2002 Toyota 4Runner complaints

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE RECENTLY AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT I HAVE SOME MAJOR RUST ISSUES ON MY REAR AXLE AND DRIVETRAIN. HE SHOULD ME WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE BOLT AND CLIP THAN HOLDS THE BRAKE LINE DOWN ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN OFF OF THE DIFFERENTIAL COVER. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS NOW LEAKING GEAR OIL. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT IT IS TOO RISKY TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR AS IT MAY CAUSE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL TO BE DAMAGED AND THE WHOLE REAR AXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO SAID THAT IT IS A RISK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IS POSSIBLY UNSAFE TO KEEP DRIVING. HE STATED THAT IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MUCH LONGER I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE REAR AXLE CEASES.

THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS ROTTING OUT WITH RUST. THE 4RUNNER HAS NEVER BEEN IN SNOW AND HAS BEEN TAKEN WELL CARE OF AND THE FRAME IS STILL ERODING AWAY WITH RUST AT AN UNNATURAL RATE. THIS ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED FOR THE SAKE OF SO MANY UNAWARE OWNERS!

I VISITED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGE) AND INSPECTION OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RAISED ON THE LIFT, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASKED ME TO JOIN HIM AND THE SHOP MECHANIC IN THE SERVICE BAY WHERE I WAS SHOWN THAT THE FRAME / CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED THE POINT WHERE IN THEIR OPINION IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, I HAD AGREED WITH THEIR ASSESSMENT. AN ONLINE SEARCH FOR A RECALL NOTICE WAS PERFORMED, BUT NONE WAS FOUND. OTHERWISE, THIS VEHICLE IS IN METICULOUS CONDITION WITH NO BODY DAMAGE OR RUST OR ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON RIGHT SIDE FROM MIDDLE OF THE FRAME TO JUST OVER THE REAR AXEL. THERE ARE LARGE HOLES AND RUSTED SLOTS THAT ARE OVER 10 INCHES LONG DAMAGE STARTS BEFORE THE REAR SUSPENSHION SUPPORT AND CONTINUES TO THE OTHER SIDE AND THE SIDE WHERE THE RUST HAS CAUSED HOLES AND LONG SLOTS THE WHOLE FRAME CAN BE SQUEEZED EASILY WITH YOUR HAND.

RUST THROUGH ON THE FRAME.

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER THAT WAS TAKEN IN FOR YEARLY STATE INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A REJECTION STICKER HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW. THE VEHICLE STILL LOOKS AND RUNS VERY WELL, BUT UNABLE TO DRIVE.

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH. THERE IS A HOLE IN FRAME BECAUSE OF RUST.

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WHILE REPLACING EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS. FOUND WHAT APPEARED TO BE MINOR RUST ON THE PASSENGER (RIGHT) SIDE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED A LARGER AREA OF RUST ALONG THE 3 WELDS ON THE INNER FRAME RAIL. CUT / GROUND THE METAL BACK TO GOOD METAL AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF PATCHING FOR MY YEARLY MAINE VEHICLE INSPECTION. EITHER TOYOTA HAS BUILT AN INFERIOR FRAME OR THE NEWER CHEMICALS BEING USED TO KEEP THE ROADS CLEAR IN THE WINTER TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS RUST WHICH COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL AT THIS POINT IN THE FRAME AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT.

FRAME AND SOME SUSPENSION PARTS ARE VERY RUSTED, FRAME HAS HOLES AND IS BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD, ONLY 100100 MILES. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION POP'S WHEN STRESSED IN CORNERING. WHEN AT IDLE, YOU CAN HEAR THE VIBRATION FROM RUST CHUNKS IN THE FRAME. ALL HEAT SHIELDS RUSTED. SKID PLATES ON FRONT AND FUEL TANK SO RUSTED MUST REMOVE. NOW NOTHING IS PROTECTING THE FUEL TANK.

MY FRAME IS ROTTING OUT. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR AXLE BECAUSE IT HAD ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH. IT WAS ACTUALLY WEAPING GEAR OIL OUT OF SMALL HOLES THROUGH THE ROT. SOME OF THE FRAME HAD TO BE WELDED TO PASS INSPECTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM ON THE VEHICLE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR END HOUSING AND AXLE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 11/20/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRAME OF THE WAS ALSO BADLY RUSTED. UPDATED 2.3.16 *JS *CN

AFTER BUYING THIS VEHICLE I WAS UNDERNEATH VEHICLE TO REPAIR A AXLE SEAL LEAKING AND FOUND EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST ON PASSENGER REAR OF FRAME. BY EXTENSIVE I MEAN THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH! I HAVE LIVED IN OHIO ALL OF MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE AND OF THIS YEAR HAVE SUCH SEVERE FRAME RUST! AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED REAR END HOUSING WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE RUST ON THE FRAME IS SEVERELY PERFORATED AT POINT WHERE TRAILING ARM FOR THE REAR END ATTACHES TO THE FRAME! I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE BUYING VEHICLE BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OF SOME SORT! THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE FRAMES IN THIS CONDITION AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS!

TOOK VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION, WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE WELDED. TOOK IT TOOK A WELDING SHOP, THAT DOES THIS TYPE OF WORK. WE WERE THEN TOLD BY THE GENTLEMEN DOING THE WORK THAT IT WAS THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD OF ISSUES WITH 4RUNNER RUSTING ISSUES AND SAID IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. HE KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY. WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAW A PHOTO OF IT AND STATED JUST FROM THE PICTURES IT WOULD BE OVER $2,000 TO FIX IT. WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS. JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES THEN IN JAPAN. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER.

FRAME RUSTED UNDER 4 RUNNER AND ON BUMPER TOLD BY PERSON WORKING ON SWAY BAR LINKS. STATED EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRAME AND REAR AXLE.

FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HAS HOLES IN PARTS OF IT. THE REST OF THE BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. ENGINE RUNS WELL AND THERE ARE OTHERWISE NO MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. UPON HAVING A MINOR REPAIR DONE, INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE FRAME IN THAT CONDITION AS IT IS ABOUT TO CRACK IN HALF. THIS SEEMS TO BE PREMATURELY FAILING COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE RACK AND PINION WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILRUE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE ENTIRE FRAME AND OTHER PARTS OF THE UNDERBODY ARE RUSTED. THE BRAKES BOTH FRONT AND BACK WERE ALSO RUSTED. I PULLED OFF FROM THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED TO PICKUP MY DOGS. WHEN I TRIED TO LEAVE MY BRAKES WERE GONE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC HE SAID BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR

THE FRAME ON THE 2002 4-RUNNER HAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND CAUSED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO DEEM THE VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. EVEN THOUGH THIS A RECOGNIZED DESIGN FAILURE, TOYOTA REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED TUNDRA MODELS FOR THIS DEFECT, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE 4-RUNNER DESIGN FLAW SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED COMPLETELY AT THEIR HINO JAPAN PLANT. *TR

VEHICLE BUCKED AND SWAYED AS REAR FRAME SEPARATED AT THE JOINT ON DRIVER SIDE WAS UNAWARE OF ISSUE BEFORE THIS TRIED TO FIND SWAY BAR ISSUE IT WAS SPOTTED AT A DISTANCE BY COWORKER. *TR

THE FRAME IS RUSTING ALMOST IN TWO. LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BREAK ANY TIME. REAR AXEL IS ALSO VERY RUSTED WITH PIECES FALLING OFF. *TR

2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR5, 98,000 MILES. ALWAYS DEALER SERVICED. THIS WILL BE MY LAST STATE NYS INSPECTION AS I WILL BE UNABLE TO HAVE THE TRUCK INSPECTED IN 2015 DUE TO BODY FRAME ROT, NEED TO INCUR COSTS TO REPLACE BODY FRAME. TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FRAME ROT. HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE BUMPER, THE GAS TANK SHIELD AND HAVE BEEN TOLD FRONT OIL PAN SHIELD NEEDS REPLACING AS DEALER CAN NOT PERFORM OIL CHANGE, DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA WAITING FOR A REPLY. *TR

I WAS HAVING SERVICE WORK DONE AT TOYOTA ON MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTING THROUGH, NEAR THE MUFFLER AND THE FRAME WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. HE SAID WAS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE TOYOTA TACOMA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TACOMA. THE RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD SEEN OTHER 4RUNNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND EVEN SUGGESTED TO THOSE OWNERS THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *JS

VSC, TRAC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. HIGH PITCHED BUZZER/ALARM STARTED AND REMAINED CONSTANT. BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO DEPRESS AND I LOST MOST BRAKING POWER. *TR

FRAME AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTING OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILING ARM WAS CORRODED AND THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS RUSTED, LEAKED FLUID INTERMITTENTLY AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE HOLES TO THE POINT THAT THE COMPONENT MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

EXTENSIVE RUST THRU ON DRIVERS SIDE OF FRAME, REAR SUSPENSION LINK RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE COMPLETE FAILURE IN COMING SOON. LAST TWO FEET OF FRAME COMPLETELY GONE. DOUBT IT WILL PASS ANOTHER SAFETY INSPECTION WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT REPAIR. REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED TO THE POINT GEAR OIL LEAKS. THIS IS COMMON ON ALL 4 RUNNERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED JUST LIKE THE TACOMAS. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH, THE WHOLE THING HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE IS NO SEPARATE COVER THE REPAIR COST MAY BE HIGH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE FRAME TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME AND REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

MY 2002 4RUNNER WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM TOYOTA IN NOVEMBER OF 2001. I LIVE IN NEW YORK SO IT DOES SNOW 2 OR 3 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. IT HAS BEEN USED AS A SECOND VEHICLE TO PICK UP SUPPLIES AND THE LIKE, OTHERWISE IT IS RARELY USED. AT THIS TIME IT HAS APPROX. 139000 MILES. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THERE IS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF RUST UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE FRAME, THE GAS TANK, ETC. THE PROBLEM IS THE FUEL PUMP BUT BECAUSE OF SO MUCH RUST, REMOVING THE GAS TANK TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE COMPONENTS CONNECTING THE TANK TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A SHAME THAT TOYOTA SELLS A VEHICLE THAT MAY NEED TO BE JUNKED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST IT HAS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 4RUNNER AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. I BOUGHT A 1999 CAMRY BRAND NEW PRIOR TO THE 4RUNNER AND I HAD IT FOR 12 YEARS BEFORE GIVING IT TO A FRIEND WHO STILL DRIVES IT TO THIS DAY AND IT HAS NO RUST. THE 4RUNNER RUNS GREAT ALL OF THE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT BUT I AM BEING TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THE BODY OF MY TRUCK COULD FALL FROM THE FRAME. AT 139000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. TOYOTA SHOULD OFFER SOME KIND OF REPAIR TO THESE ISSUES. MY TRUCK LOOKS ALMOST BRAND NEW EXCEPT FOR SOME RUST ON THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS AND NOW I MAY HAVE TO JUNK IT. *TR

4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT WORK. VCS LITES AND CHECK ENGINE LITES ON. CAR ENGINE FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. DETAILS: DROVE ON FREEWAY AND LOST TRACTION AND THAN ON SHOULDER WITH ABOVE PROBLEM. DIFFERENTIAL REPAIRED. TWO DAYS LATER LITES ON AGAIN AND OIL LEAK. *TR

RUST PERFORATION IN RIGHT SIDE REAR FRAME RAIL ACROSS FROM FUEL TANK INBOARD SIDE. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE TACOMA (SAME YEAR) FOR THE SAME ISSUES HOWEVER HAS NOT RECALLED THE 4RUNNER. CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION NOR CAN DEALER REPAIR. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, A BROKEN ARM, AND SUSTAINED CUTS ON HER LEGS FROM THE BROKEN GLASS THAT WERE STITCHED. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DECLARED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS TRYING TO PASS A CAR DOING A LITTLE OVER 55 MPH AND HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND STOP THE AS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS OIL WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE MOTOR. THE OIL SERVICE WAS KEPT UP TO DATE AND WAS JUST CHANGED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD. MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. (AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH 4 RUNNER ENGINES WHEN THEY REACH 75000 MLES OR MORE. I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM.) I WAS LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THAT I WASN'T ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO. I HAVE EMAILED TOYOTA. *TR

THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME RAILS WHICH SUPPORT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE THUS WEAKENING THE CRITICAL SUPPORTIVE COMPONENTS. THIS CREATES A POSSIBLE DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH MAY GO UNNOTICED UNTIL FAILURE OCCURS. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FOR THE 4RUNNERS. *TR

I FILED A NHTSA COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER 10569206 WAS ASSIGNED) ON 13 MARCH 2014 ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. ON 14 MARCH 2014, I TOOK MY 4RUNNER TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LOGGING A COMPLAINT ( CASE NUMBER [XXX] ) WITH THEM ON THE 14TH OF MARCH 2014 AT THEIR OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TELLING ME DOCUMENTATION OF THE ISSUE AT MY DEALERSHIP WOULD HELP ME. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN NY AND REMAINED UP NORTH FOR 10 YEARS AND ACCORDING TO EMERSON TOYOTA AUBURN, ME RECORDS AT 85,199 MILES ON 07/11/2012. SERVICE ADVISER, [XXX] CONDITION1 AT 85,199 MILES . USED CAR PREP. VEHICLE BEING WHOLESALED PER RICH. NEEDS ENGINE LIGHT ON, A/C INOP, REAR AXLE HOUSING VERY RUSTED AND CRACKED, HOOD LATCH INOP, RADIATOR LEAKING, FRAME IS SOFT. IT HAD 85,404 MILES WHEN IT CAME TO FLORIDA ON 07 SEPTEMBER 2012 MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 WITH ONLY 112109 MILES AT COGGIN TOYOTA AT THE AVENUES DEALERSHIP ON PHILIPS HWY IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AT 12:20PM ON 14 MARCH 2014 MY COMPLAINT AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 14 MARCH 20014 AT 12:20.........CUSTOMER STATES REAR SUBFRAME IS RUSTED. CHECK AND ADVISE. THEIR FINDINGS AT 12:55PM ON 14 MARCH 2014... CASE NUMBER [XXX], FOUND SEVERE FRAME RUST, HOLES IN FRAME ON RIGHT SIDE, HOLES RUSTED THROUGH FRAME BY GAS TANK ON LEFT SIDE.HOLES RUSTED THROUGH GAS TANK AND LEAKING FUEL. UPPER REAR TRACK BAR BRACKET RUSTED OFF OF REAR END HOUSING, REAR SHOCKS RUSTED OFF. FRONT BRAKE ROTOR BACKING PLATES RUSTED THROUGH. THE

MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SE5 WITH 112,080 MILES. I HAVE SEVERE FRAME RUST ON THIS VEHICLE. HOLES THOUGH FRAME ON RIGHT SIDE AND FRAME TO REAR AXLE IS COMPLETELY BROKEN TO RIGHT SIDE OF ATTACHMENT AT DIFFERENTIAL AXLE. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE U.S VERSION OF THE TACOMA TRUCK WHICH IS THE SAME FRAME, ETC. AS THE 4RUNNER BUT NOT THE 4RUNNER WHICH IS MADE IN JAPAN WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND TRUTH BE KNOWN UNDRIVEABLE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA 4RUNNER FORUM IS FULL OF THESE 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADD THE 3RD GENERATION 4 RUNNER TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON THE TACOMA, TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA VEHICLES. *TR

VEHICLE FRAME, FRONT & REAR BUMPERS AND UNDERCARRIAGE HAVE EXCESSIVE / UNSAFE RUST CORROSION. *TR

REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY ROT! NOW LEAKING ON REAR NON REPLACEABLE YOKE COVER. 1800-2000 DOLLAR FIX. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE AXLE ASSEMBLY HAS NO TAGS!!!! TOLD BY DEALER DOOR TAGS ARE OFTEN WRONG SO ORDERING RECYCLED (IF YOU CAN FIND ONE IN BETTER SHAPE) IS A GAMBLE!!!! HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE TRUCK OTHER WISE BUT NOW IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY ARE PROFITING FROM THERE DESIGN FLAWS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,500.

(THERE WAS NO CATEGORY OFFERED FOR FRAME). DURING A RECENT AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE FOR BRAKES ON 9-26-13 FOR MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, I WAS NOTIFIED OF A RUST PERFORATION IN THE FRAME BODY NEAR A REAR SUPPORT MOUNT FOR THE AXLE MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR OPERATION. THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE RUST FORMS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE FRAME AND WORKS ITS WAY OUT DESTROYING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN USED TO WORK AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND KNEW EXACTLY WHERE TO LOOK FROM HIS PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER 4RUNNER FAILURES. THE TOYOTA DEALER INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. MY ?02 4RUNNER IS FROM THE SAME GENERATION (3RD) AND OF SIMILAR DESIGN TO THE TACOMA THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THIS THE DEALER INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT THE TORRANCE, CA TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AS HIS DEALERSHIP WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST IN ANYWAY. IT WAS CLEAR THEY HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS BEFORE. THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH TOYOTA CA THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF PROVIDING ANY MEANS OF RELIEF FOR A KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED SAFETY PROBLEM. ONE REP DID COMMENT THAT THE TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA HAD BEEN RECENTLY ADDED TO THE RECALL BUT THE 4RUNNER WAS ?NOT YET? ON THE RECALL LIST. IT SEEMS TOYOTA VIEWS THE PRODUCTS TO BE DIFFERENT DUE TO THE BODY STYLE DIFFERENCES OR US VS JAPANESE BUILT PRODUCTS. THEY ALSO CLEARLY HAVE NO INTENTION TO ESCALATE INTERNALLY. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND NTSB. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWS THAT THERE IS A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS CLEARLY CHOOSIN

2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE GAS PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, HE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER DID STATE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.

MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (PART # 89452-35030) THAT CAUSES LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING (AT ALL SPEEDS). *JB THIS LOSS OF POWER IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR WILL BE DRIVING ALONG AT A STABLE SPEED AND THEN SUDDENLY JUST START SLOWING DOWN EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT STAYS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS LOSS OF SPEED PUTS ME AT SERIOUS RISK TO BE REAR-ENDED BY A CAR BEHIND ME OR POTENTIALLY GET HIT FROM THE SIDE AS I AM CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. MY MECHANICS AND I HAVE DIAGNOSED THE TPS AS THE ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM (THERE ARE MULTIPLE FORUMS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS). HERE ARE SOME OF THEM BELOW: HTTP://WWW.YOTATECH.COM/F2/THROTTLE-BODY-SENSOR-89452-35030-A-239929/ HTTP://WWW.TTORA.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=16753 HTTP://WWW.TTORA.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=13283 HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG/3RD-GEN-T4RS/118506-THROTTLE-POSITION-SENSOR.HTML PLEASE GET TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PART. IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GET DEALT WITH BEFORE THERE ARE MORE SERIOUS INCIDENTS. THANKS.

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH AT LOWER CONTROL ARM AREA. TOYOTA HAS HAD RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS FOR RUSTED FRAMES BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGING 4RUNNER FRAME ISSUES THAT ARE DANGEROUS. *TR

VIBRATION FROM BRAKING CAUSING VERY DECREASED VEHICLE CONTROL POSING VERY INCREASED ACCIDENT RISK. TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER 02 LIMITED, RECURRENCE OF PULSING BRAKE PEDAL AND VERY HIGH VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS AFTER SHORT OR LONG MOUNTAIN DESCENTS AT NORMAL / POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL PASSENGER LOADS (NOT HAULING), CLEAR DRY CONDITIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. FIRST TIME, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT THE DEALER BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS EXPENSE UNDER 60K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT MOST 7K MILES A YEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED OVER AND OVER AND POSES A SERIOUS HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS AND OTHER HIGHWAY TRAVELERS. SEARCHING THE WEB, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF WARPED ROTORS WHICH TOYOTA DEALERS ARE SAYING IS DRIVER ERROR / NORMAL USE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE MUCH AND NOT HARD. MY USE WOULD QUALIFY AS NORMAL HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY ME IN 2008 AND I HAVE REPLACED ROTORS EVERY YEAR. I HAVE PURCHASED THE SLOTTED ROTORS WITH CERAMIC AS WELL AS SEMI METALLIC WITH NO BENEFIT . CERTAINLY THE EXPENSE OF AGAIN REPLACING ROTORS IS CONCERNING, BUT REALLY, THE AMOUNT OF VIBRATION AND DECREASED CONTROL CAUSES ME TO BE VERY CONCERNED FOR MY, AND OTHERS, SAFETY. EVEN IF THE ROTORS ARE REPLACED, IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT THE VIBRATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL WILL RETURN IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF NORMAL USE. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO ADMIT THEIR VEHICLES HAVE FAULTY ASSEMBLY WHICH CAUSES EXCESS

2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 05V225000 AUTO RECALL DATE: 05/17/2005 VEHICLE COMPONENT: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT ESTIMATED VEHICLES AFFECTED: 768379 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER DEFECT SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT. DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. *TR

THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS RUSTING OUT AND IS SEEPING FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE FRAME IS DANGEROUSLY RUSTED, ESPECIALLY FROM THE REAR AXLE BACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A VERY REPUTABLE BODY SHOP IN THE AREA, THAT THE FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST, THIS IS NOT PRACTICAL. TOYOTA IS REPLACING FRAMES ON THEIR TUNDRA PICKUPS DUE TO RUST, BUT REFUSES TO COVER 4RUNNERS, THOUGH THEY SHARE THE SAME FRAME. IF I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY THE DEALER REGULARLY, I WOULD BE UNAWARE OF THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE FRAME. *TR

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON ACCELERATION IF TIRES SPIN...MORE THAN ONE CLOSE CALL! HAPPENING SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW. *TR

RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND STARTED CLEANING IT, AFTER I DROVE IT HOME AND PRESSURE WASHED UNDERCARRIAGE, PIECES OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL STARTED FLYING OFF AND GEAR OIL STARTED RUNNING OUT OF HOLES. I HAVE A 1971 DODGE CHALLENGER WITH ORIGINAL REAR END THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN GARAGE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A REAREND RUST LIKE THIS. I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT HOW STRONG THE AXLE HOUSING STRUCTURE IS AND IF IT COULD POSSIBLE BREAK IN HALF WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. *TR

WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND AT THAT MOMENT THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THAT WAS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY LOST IT'S BRAKES. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HEADQUATER TOYOTA AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE "HYDRAULIC BRAKES POWER BOOSTER ASSEMBLY" HAD FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $3127.00.