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 2003 record →
Frame rusted to the point the shop won’t fix the brakes and allow me to drive the car. The brake line rusted through since it was attached to the frame and when repairing the brakes they found the frame rusted too bad and coming apart. Looking online this seems to be a common problem with this year Toyota 4Runner.
Three mechanics said the frame was rusted with holes and is unsafe to drive. The vehicle is not inspectable, so had to have mechanic weld Steele on frame to be able to pass inspection.
FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT RUSTED, GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ROTTED/RUSTED. REAR SWAY BARS ARE ROTTED OFF THE FRAME. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FRAME ISSUE AS THE TACOMA AND SEQUOIA FRAMES THAT ARE ON RECALL.
ADDING MY NAME TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE AND PREMATURE FRAME RUST ON THEIR 4RUNNER, POTENTIALLY CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A COLLISION. TOYOTA ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE TACOMA, SEQUOIA, AND TUNDRA OF THE SAME YEARS, AND THEY SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR THE 4RUNNER.
I HEARD THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION ON THESE FRAMES SO MINE IS ROTTING AWAY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP18002. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MY 2003 4RUNNER IS STARTING TO EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE FRAME. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. I CONTACTED A BODY SHOP TO INQUIRE ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY GET INQUIRIES ABOUT THE 2003 4RUNNER OFTEN YET THEY DO NOT LIKE WORKING ON THEM AS THE FRAME IS CONSTRUCTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS THE CORROSION ISSUES. I'M REPORTING THIS TO HELP FACILITATE THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THE INVESTIGATION.
I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS ABOUT RUST ISSUES WITH THIS FRAME, BUT THE REFUSE TO FIX IT. THEY RECALLED THE TACOMA, TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA OF THE SAME YEAR FOR THIS REASON. THE FRAME RUSTS AND FALLS APART. WHILE DRIVING UP MY ROAD I FELT THE REAR OF THE CAR SHIFT TO THE SIDE, I TURNED AROUND AND WENT STRAIGHT HOME TO FIND THE FRAME AT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BROKEN. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE BROKEN AREA, BUT CAN SEND MORE PICTURES OF THE ENTIRE FRAME IF NEEDED.
THE FRAME IS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT THE MAJORITY OF ITS LIFE IN A N UNDERGROUND GARAGE PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS, AS WELL AS IN FLORIDA. IT HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE, AND NO OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
WE BOUGHT A USED TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN SEPTEMBER 2017 FROM A USED CAR DEALER. THE VEHICLE LOOKED GREAT AND DROVE AMAZING BUT AFTER HAVING IT SERVICED WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTY ON THE FRAME AND TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. OVER TIME THE VEHICLE GOT WORSE AND WE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WERE TOLD IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE A FRAME OR BE REPAIRED. ESSIMATE AROUND $5000 SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FINANCED WE DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AS WE WERE TOLD IT IS UNSAFE. WE DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE IS THIS COVERED UDER THE LEMON LAW. TOYOTA WIL NOT DO ANYTHING REGARDING THIS. BUT IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECITIVE PROUDUCT. THEY WERE RECALLS DONE ON TOYOTA TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT THE 4 RUNNER. PLEASE ADD ME TO ANY PENDING LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
FRAME IS RUSTED OUT, EXCESSIVE RUST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. SWAY BAR MOUNTS FOR REAR AXLE HAVE RUSTED OUT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE
EXTREME RUST AND CORROSION IN FRAME, SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THIS WILL LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT SOME POINT IF HOLES AND FRAME DETERIORATION IS NOT ADDRESSED QUICKLY.
OUR 2003 4RUNNER FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGHOUT. NOT EVEN SAFE TO DRIVE WITH 127,000 MILES. THE CONTROL ARM IS READY TO FALL OFF. THANKFULLY, A BUSTED BRAKE LINE GOT US INTO THE SHOP BEFORE A BAD ACCIDENT HAPPENED. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT SPENDING $4000 ON FRAMEWORK TO MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. SO SAD THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOW FOR YEARS AND NO ONE IS MAKING TOYOTA MAKE IT RIGHT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. WE WERE READY TO TAKE A 1000 MILE TRIP FROM ALABAMA TO TEXAS WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RUST. MY MECHANIC STUCK A PENCIL THROUGH THE FRAME! IT'S SOOOOO BAD! PLEASE DO SOMETHING!
THE WHOLE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED. IT CAN'T EVEN BE DRIVEN. MY BRAKE LINE BUSTED THE OTHER DAY (WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR) AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE THE USE OF MY BRAKES. WE ARE OKAY, AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LINE. BUT MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO STICK A PEN THROUGH THE FRAME. HE SAID WITH THIS EXCESSIVE RUST, I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTA BECAUSE OF RUST. HOPING YOU CAN INVESTIGATE AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. THANK YOU!
EXTREME CORROSION OF FRAME AND BRACKETS
LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION, EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION TO FRAME OF VEHICLE FOUND. HOLES IN FRAME LARGER THAN 2 INCHES.
THE FRAME OF MY CAR IS CORRODING AT AN ALARMING RATE AND EVEN AFTER TREATMENT IT CONTINUES TO RUST TO THE POINT WHERE MY CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE
MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER'S FRAME HAS OUTRAGEOUS RUST ISSUES. I HAVE AS BIG AS QUARTER SIZE HOLES THAT HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS MY FAMILY CAR TRANSPORTING MY KIDS AND IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR TOYOTA TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND REFUSE TO RESOLVE IT.
EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON FRAME. THE SKID PLATE HAS FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE DUE TO ROTTEN CONTACT POINTS ON THE FRAME. SECONDARY FRAME ELEMENTS HAVE FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE IN TRANSIT DUES TO CORRODED WELDS. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FRAME CORROSION ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED TWO MAIN SUPPORT AREAS IS SEVERE CORROSION JUST LIKE THE RECALLED TACOMA'S.*JB
THE REAR TIRE ASSEMBLY RIPPED LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS..A LOUD CLUNK NOISE....THEN .BRAKES WERE LOST AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHOWED WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD...CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE...MASSIVE RUST AT FAILURE POINTS
REAR OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE FRAME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AN I LOOKED AT IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AN LOOKED AT THE FRAME JUST FIGURED MAYBE THE REST OF THE FRAME WOULD BE FINE BUT IT WAS NOT.
REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF AT THE FRAME AFTER STRIKING POTHOLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND ALMOST LED TO A ROLLOVER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND HAD TO BE TOWED. TOYOTA RECALLED TUNDRA'S, TACOMA'S, AND SEQUOIA'S FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT SO IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WILL TOYOTA BE HELD LIABLE FOR ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM PREMATURE FRAME FAILURE? BY RECALLING THE OTHER MODELS THEY OBVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A PROBLEM AND 4RUNNERS SHARE THE SAME PLATFORM AS THE TACOMA SO WHY WERE THEY NOT INCLUDED?
THE AUTO HAS 130,000 BUT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES AND IS CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR5 WAS SWAYING BACK AND FORTH AT SPEEDS UP TO 35 MPH SOMETHING IS WRONG THINKING MAYBE THE SWAY BARS SO TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER HE DROVE IT AND PUT IT UP ON A LIFT HE WAS FRIGHTENED ON HOW MUCH RUST AND SEPARATION ON THE FRAME ESPECIALLY THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MUFFLER COMPLETE SEPARATION AND THEN YOU WALK TO THE MIDDLE ANY DAY NOW THAT WOULD HAVE SEPARATED .I WAS TOLD TO TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK TAKE IT BACK TO MY HOUSE WHICH IS ABOUT TWO-THREE MILES AWAY WHICH I DID BUT NOW IT SITS IN MY GARAGE - AND WITH ONLY 139,000 MILE ON IT NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OR SELL UNLESS ITS FOR JUNK.
SEVERE RUST.
SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRAME. HAS GONE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME.
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED. GREAT VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FRAME RUSTING AND HAVING WEAK SPOTS. WE HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATIONS. THESE ARE BUILT ON A TRUCK FRAME AND THE TOYOTA SEQUOIAS, TUNDRAS AND TACOMA'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE.
I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. RIGHT AFTER I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. IT WAS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN OR IS THIS COMMON? ALSO, SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF MY CAR, THE PAINT STARTED TO PEEL ON THE REAR HATCH BELOW THE LICENSE ON THE LEFT, WHERE THERE ARE SOMEWHAT SHARP ANGLES. TOYOTA REPAINTED THE REAR HATCH, EXCLUDING THE SPOILER. I JUST NOTICED TWO RUST SPOTS ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. IT APPEARS WATER IS SEEPING IN FROM ABOVE THE BLACK STRIP AND PONDING ON THR BOTTOM OF IT (ABOVE THE WINDOW), RESULTING IN RUST. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS COMMON OR A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BLACK STRIP WAS REMOVED TO REPAINT, OR WASN'T SEALED AS WELL BY THE FACTORY?
EXCESSIVE RUST / ROT ON THE FRAME LIKE THE TACOMA, SEQUOIA, AND TUNDRA. TOYOTA HASNT PUT ANYTHING OUT FOR THE 4RUNNERS. FOUND DAMAGE 31OCT2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HOLES ON THE SUBFRAME. ADDITIONALLY, THE CALIPERS WERE STICKING AND THE OIL PAN WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT COMPLETED THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAMEY TOYOTA (135 FRAZIER DR, PRINCETON, WV 24740, (877) 825-2186) AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SUBFRAME WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 55,000.
VEHICLE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED AND ROTTED TO THE POINT WHERE THERE ARE HOLES IN THE FRAME ITSELF MAKING IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS AROUND THE SAME YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH SIMILAR FRAME ISSUES, DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE WHY TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THE 2003 4RUNNER FRAMES YET. VEHICLE IS OVER 205,000 MILES AND WOULD PROBABLY RUN ANOTHER 200K IF NOT FOR THE FRAME WHICH MAKES THIS CAR ALMOST UNDRIVE-ABLE. FRAME TO BE REPLACED ASAP.
FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT EVEN THOUGHT THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE. I AM AFRAID TO LET MY SON EVEN DRIVE THE CAR. I READ ABOUT THE GIRL THAT DIED FROM THE AXLE COMING LOOSE AND PART OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE AXLE IS IN HORRIBLE SHAPE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADD THESE VEHICLES TO THE FRAME RECALL...
THE RUST ON THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE SEEN IN COMPARISON TO IT'S AGE. I WORK ON VEHICLES FREQUENTLY AND HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN A MODERN AGE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLES THAT ARE OVER 40 YEARS OLD THAT I OWN OR WORK ON DON'T HAVE RUST THAT IS REMOTELY THIS BAD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE ENTIRE WELD LINE OF THE FRAME RAILS TO BE CORRODED THROUGH IN AN APPROXIMATELY 28" SECTION. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE ENTIRE BOTTOM SECTION OF THAT RAIL WAS RUSTED OUT TO BE EXTREMELY THIN AND SEPARATED AT THE SEAM, ENTIRELY COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME RAIL. 2 OF THE BODY MOUNTS ARE ALSO RUSTED OUT AS WELL AS SOME OF THE SUSPENSION MOUNT COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE IS AT RISK FOR HAVING THE SPRING AND STRUT ASSEMBLY OR THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY DETACHING FROM THE FRAME UNDER NORMAL OPERATION CONDITIONS. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY RISK AS IT COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE LOSING ALL STEERING CONTROL. LUCKILY IT WAS FOUND BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT HAS 165K MILES AND I WAS TOLD IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FRAME HAVING CRACK DUE TO RUST.
I WAS READY TO GIVE 4RUNNER TO MY DAUGHTER AND ASK TOYOTA DEALER TO INSPECT AND GIVE ME RUN DOWN OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 150000 MILES. ONE OF THE LINE ITEM SAYS FRAME NEED PATCHES. UPON A CLOSER LOOK, THERE IS A RUST ON SPECIFIC SIDES OF THE FRAME. THE RUST IS LOCATED VERY SPECIFIC IN THE JOINT. THE RUST HAS PENETRATED DEEP INTO THE STEEL AROUND HALF INCH AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH IF NOT REPAIRED WILL CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE EVEN IN NON COLLISION ACCIDENT BECAUSE JUST THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AND DRIVING IN ROUGH TERRAIN WILL CUT THE BODY IN THE MIDDLE INTO 2 SECTIONS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED CAUSING BOTH REAR CONTROL ARMS TO DETACH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THERE WERE SEVERAL SPOTS COVERED WITH A BLACK TAPE AND PAINTED OVER TO CONCEAL THE RUST AND HOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRE MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD CAUSING THE TIRES TO DAMAGE THE BUMPER AND THE PLASTIC TRIM PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT NHTSA. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS MULTIPLE PERFORATIONS GREATER THAN 10MM. ONE SUCH PERFORATION HAS CREATED A CRACK ON THE FRAME JUST IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT. IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO HIT A BAD ENOUGH BUMP OR POT HOLE, THERE EXISTS A POSSIBILITY THE FRAME COULD SNAP AND ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO BECOME FREE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL
I TOOK MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER INTO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO DO MY ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE FRAME WAS TOO RUSTED TO PASS INSPECTION. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID THAT THE RUST WAS SO SEVERE IT HAD SEPARATED THE SUSPENSION FROM THE FRAME. HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE WORST FRAME RUST HE HAD EVER SEEN AND THAT THE CARS FRAME LOOKED LIKE IT WAS 20 YEARS OLDER THEN IT WAS. IT WAS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL SPOTS. I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP. ALL THE OTHER CARS BUILT ON THIS FRAME HAVE BEEN RECALLED, I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS ONE HASN'T BEEN.
DRIVING ON A 3 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, STOPPED TRAFFIC, AVS/ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH A PIERCING NOISE. TRAFFIC BEGAN MOVING APPROX. 10 MPH, BEHIND SEMI, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES!!!! FROM CENTER LANE WAS ABLE TO GO THE THE LEFT LANE INTO THE THE SHOULDER. STOPPED NEXT TO CEMENT BARRIER BETWEEN NORTH BOUND AND SOUTH BOUND TRAFFIC (BOTH 3 LANES). SAT THERE SHAKING FOR TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF WITH SEMI TRUCKS FLYING BY! GOT IT TO A MECHANIC. THEY CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY TO SAY "WE ARE SORRY BUT THE COMPONENT THAT RUNS THE BRAKE PUMP IS MALFUNCTIONING." "WE RESET IT AND THE BRAKES ARE WORKING NOW, BUT IT WILL ONLY FAIL AGAIN." IT WILL COST A TOTAL OF $5,000 TO REPAIR!!!! THE VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH $4,500-$7,000 (AT BEST)!!!! LIKE OTHERS ON HERE, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES!!! NO RECALLS!!! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO PREVENTION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY?! ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING?!!! THIS VEHICLE WAS GOING TO MY 16 YEAR OLD NIECE FOR HER FIRST VEHICLE. THANK GOD THAT IT WAS NOT HER DRIVING!!! NOW SHE WILL NOT HAVE A VEHICLE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE $5,000 TO FIX IT AND A GOOD OVERALL VEHICLE SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY THAT CAN'T BE USED. I HAVE HAD TOYOTA'S MOST OF MY LIFE, CURRENTLY DRIVE A TUNDRA AS WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN TRULY SAY.....SHAME ON YOU TOYOTA/MANUFACTURERS!!!!
VEHICLE IS RUSTING AWAY. FROM THE INSIDE. VERY EVIDENT WHEN THE TOYOTA SPECIALIST WHO WORKS ON THE 4RUNNER HAS TO SERVICE IT AND WORK ON IT. THEY HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AND ARE SUPPLYING US WITH THEM. THEY ARE A NORTH CAROLINA SAFETY INSPECTOR AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLE IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING IS AFFECTED AND OVERALL ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE FRAME HOLDING THE VEHICLE PARTS IN PLACE. WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT DOESN'T HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS ONE. IT HAS SOME RUST BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. STARTED NOTICING IT IN 2016 AFTER IT HAD REPAIRS DONE WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTOM AND FRAME PARTS. *THIS 4RUNNER WAS BUILT ON THE TACOMA CHASSIS THAT WAS RECALLED. THIS 4 RUNNER NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR IT TO BE SAFE. MY SON DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. WELL, HE DID. I CAN'T LET HIM NOW. HE HAS NO VEHICLE. THE PICTURES ARE DISTURBING! ALL OF OUR CARS ARE OLDER AND NEVER HAVE WE HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. THE 2003 4RUNNERS ARE AFFECTED.
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, THAT THE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTING. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND/OR CARPORT KEPT THE ENTIRE DURATION OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND ONLY ONE OWNER. WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT IT MAKES A SCRATCHING SOUND.. FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS, I CAN SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RUSTED FRAME.
THIS 2003 4RUNNER HAS 85K MILES ON IT AND HAS SEVERE RUST ON THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE FRAME. THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS QUESTIONABLE. THERE'S ALSO SIGNIFICANT RUST ON OTHER METAL COMPONENTS AS WELL. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2006 TUNDRA THAT WAS RECALLED FOR SEVERE FRAME RUST AND I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD TUNDRAS AND TACOMAS WITH SEVERE RUST PROBLEMS ON THE FRAME. THE 4RUNNER HAS A TRUCK FRAME UNDER IT LIKE THE OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS AND HAS THE SAME FRAME RUST ISSUES. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THE 4RUNNER?
FRAME ON 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ROTTED AND RUSTED ALONG WITH THE PLATE UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. TRIED TO GET THEM REPLACED AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR DAMAGED HIS TOOLS TRYING TO GET THE BOLTS OUT. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE SKID PLATE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND JUST HANGING OFF THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. NOW THE FRAME IS COMPLETED RUSTED AND OUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOOK IT TO A AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP, TECHNICIAN WORKED FOR TOYOTA FOR 30 YEARS AND TOLD US TO CALL THEM BECAUSE THE FRAME SHOULD BE REPLACED. TOYOTA DOES NOT AGREE.
MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER STARTED MAKING A THUMP AND SCRATCHING SOUND WHEN DRIVING AS THE ROAD DIPS, TURNS, AND WHEN HITTING ANY TYPE OR SIZE OF SPEED BUMPS AND POT HOLES. AFTER A CLOSER INSPECTION, THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. TIRE DISCOUNTER STAFF IDENTIFIED THE RUST ISSUE. THE BODY OF THE CAR IS LAYING ON THE FRAME AND THE SHOCK IS HITTING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. TIRE DISCOUNTER STAFF STATE, 'YOU ARE ONE POT HOLE AWAY FROM THIS FRAME BREAKING IN HALF.' 'THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.' THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT LOOKS TO BE 100 YEARS OLD. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO THE RUSTED THROUGH FRAME. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 4RUNNER WITH SEVERE FRAME RUST THROUGH MAKING THE VEHICLE A HAZARD TO DRIVE AND TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS CLEARLY CONSISTENT WITH TOYOTA'S OTHER RECALLS.
THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY I HAD A MECHINIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID 'IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THERES NO STRENGTH IN THE FRAME IF YOU GET INTO A CRASH ' THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 105,000 MILES ON IT
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT 4.7 WITH SEVERE FRAME RUST ISSUES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME WILL FAIL SOON. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECALLING THESE VEHICLES LIKE THE TACOMA'S AND TUNDRAS THAT USED THE SAME FRAMES! WHAT GIVES TOYOTA? *TR
VEHICLE HAS 100 000 MILES. HEAVY RUST IS OBSERVED SINCE 2018 ON THE MAIN FRAME NEAR THE FRONT END. HOLES AND OPENINGS ON THE FRAME ARE RUSTED OUT AND LARGE AMOUNT OF METAL IS FALLING. SAME PROBLEMS AS REPORTED ON TACOMA. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL STRENGTH OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF IMPACT. *TR
HEAVY RUST AND ROT HOLES NEAR WELDS POSSIBLE CAUSING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. SAME ISSUE TACOMA HAD. THE DATE IS UNKNOWN JUST PUTTING A RANDOM DATE IN. *TR
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.
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