2002 Toyota 4Runner complaints

FRONT END FAILED VEHICLE GOT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT THE WALL TOYOTA 4 RUNNER YR 2002

MY CAR HAS BEEN SHAKING IN THE FRONT WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES AND ALSO WHEN I GET TO A SPEED OF ABOUT 70MPH. I REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTERS ON THE CAR, KNOWING THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM, BUT NO MECHANIC COULD FIGURE ANYTHING ELSE OUT AND THEY GAVE THAT A SHOT. I HAVE KEPT THE ORIGINAL BRAKES AND ROTERS TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY FINE. I HAVE SPENT A TOTAL OF ABOUT $133.00 FOR THESE REPAIRS WITH NO SUCCESS. I SEEN THE RECALL THAT WAS POSTED ON THE WORLD NEWS ON 5/17 AND THE SYMPTOMS THAT THEY WERE DESCRIBING MATCHED WHAT MY SUV WAS DOING. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM YET.

APRIL 28, 2005, NO INJURIES. CONTACT STATES HE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. IT WAS RAINY. AND WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO STEER LEFT, BUT STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT GO LEFT. APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY FAILED. THEN, HIT SEMI TRAILER TRUCK ON LEFT SIDE. CONTACT HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS SERVICE RECORDS. *AK

FUEL GAUGE HAND GONE TO FULL AND DROPPED TO EMPTY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

I BOUGHT A 2002 4RUNNER SPORT FROM JIM BARKLEY TOYOTA IN ASHEVILLE NC. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE BRAKES. I HAD THEM CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD THEM TURNED. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN ,AND I HAD TO PUT A NEW SET ON. THEN ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO REPLACE THEM, WHEN WE DID WE ALSO REPLACED THE PADS AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING AND WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND THEY WORKED ON IT AND STATED THAT IT WOULD BE $3000 TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE CALIPERS AND ACTUATOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. I AM SURE WHEN I PAY FOR THIS THE PROBLEM WILL COME BACK AND THEY WILL TRY TO GET EVEN MORE MONEY FROM ME.*AK

I HAVE 2002 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WITH 55,000 MILES. AFTER SEEING BLACK, DARK SMOKE FROM THE EXAUST SYSTEM, I THOUGHT IT NEEDED TUNE-UP. I TOOK TO JOHNSTONS TOYOTA DEALER FOR TUNE-UP (OVER $500.00), AND CAME BACK THE CAR WAS GETTING WORST. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT IT WHY? I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO FLUSH MY ENGINE (ANOTHER $100.00), AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR GOT EVEN WORST. TOOK BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT SERVER SLUDGE AND IT NEEDED TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE TO CLEAN/REPAIR (THEY ASKED ME TO PAY $6,100.00 WHICH I REFUSED). I ASKED DEALER TO CONTACT TOYOTA FOR POWER TRAIN WARRANTEE BUT THEY DECLINED BECAUSE THEY BLAMED FOR LACK OF LUBRICATION. IF ONE FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ENGINE INDICATED THAT LACK OF LUBRICATION, ONE SHOULD CONCLUDE THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE ENGINE (OR SOME OTHER RELATED PARTS) THAT CAUSE TO BURN OIL MORE THAN IT NEEDED. HOWEVER, TOYOTA REFUSE TO REVIEW OR TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT TOYATA DOES NOT BACK UP ITS WARRANTEE AND ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS OF ITS VEHICLE.*AK

2002 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER ENGINE PROBLEM. LIKE OTHER TOYOTA ENGINES, THIS ONE AT 48,000 MILES, HAS A SEVERE SLUDGE BUILD UP PROBLEM DESPITE MAINTENANCE THAT HAS FOLLOWED RECOMMENED PRESECIPTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR ITS POWER TRAIN WARRANTEE IN REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE ENGINE DESPITE THE MALFUNCTION. MUSSON PATOUT HAS ACTED IN A DISHONARABLE AND DISREPUTABLE MANNER IN REPAIRING THIS AUTOMOBILE ACCORDING TO WARRANTEES PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE SIDE OF A DUNLOP AT20 TIRE BLEW OUT. ALMOST HALF OF THE SIDE WALL CAME AWAY FROM THE TREAD. REPLACED THE TIRE. LUCKLY I WAS PULLING UP TO A LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE.

THE REAR DRIVER AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STICK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE RPM JUMPED FROM 700 RPM TO 1500 RPM FOR NO DISCERNIBLE REASON. IF MY FOOT HAD NOT ALREADY BEEN ON THE BRAKE I WOULD HAVE RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.*AK

COMPLAINT: DEFECTIVE VEHICLE SEVERELY ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN IN 'FORWARD DRIVE' ON A HILL. TOYOTA STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED AND FOUND VEHICLE OPERATING TO SPECIFICATIONS. *JB MY OBSERVATION IS THAT THE TOYOTA 2002 4RUNNER IS AN UNSAFE AND DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT I INTEND TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE TOYOTA 2002 4RUNNER IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I LIVED IN A FLAT AREA (MORRIS PLAINS). RECENTLY WE MOVED TO A LOCATION WITH A STEEP DRIVEWAY (700 FEET). SINCE MOVING TO OUR NEW HOME MY WIFE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE SEVERELY ROLLS OPPOSITE THE DESIRED DIRECTION WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL WHILE AT A STOP ON A STEEP HILL. THE PROBLEM IS EXAGGERATED WHEN THE ROADS ARE SLICK, AS THE CAR ALSO SPINS SIDEWAYS DUE TO LOSS OF MOMENTUM FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE IS FORCED TO COMPENSATE CREATING TOTAL LOST OF TRACTION AND DRIVER CONTROL. MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE TOYOTA ADVERTISED IT AS THE VEHICLE THAT CAN TAKE YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD. TOYOTA ACTUALLY SHOWS A VEHICLE CLIMBING A VERY STEEP MOUNTAIN. THAT IS FALSE ADVERTISING! WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE STEEP HILLS SAFELY UNDER A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PARK ON A HILL WITHOUT HITTING

THE CAR'S RESTING IDLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE CAUSING MORE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING KICKING ON, BUT THE AC IS NOT ON. THE SURGE IN IDEL SPEED IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD, MAKING FOR MANY CLOSE CALLS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING UPHILL WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WENT INTO SECOND GEAR AND BEGAN TO SWERVE. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. *MR THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE CENTER CONSOLE AND FLAMED UP TO THE CEILING AND MELTED THE COMPONENTS AROUND THE SUN ROOF, ETC. DUE TO THE WINDOWS BEING SHUT THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE STEMMED FROM THE CELL PHONE CHARGER. *SCC *JB

AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER HAD 2 PREVIOUS TOYOTAS IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED, THE CONSUMER IS NOW CONCERNED ABOUT HIS NEW VEHICLE AND WANTS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM CHECKED OUT, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *JB

IN OCTOBER '02 I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TURNING FROM SOUTH TO WEST AS I WAS TRAVELLING NORTH. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AT ITS PASSENGER FRONT AXLE AND MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. AS CONTACT OCCURRED, I HAD MY WHEELS TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT THUSLY CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY WHIP THE BACK END AROUND CAUSING A SIDE IMPACT AS WELL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED NORTHWARD APPROX. 15-25 FEET BEFORE THE COLLISION CAME TO AN END. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED IN THIS OCCURRENCE WITH DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE. AND, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BOTH SIDES, LEFT REAR WHEEL, AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THE OPPOSING VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED OUT AND MY VEHICLE HAS INITIAL ESTIMATES IN THE $16,000-$17,000 PRICE RANGE. TO MY COMPLAINT, THREE THINGS HAPPENED THAT BROUGHT ME GREAT CONCERN. FIRST, AS I WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE BY APPLYING MY BRAKES AND TURNING MY WHEELS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SLIPPED OFF OF THE FRAME OF THE WHEEL INSTANTLY DEFLATING LEAVING ME WITH ONLY ONE GOOD TIRE TO BRAKE ON. SECOND, UPON CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK OUT CAUSING ME TO BE JETTISONED UP OUT OF MY SEAT AND FORWARD INTO THE FRAMEWORK WHERE THE ROOF, FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COME TOGETHER. HEAD, NECK, AND HIGH SPINAL INJURIES OCCURRED. THIRDLY, THE AIR BAGS AT NO TIME DEPLOYED. SPEED ESTIMATES UPON IMPACT

REAR VIEW MIRROR IS POSITIONED TO LOW FROM ROOF OF VEHICLE WHICH CREATES A SERIOUS BLIND SPOT. DRIVER IS OF AVERAGE HEIGHT ( 5'11" ) WHENEVER DRIVING AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR A SHARP CURVE TO THE RIGHT DRIVER HAS TO TILT HEAD OVER TO LOOK UNDER MIRROR TO LOOK FOR ON COMING TRAFFIC. DT

THE CONSUMER NOTICED FROM THE WHEN THEY FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT IT VIBRATES (AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCED THE FOUR TIRES AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. (THE STEERING WHEEL(S) WERE NOT STRAIGHT AND PULLING FROM SIDE TO SIDE) THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND ON ONE OCCASION WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND ON THE SECOND THE REP NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTERED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR A LAST TIME (AFTER HAVING LEGAL ASSISTANCE) AND WAS TOLD THAT A STEERING CONCERN EXISTS, AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE PROBLEM REOCCURED-WHICH WAS THE LAST STRAW. AT THIS POOINT THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING A NEW VEHICLE OR THEIR MONEY BACK. *SCC *TS

OPERATING VEHICLE IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 55 MPH. TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE TACHOMETER WENT FROM 2,200 RPM TO EXCESS OF 5,000 RPM. VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH AND WAS CONTINUING ACCELERATION WHEN OPERATOR DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND STOPPED ACCELERATION. ONLY ONE OCCURANCE AND NO RECURRENCE ON REMAINING 6 MILES TO HOME. VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT COMMAND FROM OPERATOR. MR

WE TAUGHT THAT WE BOUGHT THE SAFEST CAR. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR VIBRATES WHILE DRIIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THAT IT IS PULLING SIDE TO SIDE. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON MAY 20, 2002, JUNE01 AND 08, 2002, JULY 01, 2002, AND LAST TIME ON AUGUST 13, 2002. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. WE WANT TO HAVE IT RETURNED OR GET OUR MONEY BACK DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX IT AFTER VISITING THE SERVICE FIVE TIMES. WE HAVE ALL WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT CAN VERIFY EVERY FACT WE STATED. IF YOU NEED IT WE WILL SEND IT TO YOU. SINCERELY, [XXX] & [XXX] MR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD FOLDED UNDER THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND GRAZE A LOW RETAINING WALL, DRAGGING THE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS GIVEN A HARD TIME BY DEALER/MANUFACTURER IN TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. AN INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT A TOYOTA MANUFACTURING DEFECT WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER EXPECTS TO BE PAID FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RETURN/REMOVAL AND RE-INSTALLATION OF ITS AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES, THE COST OF RENTAL CAR, THE TOWING CHARGES, THE SON'S LOSS OF WORK AND HIS EXTREME DISTRESS OVER THE PROBLEM. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE, SMOOTH, DRY, SUNNY ROAD, FRONT WHEEL ASSEBLY FOLDED UNDER THE CAR , CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A RETAINING WALL, AFTER WHICH THE TIRE BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH SLID TO A STOP.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE WHEN STARTING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK