THE TUNDRA FRAMES, WHICH WERE PART OF A BUY BACK PROGRAM FROM TOYOTA. WE WERE TOLD WE COULD HAVE A NEW FRAME PUT ON, BUT IT WOULD COST MORE THAN THE TRUCK IS WORTH AND THE TRUCK WOULDN'T BE THE SAME AGAIN. OUR TOYOTA DEALER HAS GIVEN US A PHONE NUMBER (AND WE HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER) FOR TOYOTA AND WE HAVE MADE OUR CASE WITH THEM, BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AND THE DEALER HAS BASICALLY SAID THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER HE CAN DO. *TR

1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

UPON A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ON THE FRONT BRAKES MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS RUSTED TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE PLATES WELDED ONTO THE FRAME TO MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD AND CAREFULLY MAINTAINED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2009 THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES - PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. MY DAD LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE PLASTIC COATING WAS COMING APART AND GOT STUCK IN THE CABLE SHIELDING. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $300 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CABLE. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS? SINCE THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY WON'T TOYOTA FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE? I CONTACTED TURNER TOYOTA IN MONTROSE COLORADO AND TALKED TO [XXX] IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. [XXX] *TR

1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING GEAR OIL ALL OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. I HAVE HAD THE REAR AXLE SEALS REPLACED 5 - 7 TIMES: DECEMBER 2006, JUNE 2007, DECEMBER 2007, JUNE 2008, DECEMBER 2008, AND NOW AGAIN IT IS LEAKING FEBRUARY 2010. THE INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS WHERE I TAKE MY VEHICLE SUBSCRIBES TO "ALL DATA' WHICH ASSISTS MECHANICS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IN SHARING WORK DONE ON VEHICLES; ASSISTING IN DIAGNOSING SIMILAR PROBLEMS, ETC. THERE ARE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF SIMILAR LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL FAILURES ON TOYOTA 4-RUNNERS AND PICKUPS 1999 - 2001 WHICH USE THE SAME AXLE LISTED IN THE ALL DATA WEB SITE. MANY OF THESE LIST MULTIPLE TIMES THE SEAL AS FAILED ON THE SAME VEHICLE. . I MY CASE WE HAVE BEEN GETTING THE SEALS FROM TOYOTA. THE REAR BRAKE ON THE LEFT SIDE IS COVERED IN AXLE GREASE WHICH IN MY OPINION WILL SERIOUSLY LIMIT MY BRAKING ABILITY AND COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AND ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2007. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT. *TR

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON FEB. 10, 2010 FOLLOWING A SERIOUS FRONT END CRASH (30-50 MPH) OF OUR 1999 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. AS A RESULT WIFE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 2 DAYS WITH CONCUSSION, SPRAINED NECK AND PTSS.CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL RESPONDED. REPORT TAKEN. *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. FUEL GAUGE READS FULL AND VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO NO FUEL IN TANK. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO TOYOTA AND THAT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A PROBLEM WITH THE PART AS DELIVERED IN THIS VEHICLE AND THEY ISSUED TSB:EL010-00 TITLED "FUEL GAUGE INACCURACY" TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE, BUT A SAFETY ISSUE AS VEHICLE CAN RUN OUT OF FUEL AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON CONGESTED HIGHWAYS. THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I HAVE HAD TO USE THE ODOMETER TO GUESS HOW MUCH FUEL IS REMAINING THE FUEL TANK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. FACTORS SUCH AS HIGHWAY CONDITIONS, WEATHER, NECESSARY USE OF 4WD CAN IMPACT THE NUMBER OF MILES ACHIEVED IN A SINGLE TANK OF GAS. ALSO, FUEL TANK MUST BE FILLED TO TOP WHEN REFUELING TO MOST ACCURATELY GUESS NUMBER OF MILES THAT CAN BE DRIVEN BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLS. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ABS AS IS BEING REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, ONLY WORSE. WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN ON SLICK OR UNEVEN SURFACES, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A FREELY-FLOATING MODE FOR 5+ SECONDS. THERE IS NO BRAKING CAPACITY AT ALL DURING THAT TIME AND STEERING IS DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL DURING THAT TIME. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE NEAR-MISSES WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS HARM TO MYSELF AND OTHERS AND A FEW INCIDENCES WHERE I ENDED UP RUNNING OFF THE ROAD (ONCE INTO A RAVINE) OR HITTING MEDIAN STRIPS W/O INVOLVING OTHER VEHICLES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ONCE I WAS TOLD I WAS NUTS, THAT THE ABS COULDN'T POSSIBLY BEHAVE THAT WAY; AND THE OTHER TIME I WAS TOLD THAT, "OH YEAH, THAT'S HOW ABS WORKS." NO EXAMINATION OR CORRECTION WAS OFFERED. MY STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO ALWAYS TOUCH THE BRAKES SO GENTLY THAT ABS DOESN'T KICK IN, BUT THIS WINTERS SNOWY WEATHER HAS DEFEATED THIS PLAN. WHENEVER I BRAKE ON A SLICK, SNOWY SURFACE THE ABS KICKS IN NO MATTER HOW GENTLY I TOUCH THE BRAKES. LAST WEEK, I HAD AN EXTREMELY HARROWING CLOSE CALL WHEN MY VEHICLE WENT CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PASSING THROUGH IT. THIS WAS ON A SIDE STREET WHEN I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY AND HAD BEGUN THE GENTLE BRAKING AT LEAST 30' BEFORE THE INTERSECTION... BUT THE ABS KICKED IN, AND I COULD NOT STOP BEFORE SLIDING INTO THE INTERSECTION. (FOR THE REQUIRED FIELD ASKING FOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER.THE CONTACT STATED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO THE INTERSECTION.THE CONTACT STATED AS HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES.THE CONTACT DROVE HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO HIS OWN MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE FLOOR MATS OUT AND SEE IF HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO CHECK IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

IN SEPTEMBER 2009, I WAS STARTING MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DRESSED THE CLUTCH AS USUAL AND TURNED THE KEY. THE ENGINE STARTED, I HEARD A "POP", AND IT BEGAN RUNNING AT FULL THROTTLE AND WAS RACING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL I FINALLY TURNED IT OFF. THE RPM GAUGE WAS AT ITS MAXIMUM. I DID NOT HAVE A FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS, AND WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RACE THE ENGINE. I COULD NOT MAKE THE ENGINE STOP RACING. I TRIED TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN RELEASED IT. IT WAS STILL RACING, AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED OR CAUGHT ON ANYTHING. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS STILL IN NEUTRAL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. IT WAS VERY SCARY, AS I COULD NOT MAKE THE ENGINE STOP RACING. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF TO STOP IT. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AFTER INSPECTING WITH A "SCAN TOOL" AND THE WIRING LOOKED GOOD. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS BECAUSE A PACK RAT HAD BEEN IN THE ENGINE AT THE TIME. (THAT'S A PRETTY LAME EXCUSE.) THEY SAID THEY COULD "CLEAN THE THROTTLE" AND "FLUSH THE FUEL LINE" WHICH I HAD THEM DO (COST $300.) BECAUSE I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY DID SOMETHING. *TR

RUST ON THE STRUCTURAL AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IS EXCESSIVE. I HAVE HAD WELDING DONE TO REPAIR SUSPENSION BRACKETS. THE REAR TRANSFER CASE IS SO THIN THAT OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH RUST HOLES. *TR

VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN. *TR

1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, FRAME RUST ALONG THE ENTIRE FRAME. BODY SHOP WOULD NOT TRY TO REPAIR DUE TO LIABILITY. I LIVE IN NJ WHERE THE SALT IS NOT AS BAD AS IN THE NORTHERN STATES. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THE REAR END SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME AS THEIR IS RUST THROUGH WERE THE REAR SUSPENSION CONNECTS TO THE FRAME. *TR

1999 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER- I NOTICED THE REAR END SWAYING WILDLY AT EVEN LOW SPEEDS. I NOTICES THAT THE REAR END HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM FRAME. I WENT TO A PROFESSIONAL WELDER WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY DONE SOME WORK FOR ME. HE SAID THAT THE FRAME COMPONENTS WERE SO BADLY DETERIORATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I WENT TO STEET TOYOTA IN UTICA N.Y., AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD COST OVER $15,000 TO REPAIR. THE FRAME AND COMPONENTS WERE INDEED DEFECTIVE, BUT I HAD NO RECOURSE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR, IN THE PASSING LANE AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLES ENGINE QUIT, LOST ALL POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO A TURN AROUND. BOTTOM LINE, VEHICLE HAD RUN OUT OF GAS, EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE SHOWED A LITTLE OVER 1/2 TANK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

SEVERAL SUSPENSION AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF MY 1999 4RUNNER ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE RUST. THE WORST OF WHICH IS ON THE REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. I'VE RECENTLY HAD TO WELD A BROKEN STABILIZER BRACKET. THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT A HOLE HAS FORMED AND GEAR OIL IS LEAKING. *TR

THE TRAILING ARMS IN THE REAR HAVE BROKEN. FIRST THE RIGHT AND I HAD IT REPAIRED AND NOW THE LEFT AND IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE METAL BEING SPONGY. IT IS ALSO CALLED THE SWAY BAR LINK. THE STEERING HAD BECOME ERRATIC AND I TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND RECEIVED THE BAD NEWS. TOYOTA HAS NO RESPONSE. THE 4RUNNER HAS THE SAME BODY AS THE TACOMA BUT THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THIS LEMON. *TR

DRIVING ON I-79 IN PASSING LANE AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE QUIT, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES..RUSH HOUR. MOST DANGEROUS THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD, TOWED TO GARAGE, ENGINE WILL NOT START, SHOWS A LITTLE OVER 1/2 TANK ON FUEL GAGE..ENDS UP, WAS OUT OF FUEL ! GAUGE GAVE FALSE READING. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES ON IT. I DID FIND A TOYOTA TSB EL010-00 THAT ADDRESSES THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF IT. MY VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT FROM A TOYOTA DEALER WITH MY NAME AS THE NEW OWNER ON RECORD. THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN, NO INDICATION OF LOW FUEL LEVEL, NO FUEL LOW WARNING LIGHT,,GAUGE WAS SHOWING A LITTLE OVER 1/2 TANK. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL. *TR

FUEL GAUGE BEGAN SHOWING INACCURATE READINGS. USUALLY SHOWED AT OR NEAR FULL REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL FUEL VOLUME IN TANK. AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS IT JUST STAYED AT THE FULL MARK. MORE RECENTLY, ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH, 2009, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE GAUGE WOULD OCCASIONALLY DROP TO THE EMPTY MARK, AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH. IT WOULD REMAIN THIS WAY UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON TURNING THE KEY BACK TO THE ON POSITION, OR RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GAUGE WOULD RETURN TO THE FULL MARK AND REMAIN THERE. REPLACING THE FUEL SENDER AS STATED IN TSB EL010-00 HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL SENDER THE GAUGE READ ABOUT 3/4 FULL BUT THE TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. AFTER FILLING THE TANK THE GAUGE MOVED TO FULL BUT IT CONTINUES TO ACT AS IS DID BEFORE REPLACING THE SENDER, EVEN AFTER GOING THROUGH THE CALIBRATION PROCEDURE MULTIPLE TIMES. ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE VIN, AS SHOWN IN THE TSB, REPLACING THE COMBINATION PLATE (CIRCUIT BOARD) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT NEEDED. BUT THE FUEL GAUGE STILL ALWAYS READS FULL, OR EMPTY, AS IT DID BEFORE REPLACING THE FUEL SENDER. *TR