CarComplaints.com Notes: Although it has a stellar record in terms of vehicle problems, initially the 4th generation (2003 - 2009) 4Runner didn't earn our top "Seal of Awesome" rating because it received poor crash test ratings for rear impacts. However it's proven to have one of the lowest driver death rates out of all vehicles (not just SUVs), so we've bumped it back up to our top award.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,390 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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.
Suspension. Vehicle used in the ne us--MA. Vehicle is unstable at highway speeds. Wanders. Impossible to keep steady. Heavy rattle in suspension at all times (first noted in 2015), except on very smooth pavement. Significant rusting noted on repairs. May not pass safety inspection. No body rust. Mileage less than 150K.
Toyota dealer failed safety inspection due to rear suspension arm rusted off and a hole rusted through frame. Only has 124,000 miles. Toyota said that vehicle is unsafe to drive and rear end may lift during a hard stop. Rear brake lines are also rusted out.
- Stewartstown, PA, USA
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The frame rusted through at the connecting point of the rear passenger side trailing arm. Much of the frame in this area is severely rotted by rust. I noticed that the vehicle was not tracking down the road very well, which was abnormal. Upon returning home I found the problem of the rusted frame.
The rear axle rusted so badly that it started flaking apart. The frame is rusted severely in the areas where the rear suspension components attach. The gas tank skid plate rusted until it began to fall off while driving down the road and all of the areas where it was bolted to the frame completely rusted out. The exhaust also rusted through behind the muffler causing it to fall off while driving down the road. There are holes in multiple areas of the frame. I had to grind, chip, and wire brush the frame with the vehicle on jack stands in order to repaint everything and keep my vehicle going. This took over 100 hours of labor just to compete. I also had to replace the exhaust and the gas tank skid plate. All of the bolts for the skid plates on the bottom of the vehicle were completely rusted through and could not be removed without falling apart and leaving half the bolt in the frame. The xreas suspension system which runs hydraulic lines around the frame also rusted apart and leaked fluid all over everything. The bolts were all heavily rusted and could not be removed to get the lines off the frame. The frame on this vehicle was not adequately coated to prevent it from rusting. This needed to be done with approximately 100,000 miles on the vehicle.
This vehicle has a very rusty frame. It does not pass state of Maine inspection. Like many other 4runners it suffers from Toyota's faulty frames. This truck has not fallen apart and crashed like many similar units. This one has a perforated frame, and doesn't pass inspection. With 80,000 miles the truck is like new except for the faulty frame. The rust multiplies sitting still or traveling. The frame is so thin in so many places, there isn't place to make satisfactory repairs.
Severe frame rust to the point of holes. The frame integrity will soon be compromised; if not already. Two rear body mounts are rusting away, the bottom of both mounts is non existent. One mid mount, the sheet metal side is nearly rusted through. One front mount area is rusted away on the sheet metal side. The gas tank is currently only held in place by what is left of the protection shield under the tank.
Under body rust took to costco to replace tires - they say significant rust on left side. Tool to jiffy lube for oil change one week later - they say significant rust and cannot remove rear differential to replace fluid due to rusted bolt.
Purchased 2005 Toyota 4runner in 2012 with 58K miles. Always washed undercarriage. Mechanic began patching rust on frame 2011. Its beyond repair now with 128K miles. Frame is completely dangerous
Last September, I sent a written plea asking Toyota to evaluate and correct the excessive frame corrosion on my 2005 4runner. The vehicle has never been registered outside South Carolina or ever been exposed to road salt. Toyota's response disclaiming responsibility was unsatisfactory. Toyota is well aware of this problem and has corrected this identical problem on similar models and model years. Yesterday, my wife and I and two friends riding with us narrowly escaped a fatal accident when the front suspension separated from the frame due to the corrosion problem. At highway speed, the vehicle began shaking violently and the steering was unable to properly control the vehicle. The vehicle went off the road after coming close to hitting an oncoming vehicle. It was towed to an experienced independent mechanic who expressed disbelief at the corroded condition of the frame and immediately declared the vehicle unrepairable and inoperable. He said we were fortunate to have survived the structural failure. In light of the fact that Toyota is aware of severe corrosion on similar vehicles and has corrected the issue on some models, please investigate this and determine if the excess corrosion is inherent to 4runners and if an immediate recall is warranted. The internet has many references to excess frame corrosion on 4runners. It is unconcionable that Toyota would put thousands of their customer's lives at risk to avoid the cost of repairing frames that were subject to an inadequate corrosion protection process. Again, my vehicle has only 76,000 miles, has no corrosion whatsoever on the body, and has never been operated where salt is applied to the roads. Attached is one of the many photos of the failure location.
3/4 of the underneath of my 2005 Toyota rusted out and released the bar that held my tire in place. I drove 80 highway miles not knowing that the tire was not supported.
My mechanic found significant rotting damage on the chassis of my 2005 Toyota 4runner. He advised me not to drive the vehicle as the wheel could break off. I contacted Toyota, but they told me there were no recalls on the vehicle, even though chassis rotting has been a problem with their older vehicles.
2005 Toyota 4runner structural frame rapid oxidation to structure causing left front control arm to frame (as well as frame itself) to break while in motion at slow speed leaving driveway. I have contacted Toyota case# 1712112893 to ask why there is no buyback program on frames that they produced in 2004 that were found defective in Tacoma's/4runners that were also used for their 2005 model production 4runners. Toyota rep told myself that no campaigns would exist unless otherwise told so (or perhaps investigated for their prior acknowledged defective frames used in previous model years). Though I am lucky that this occurred at slow speed I don't know how many other americans may face my situation while at 60-70mph on the highway with their families whom trust Toyota for their safety and product reliability that end in ultimate tragedy. I've included photos as well as a clean carfax report to show no prior incidents. Thank you.
Frame rust - problem is the same as what has happened to same year Toyota Tacoma pickups. These vehicles should also be recalled and have the same fix applied to them as was applied to the Tacoma pickup. Purchased vehicle used in October and had shop put it up on a lift 2 months later for routine maintenance. They said frame rusted and unsafe to drive.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Princeton, NJ, USA