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:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
87,167 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.
The roof rubber strip on the driver side came flying off when my SUV truck was under the air dryer in the car wash on 03/31/2019. I heard a horrible thumping sound on the roof of my car and noticed there was a rubber strip on the ground and found that the roof rubber strip on the driver side was missing. I don't know if the strips are supposed to be glued with some kind of adhesive or not, as I've never experienced this before with any car I've owned. I think it is ludicrous that a well-meaning car owner can't take his or her car to the car wash without parts flying off the car. I'm just grateful that this rubber strip was not flying off on the freeway as it may fly off even more while you are on the highways.
During replacement of front brakes when vehicle was on a lift the mechanic pointed-out severe frame rust and said the truck would not pass inspection in Pennsylvania. There were large holes in several areas of the frame. This is a 2006 model with only 85,000 miles of usage.
The bracket holding the motor mount broke into the frame causing the motor to hit the differential and break the upper engine oil pan. Attached are two pictures, one showing a normal connection at the frame and the other shown broken into the frame. This may have been caused by rust/corrosion and/or a weak connection which was reinforced at this point for 2007 and later models.date of incident is approximate
- Truckee, CA, USA
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Purchased my 4runner certified used by modern Toyota of boone in Feb 2012. Took the vehicle to Toyota the next year locally and they mentioned that I have severe frame rust but by this time the warranty has already expired. Filed a complaint with Toyota regarding frame rust and the fact that I was sold the vehicle and it should not have been certified by Toyota because of the frame rust. Had an accident in Jun 2018, high front end hit, shouldn't have had any issues with the frame and it wasn't checked for integrity, but after some vibrations and wobbling and decreased stability on the highway, took to my local dealer and the tech did a visual inspection and said the frame was bent. Awaiting an appt from bodyshop to verify findings even though insurance already closed the claim from accident but independent mechanic states that the frame may really be bent due to the rusting and the ability to flex because of the corrosion, weakened. Vehicle feels unsafe to drive and is leaning on the drivers side front and back even with new factory Toyota suspension (struts and shocks). There is no reason for this vehicle to be leaning or the frame to be rusting as it is.
The vehicle frame as well as other steel components including in the suspension system are experiencing severe, progressive deterioration due to rusting. The frame rust is the most problematic and dangerous because it is occurring on the inside of the frame and, therefore, can neither be seen nor remediated. The only indication I had of the severity of the frame deterioration is from isolated locations where the frame had rusted entirely through on the passenger side frame rail in the vicinity of the front door. Upon further investigation, I determined that the inside of the longitudinal frame rails on both the driver and passenger sides is significantly deteriorated on the inside. The corrosion appears to start on the bottom of the rail and then progress upward on the side walls of the rail over time. The bottom of the two frame rails are littered with rust chips ranging in size for fingernail-sized flakes to chips as large as 10 sq. Cm. with the thickness of these ranging up to several (3) mm. It should also be noted that tire jack for the vehicle punctured the bottom of the passenger side frame rail when it was used, thus giving the most graphic demonstration that the frame had deteriorated significantly from the inside. With respect to the other steel components of the underside of the vehicle, there is widespread rust and deterioration, particular for components of the suspension, but also on the tubing for steering and the transmission cooling. Also, fasteners (nuts, bolts, and brackets) which attach the many components to the frame of the vehicle are rusting to the point that the integrity of these fasteners has been significantly diminished. The veh
Vehicle body is completely rusted out. Would not pass pa inspection without frame welding. Other suspension bars and frame issues also as a result of rust. Over $4000 to fix the issue.
Massive amounts of rust all throughout the frame have led to weakened or non- existent metal in many locations throughout the near entirety of the frame of the 4runner. Had a mechanic state that the vehicle should be 'gotten rid of' or that I should be 'ok with the vehicle breaking catastrophically sometime in the near future' because of the weakened and degraded state of the frame.
Structural - frame rust. Toyota has not recalled the 4runner due to frame rust experienced on the Tacoma. Attached are pictures of underbody. This vehicle would not pass inspection and I am located in California where laws are strict.
St last year, Toyota settled a class-action lawsuit involving approximately 1.5 million Tacoma, Tundra and sequoia trucks also built on a frame1 ' Toyota agreed to inspect and replace the frames at an estimated cost of $3.4 billion. This confirms frame corrosion is a problem well-known to Toyota and the public.
2006 4runner with 165K miles will not pass inspection due to excessive frame rust. I purchased this brand new from the dealer and have taken excellent care of it. There is no rust on the body. The rust is excessive for other similar vehicles from other manufactures. Toyota has replaced similar frames on their Tacoma models but have done nothing for 2006 4runner owners.
Our frame is rusted so badly that it would have failed the safety inspection if we did not fix the huge holes in it at the rear bumper. We are were told by our safety inspector that our entire frame is very rusty and we must do something to fix it right now. It will not pass the safety inspection for next year. This needs to be recalled by Toyota as part of their frame recall!
I bought my vehicle used with 86,000 miles on it. Not even a year later my power steering return line rusted through and would not hold any power steering fluid at all. I replaced the power steering return lines with after market rubber line. I figured this out while I was driving and my power steering gave out. Luckily it happened in a situation where it wasn't an immediate danger. Next on the list was the muffler from the catalytic converter back. I noticed that it was excessively loud while driving. I went under the vehicle only to realize the the part of the muffler that connects to the catalytic converter was completely rusted through just hanging there! I just brought my vehicle in to get the underside completely coated with fluid film and my mechanic kept making reference to the 'rusty Toyota 4runner ', didn't give me a warm feeling about the rest of the lifespan of the frame. It has 100,000 or so miles on it and I'd lime to have it for many more!
Was informed yesterday by our mechanic who was performing an oil change that this vehicle would not pass next inspection due to frame rust and corrosion. I have not taken pictures but can if needed.
Vehicle will not pass inspection due to a corroded frame! odometer reading is 41,822miles, this happened after replacing 2 rusted brake lines. Vehicle is undriveable.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Ramon, CA, USA