This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Brought veh in for nhsi, was told that veh would not pass again due to frame perforation. The rust is coming from the inside out on passenger side inner frame rail along where the muffler is located. Spoke to Toyota on many levels and was told by them that there are no frames available for purchase and that the "chucks" to build the frames with had been lost so Toyota will not be making anymore. So I cannot fix this problem properly if I was to pay out of pocket. Paid a body shop $650 to weld in a patch to get me by as I still owe on it. Too bad Toyota will not recognize this as the same issue Tacoma, sequoia, and Tundra have. If the frame was to separate @ the corrosion sight @ highway speeds it would result in injury and possibly death!!
Upon a recent mechanical inspection my 2000 Toyota 4runner has been deemed unsafe for driving due to frame degradation due to rusting. The frame has several locations with holes and deterioration that seriously undermine the mechanical rigidity of the frame and truck. This vehicle has been well maintained and is in great condition with the frame as the only exception. I have owned several vehicles from different manufacturers and have driven and stored them in the same location but have not experienced the same issues. Frame rust and deterioration to the extent that my vehicle has experienced is not tolerable from any manufacturer and should have been addressed during the design, testing, and manufacturing stages of production. I believe that the 2000 Toyota 4runners, along with previous years with identical frame builds, should be investigated and recalled in a similar manner to the Toyota Tacoma of the same generation that were recalled for the same issue. The 2000 Toyota 4runner was marketed as a family vehicle with a history of safe operation and should be held to this standard. Someone is going to get injured driving one of these vehicles.
The contact 2000 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while having regular maintenance performed, it was notified that the frame was completely corroded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 220,000.
On working under vehicle I noticed that the passenger side structural rail leading to the rear of vehicle was rusty so I poked it and my screwdriver went right through, it was rusted through, it will need welding, as I tow a work trailer (and for safety reasons of course). Then the thin rear wall of the differential rusted through and started leaking oil, the part is not sold separately and I was quoted 1500.- for the part and at least 500 labor, by falmouth Toyota. I was told it was a common problem, but that Toyota wasn't standing behind their vehicle. If I hadn't been under the car for other reasons this could have turned into a catastrophic failure. I urge you to contact your representative if you have had similar problems.
Upon trying to sell my 2000 Toyota 4runner to a prospective buyer who was an employee of greentree Toyota, in ct, he pointed out that the frame on the passenger side forward of the rear axle was rusted through on the inside for about 18 inches. It is unsafe to drive. When I had it serviced at Toyota in September 2013, no one told me about this severe safety issue. I have been at risk since then while driving the vehicle. Upon searching the internet, I see that this is a common problem with this make and model, yet Toyota refuses to issue a recall. They issued a recall on Tacoma frames which uses the same frame as the 4runner.
- Mahopac, NY, USA
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Rear differential housing is rusted very badly leaking gear oil. Rust is extremely thick. Huge flakes more like chunks. Leaking from rear of housing where rust has penetrated far enough to cause a slow leak. Rest of 4runner is in good shape.
I was driving the truck to a body shop to fix the frame and body of the truck, as directed from Toyota. Which I was told from Toyota in portsmouth nh, to take it to a body shop to get it fixed. When driving the vehicle they car began to accelerate out of control, I had to pass several vehicles, the car was shaking as I had the breaks on the whole time. It was upwards of 80 miles an hour with out any control. My sister was following me, I also have proof from the body shop, as I barely made it there, I had to put on the emergency break to stop the car. Toyota customer service told me, probably driver error, not the case. When I left the truck with the body shop, they told me the frame and body of the truck were not repairable. I paid Toyota for tire rotation, oil change, and filters, to hear that I have to scrap the car. I still feel unsafe driving due to the truck accelerating out of control, and got no support from Toyota.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side frame was corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed that the frame was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 132000. The VIN was unavailable.
This is a 13 year old SUV, that despite proper maintenance and a dependable engine had to be junked due to an almost completely rusted through frame. After noticing some increased rattling under the car, my husband found not only had the muffler brackets rusted away (some pieces fell out), but it was one pothole away from separating from the swing arm. Very dangerous (accident waiting to happen) and appeared to have rusted from the inside out. Not readily noticeable from the outside. We took it off the road immediately. Toyota does't seem to bother to acknowledge this problem let alone do anything about it.
I was driving with 2 young kids and turning around at a dead end when I heard a loud noise. I looked under the car and saw nothing. The car started swaying when we drove home. I looked under again at home and saw my rear sway bar hanging down broke/rusted off from the frame. The whole frame behind were it broke was rotted right next to the gas tank. The 4runner only has 79,000 miles and has no rust on the body. I have washed the undercarriage really good over the years just to keep it clean. There is no point in having a motor that goes 200,000 miles if the frames cant make it to 80,000. I see many much older vehicles on the road as a frame should be the last thing to rust. If I was on the highway and that happened I easily could have crashed because the 4runner started swaying badly. I was a huge Toyota fan before but now I see all their frames are thin cheap steel.
2000 Toyota 4runner has major frame issues that could break at anytime and cause an accident! these frames rust out without the owners knowing. These are family vehicles that are driven for many years and Toyota has had issues with other frames on different models but same year vehicles. Toyota has had numerous complaints on these frames and has never recalled these models. For the safety of my family and others please look into this matter!
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance performed at the dealer, he was informed that the frame suffered from massive corrosion and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 133,000.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame exhibited excessive rust build up. The contact called the manufacturer, who stated that they would provide a remedy for the vehicle. The vehicle was no longer drivable. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Vehicle had no visible signs of frame rust. Drove vehicle over a small bump at 5mph & heard a sound from rear. Parked car. When driving away later noticed a sway in low speed driving. Got out and saw the rear drivers frame rail had cracked where it mounts the lower control arm. That section had to have rusted from the inside out as it is a boxed frame and there was no visible rust on the outer frame. This is a very alarming issue and a major safety concern. Vehicle is driven in northeast but garaged. We've had rusted body panels only on much older cars - this seems like a major flaw in vehicle design. Especially as it isn't visible and just recently passed a state safety inspection.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated he was performing a repair to the vehicle for an unrelated failure when he noticed that the entire passenger's side frame was completely corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed that the frame was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000. The VIN was unavailable.
My 17 year old was driving our 4runner, and it began swaying all over the road. Luckily, he was only a couple miles from home, and made it back safely. The frame has rotted away from the inside out, leaving the rear axle components not properly "attached", and making the vehicle unsafe to drive any distance. The body on this vehicle is in immaculate condition, and I was looking forward to being able to drive this vehicle up to 200,000 miles, which should not be uncommon for this vehicle type. I've contacted Toyota customer experience and filed a complaint. I was told nothing will be done and no financial considerations will be made either. This is a known problem with this generation 4runner, and Toyota should be made to offer to fix or make financial considerations for this vehicle just as they have done with the Toyota Tacoma with essentially the same frame.
I discovered that my 2000 Toyota 4runner has sever interior frame rot in front of the rear trailing arm connection points, more so on the passengers side. This will become very unsafe after a while if nothing is done to address the problem. I remember Toyota recalling Tacoma for the same issue. Why will they not uphold Toyota quality and safety and recall a vehicle that is built on basically the same frame as the Tacoma? the rest of the body is perfect. That in itself proves a design and construction flaw of the frame.
Frame has severe rust that has caused the frame to become weak and unsafe. Multiple holes in frame have developed. Vehicle has been washed regularly and stored indoors for years but has severe frame rot. Toyota will not repair because they say there was never any problem with the 4runner frames just the Tacoma and Tundra had issues. The frame on the 96-02 4runners are the same as the Tacoma, only difference is the rear suspension setup. They appear to have the same rust issues.
The longitudinal frame rails are completely rusted through on all four sides of the box frame on both sides. There is also significant rust in the cross rails, particularly at the attach points to the side members. An auto body repair shop owner says that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and needs a complete frame replacement. The vehicle has been garaged its entire life and there is absolutely no rust on the body. The shop owner says that he has seen a lot of 4runners with the frame in this condition and that Toyota needs to step up and support the 4runner as it has with the sequoia and the Tacoma, which also have severe frame rust issues.
Went to go and have my 2000 Toyota 4-runner inspected and was told it would not pass due to the frame being rusted out and was not safe to drive....called Toyota and was told sorry there is nothing we can do.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Swanzey, NH, USA