MY 2000 4RUNNER ONLY HAS 123K MILS ON IT AND THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED IT MIGHT BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I TRIED TO GET NEW SHOCKS ON IT AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T DUE TO THE BAD RUST. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN PERFECT CONDITION!
2000 Toyota 4Runner complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2000 record →
SEVERE BLOWOUT OF FRAME , ENGINE ONLY HAS 130 THOUSAND , THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED ALONG WITH THE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN , ITS A BAD D GRADE METAL THAT MAKES UP THE FRAME ITS GARBAGE
FRAME ROT BEYOND REPAIR
THE DRIVER SEAT BOLTS WHERE THE MOUNTS ARE LOCATED ARE COMPLETELY STRIPPED/RUSTED OUT WHICH WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE WELDING REPAIR. NO ACTIVE RECALLS ARE FOUND. 3 OUT 4 BOLTS ARE STRIPPED/RUSTED OUT. UNSAFE TO DRIVE, DRIVER SEAT ON VERGE OF DISLODGING OUT, CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT. VERY COMMON 4RUNNER PROBLEM, OWNER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANUFACTURER DEFAULT.
TAKATA RECALL..MY 2000 4 RUNNERS FRAME IS RUSTED OUT ON THE BACK END AND MY FIANCE HAD TO PUT A PLATE ON THE RIGHT FRONT ABOUT 3-4 YRS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS RUSTED PRETTY GOOD TOO..IT NOW LIKE DANCES IN THE BACK END IF I HIT A ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD WHICH DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL SAFE AT ALL TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN IT.
THE FRAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER IS RUSTED OUT AND IS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAVE 282,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE TO JUNK A CAR THAT DRIVES DUE TO THIS RUSTED OUT FRAME
FRAME HAS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT
THE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED
THIS IS WHAT BROKE ON MY TRUCK
RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM FRAME BRACKET BROKE, BROUGHT TO GARAGE FOR REPAIR TO FIND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED OUT FROM REAR TO FRONT AND UNSTABLE, DRIVERS SIDE FRAME RUSTED AND DETERIORATED AS WELL, MECHANIC SAYS VEHICLE UNFIT FOR THE ROAD, MOTOR, TRANSMISSION AND BODY STILL GREAT SHAPE, SHAME ON YOU TOYOTA FOR USING SUCH LOW QUALITY STEEL ON A IMPORTANT STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE, COULD OF RESULTED IN LOSS OF LIFE. RECTIFY THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT DOES PLEASE.
4RUNNER HAS 142,000 MILES AND I WAS JUST TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO CORROSION O FRAME. THERE IS A 2FT SECTION THAT IS NON-EXCITANT. ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED JUNK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT A HOLE DEVELOPED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000. UPDATED 02/22/2017*CT
THE FRAME OF MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED- TO THE POINT WHERE PARTS OF IT ARE BREAKING OFF. THE REST OF THE BODY/ENGINE ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 3RD GENERATION TOYTOA 4RUNNERS (YEARS 1998-2002). TOYOTA DID A RECALL ON THE 1998-2002 TACOMA FRAMES WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE 4RUNNER. THE CAR IN UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND TOYOTA WILL TAKE NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM.
THE FRAME CORRODED, MAKING LOT OF HOLES IN THE FRAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK.
ROTTING FRAME! UN DRIVABLE. STABILIZER BAR POPPED OFF.
FRAME RUST TO THE POINT THE PASSENGER REAR CONTROL ARM IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF BC OF THE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST
FRAME RUST EXCEEDS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. FRAME RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. BOLTS RUSTED. THE FRAME ABSOLUTELY DISINTEGRATING. ENTIRE FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES THE ABS INITIATES AT NEARLY EVERY STOP. WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
EXCESSIVE FRAME RUSTING AND WEAKENING OF SUSPENSION MOUNTING POINTS.
THE STEEL FRAME IS ROTTING THROUGH ON MY 4RUNNER. I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF CARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A FRAME ROT PROBLEM LIKE THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE MOVED SIDE TO SIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED, RUSTED, AND THE TRAILING ARM ANCHOR WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.
I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER 15 YEARS AGO, ON YEAR 2000. I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND I DON?T ABUSE MY VEHICLES. LOVE THIS CAR. ONE DAYS DRIVING BACK HOME MY CAR SHAKE AND IT SEEMED AN ISSUE IN REAR ?CAUSE THE WAY MY CAR MOVE AND NOISE. IT APPEARS THE REAR LEFT AXEL MOUNTS WAS HANGING OFF THE FRAME. TALKED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER NOTHING THEY COULDN'T DO IT REQUIRES A NEW FRAME. STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS DOESN'T ALLOW WELDING DIRECTLY INTO THE FRAMES, IT'S UNSAFE. I WAS TOLD TO JUNK THE CAR OR REPLACE THE FRAME. JUST WHEN IT TURNED 15 YEARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT. THE CONTACT WAS SO APPARENT THAT IT DID NOT NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,828. ...UPDATED 01/05/17 *BF
SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST
THERE ARE MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE FRAME, IT IS RUSTING THROUGH VERY BADLY. IT IS UNSAFE. I CAN TAKE MORE PICTURES IF NEEDED. THE "DATE THIS HAPPENED" ISN'T ACCURATE, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUSTING QUICKLY FOR A LONG TIME.
I TOOK MY 2000 4RUNNER INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A SERVICE CHECK AND TO HAVE ALL FLUIDS CHANGED, AND AS SOON AS THEY HAD THE CAR ON THE LIFT THEY CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT AN EXTENSIVE PORTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS ROTTED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT THE RUST AND ROT UNDER THE CAR AND TO TAKE PHOTOS. I ASKED IF THIS PROBLEM WAS SEEN A SIMILAR MODELS OF MY TRUCK AND I WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA HAS REPLACED OTHER TRUCK FRAMES UNDER RECALL, HOWEVER THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE 4RUNNER AT THIS TIME. I ASKED HOW THE FRAME COULD BE REPAIRED, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK ANOTHER SHOP, AND THEY SENT ME ON MY WAY. THEY DIDN'T WARN ME OF ANY SAFETY CONCERNS NOR DID THEY RECOMMEND A LOCAL SHOP THAT COULD HELP WITH THE SPECIFIC REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A BOOMING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME SEPARATED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 01/06/17*LJ
VEHICLE FRAME IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT MY REAR SWAY ARM BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CAR BOUNCING ALL OVER THE ROAD DUE TO THE RUSTED FRAME.
I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. THE FRAME IS VERY BADLY RUSTED AND IS BEGINNING TO FAIL. I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY MECHANIC THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACING THE FRAME FOR SAFETY ISSUES. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED AND REPLACED THE SAME FRAME ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA BUT HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER.
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER... NORMAL DRIVING. REGULAR MAINTENANCE. LAST FEW TIMES I HAD A TRUCK IN THE SHOP (DIFFERENT ONES) THEY RECOMMEND I CONTACT SOMEBODY, ABOUT THE FRAME... IT IS BASICALLY RUSTED ALL THE WAY THRU. IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SEEMS LIKE... HAD MANY TOYOTA'S IN THE PAST (AND PRESENT)... HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. THE MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THAT THE FRAME IS BROKEN AND THAT YOU HAVE A RECALL ON IT. HE SAID TO CONTACT YOU FOR WHAT TO DO NEXT. SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR IT HAS HAD A CLUNKING SOUND ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH A DANGEROUS CONDITION DUE TO RUST PERFORATION ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL. THE RUST EXTENDS 4-5 FT AND HAS CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT TO RIP AWAY FROM THE FRAME. ON 6/10/2011, SMART MOTORS - MADISON, WI INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS RUST PERFORATION ON THE RIGHT REAR FRAME THAT WAS FOUND DURING A SEPARATE REPAIR. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE DOCUMENTING IT AND FORWARDING PICTURES TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES. [XXX], A SENIOR SERVICE ADVISOR, SAID HE WOULD SPEAK WITH THE DISTRICT SERVICE PARTS MANAGER AND FOLLOW UP. HE WAS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER NO ACTION FROM SMART MOTORS AND WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO CONTACT ME, I THEN CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER STATING THE CONCERN AND WAS GIVEN A FILE #1308200825. TO THIS DATE, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY TOYOTA MOTOR SALES FOR A CAMPAIGN OR SAFETY RECALL. THIS SAME CONDITION HAS BEEN RECORDED NUMEROUS TIMES. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THIS FRAME AREA TO HOLD WATER. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED/BOUGHT BACK TOYOTA TACOMAS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. I AM URGING NHTSA TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE SAFETY DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE SO THAT NO ONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE MADE THE PERSONAL DECISION TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, AND IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. I CONTEND THAT AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FIRST RECORDED OBSERVED DEFECT IS AN ISSUE THAT NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND DILIGENCE IN THIS MATTER AND I A
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CURRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES AND AGE; THEREFORE, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 273,454.
FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS RUSTED AWAY, LARGE PIECES GONE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING IT. MY COMPLAINT NUMBER WITH TOYOTA 1608181265. IT APPEARS THAT THE AC DRIP HOSE EMPTIES ON TO THE FRAME IN THE SAME SPOTS AS THE RUST. THERE ARE 159,289 MILES ON THE 4RUNNER.
EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST AT REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNTING LOCATION AND FORWARD OF IT.
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2005. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR EVERY MAJOR CHECKUP OR REPAIR. NOT ONE SERVICE TECH OR MECHANIC HAS MENTIONED OR NOTED ANYTHING ABOUT FRAME RUST ON THIS VEHICLE UNTIL A STATE INSPECTION IN JUNE 2016. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAS A HUGE HOLE IN THE FRAME AND IS RUSTING OUT AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HIS FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS TO DIRECT ME TO HIS SALE MANAGER TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE ( HALEY TOYOTA MIDLOTHIAN, VA) . NOT ONE WORD ABOUT THIS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 140,000 MILES. THIS IS UNSATISFACTORY.
I HAVE A 2000 4RUNNER THAT THE FRAME RUSTED OUT MAKING IT UNSAFE. TRUCKS OF THIS YEAR WERE RECALLED FOR SAME THING. SEEM A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. CAN WE GET SOME HELP? FRAME BROKE WHEN FORCED TO STOP HARD WHEN CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. NEVER DREAMED THE FRAME WAS THIS BAD.
LIKE SO MANY OTHERS I'VE HEARD OF, THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE BACK LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY IS NOW WEDGED UP ONTO THE FLOORBOARDS. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS BROKEN APART BEFORE THE MUFFLER. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR TWO YEARS AGO AND LOVED IT, BUT NOW AM HORRIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FRAME AND TOYOTA'S LACK OF DESIRE TO DO A RECALL.
FRAME HAS HOLES IN IT, TRUCK IS PERFECT IN EVERY OTHER WAY, FRAME HOLES SAME AS RECALLED ON TACOMA AND TUNDRA, SAME SAFETY ISSUE, COULD BREAK DURING OPERATION.
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED APART WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO TRAFFIC.. REAR PASSENGER SIDE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.
MY MECHANIC WAS REPAIRING THE REAR SHOCKS AND NOTICED FRAME RUST. HE SAID FRAME RUST HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SOME TOYOTA TRUCKS AND 4RUNNERS. HE KNOWS THIS BECAUSE HE WORKED FOR TOYOTA AT ONE TIME. HE SUGGESTED CALLING TOYOTA AND FILING A COMPLIANT AND REQUEST FOR REPAIR WITH THEM WHICH I DID. THE CASE NUMBER IS 1605101239. IN THE COURSE OF MY CONVERSATION THE TOYOTA AGENT ADVISED ME THAT TOYOTA TUCOMAS AND TUNDRAS WERE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AND THAT TOYOTA WAS OFFERING "CUSTOMER SUPPORT" ON THOSE VEHICLES BUT EVEN THOUGH THE FRAME RUSTING ISSUE WAS THE SAME ON 4RUNNERS TOYOTA WAS NOT OFFERING ANY " CUSTOMER SUPPORT " OR RECALLS FOR 4RUNNER FRAMES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. FURTHER INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATED THAT RUSTING FRAMES ON 4RUNNERS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS. PLEASE HELP. APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.
THE FRAME RUSTED AND THE SWAY BAR MOUNT BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR.
FRAME RUSTING AWAY. UNSAFE TO DRIVE
I HAVE A 2000 4RUNNER WITH 144000 MILES AND THE UNDERSIDE IS RUSTING AWAY. I NOW HAVE HOLES IN THE FRAME. TOYOTA HAS ADVISED ME TRY TO REPAIR OR PURCHASE SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION. I HAVE 1994 TOYOTA DLX PICKUP THAT HAS 372000 MILES AND THE UNDERSIDE OF IT IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL ON MY 2000 4-RUNNER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU ON THE SECTION NEXT TO THE MUFFLER. LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF.
REPLACED ENGINE WITH A REBUILT ON, BECAUSE ENGINE BAD DESIGN. OIL PASSAGES TOO SMALL . NO HELP FROM TOYOTA WHO DESIGNED AND MADE THE ENGINE. DAMAGED OCCURRED OVER TIME: SLUDGE BUILD UP, GRITTY SLUDGE.
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 4/15/16. EXTREMELY CLEAN BOTH INSIDE AND EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE. HAD AROUND 104K MILES. I WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE CHANGING THE OIL AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST INCLUDING ONE AREA WHERE THE FRAME HAD BEEN REPAIRED FROM A HOLE RIGHT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHES FOR THE REAR AXLE. THERE IS ANOTHER HOLE STARTING IN THE SAME LOCATION AND SINCE IT IS A BOX FRAME AND SEEMS TO BE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THIS VEHICLE AND PAID CASH FOR IT WITH MONEY WE HAD SAVED. NOW I CANNOT LET MY FAMILY DRIVE THE CAR SINCE I THINK IT IS UNSAFE.
FRAME IS RUSTING THROUGH.
FATAL LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET CORROSION-
MY WIFE WAS COMING FROM WITH AND WAS GETTING ON INTERSTATE WHEN CAR STARTED SWAYING UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN I LOOKED AT IT THE ARM THAT HOLDS THE REAR END HAD ROTED OFF GOOD THING SHE WAS NOT UP TO SPEED
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2000 Toyota 4Runner → · Every 4Runner year → · How the figures are calculated →