1997 Toyota 4runner Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, STOPPING POWER DECREASED AND THE ABS ERRONEOUSLY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR UNDER BODY FRAME HAD FRACTURED IN HALF DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 159,000..... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THEY BRAKES WOULDN'T PERFORM AS DESIGNED. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS RANDOM, BECAUSE OF THE REAR -END SWAYING FROM BEING DETACHED. UPDATED 03/11/13

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. AT THE MOMENT RIGHT BEFORE YOU STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE WHEEL TO PARK, THE CAR SUDDENLY REVVED UP FOR ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURVE AND HIT THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPOT. *TR

I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4X4, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN1997. WITHIN IN WEEKS OF OWNING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHILE BRAKING AS I DROVE OVER IRREGULAR ROAD, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT GRABBING, L AND THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING, COMMENSURATE WITH THE DEMAND THAT I WAS PUTTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME! AFTER SEVERAL SUCH EXPERIENCE, IN JUNE OR JULY OF 1997, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I STILL OWN AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS UNCHANGED. BECAUSE I AM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER IRREGULAR ROAD SURFACES, BUMPS OR EXPANSION JOINTS I KEEP A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I STILL DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKE ISSUE HAS NOT CHANGED. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH THE 4RUNNER WAS THE SHIFTING OF THE BACKEND OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER IRREGULAR ROAD SURFACES. HOWEVER, TOYOTA RECALLED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE A REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE FIX REDUCED THE SEVERITY OF THE SHIFTING OF THE BACKEND, IT DID NOT TOTALLY ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4X4. WHILE BRAKING AND GOING OVER BUMPS, POTHOLES, SEPARATIONS IN ROADWAYS, THE BRAKES WILL MOMENTARILY FAIL MUCH LIKE IT IS ACTIVATING THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE, BUMP. *TR

DT: 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT MAJOR BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING BRAKING PROBLEMS AT 19,900 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY BECAME WEAK. THIS TOOK 6 MONTHS TO DIAGNOSE, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. SHE WAS THEN INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES. SHE HAS ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SINCE LATE 2003. WHEN CHECKED SHE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ESPECIALLY ON WET PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE. SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY THE ABS, SHE STATES IT WAS BRAKING DIFFERENTLY THAN PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER ON AUGUST 19, 2005. THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE WAS PULLING UP HIGHER THAN USUAL. THIS WAS CHECKED, AND THEY FOUND THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE SOAKED IN OIL. THIS REQUIRED THE SEALS, BEARINGS, RETAINERS, SENSOR RINGS AND THE REAR BRAKE SHOES TO BE REPLACED. SHE FELT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE REAR AXLE. *JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA EMAIL. THE BRAKES FAILED MANY TIMES ON MY CAR AND THEY WERE IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES. EACH TIME THEY FIXED IT TEMPORARILY. ALSO, THEY INDICATED THAT OIL OR GREASE WAS LEAKING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND COATING THE BRAKE PADS, RENDERING THEM INEFFECTIVE. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES KICKING IN TOO OFTEN/ LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND JOLTING AT SLOW SPEEDS. LAST TIME IN THE REPAIR SHOP THEY GUARANTEED THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED, YET THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT, AND THAT NEW MODELS WERE DESIGNED TO FIX THIS FLAW. WHAT ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE DRIVING 1997 MODELS ? *AK

INTERMITTENT BRAKEFAILURES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. *SLC ONE MONTH AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE, A TIRE BLEW, WITH HOLES THROUGHOUT IT, AS IF SOMEONE HAD SHOT IT, CLEARLY IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE TO BEGIN WITH. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES . THE CONSUMER WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THOMPSON DEALERSHIP IN HOW THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO HANDLE MATTERS. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION CONCERNING MATTER. BRIEFLY READ OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH IN THE PURCHASING OF THE VEHICLE. *CB THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE SUN VISOR FELL OFF. *JB

THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 35000 MILES. *SLC

VEHICLE LOCKED UP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. IT HAS BEEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. ALSO, REAR AXLE SEAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED. BRAKE PADS WERE CLEANED. IF PROBLEM REOCCURRED DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO REPLACE PADS. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THEY WERE JUST CLEANED. CONSUMER WAS VERY FUSTRATED AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE NO REMEDY. *AK

REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF SEALS & REAR BRAKE PADS. DEFOGGER IS INOPERABLE DUE TO LINKAGE DISENGAGED. *AK

TRIED TO MAKE A U TURN FROM A PAVED ROADWAY INTO SOMEONE'S PACKED GRAVEL DRIVEWAY. SLOWED TO 25 MPH AND STARTED THE TURN AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO CONTINUE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO LESS THAN 12MPH. SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO NO FURTHER (FELT A HARD STOP), BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY ANYMORE AND VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING. THERE NO SKIDDING SOUNDS OR SLIDING SOUNDS. VEHICLE MOVED AS IF BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED. FINALLY AT ABOUT 10MPH HIT A POST THAT ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. FELT A HARD BANG ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SOME VIBRATING JUST AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND ALSO AFTER IT STOPPED. ONCE IT STOPPED THERE WAS A LOUD KLANG AND A SPRING RECOIL NOISE (VERY LOUD). FRONT PLASTIC SKIRT BROKEN, BUMPER CRUSHED AND BUMPER RE-INFORCEMENT BAR BENT. DEALER CONTACTED. NO PROBLEM FOUND WITH ABS AND THEY CLAIM THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD FUNCTION (ALL THE NOISE). HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH PRIOR VEHICLES (WITHOUT ABS) IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. THIS VEHICLE HAS OFF AND ON DISPLAYED SOME PECULIAR ABS BEHAVIOUR. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ONCE BEFORE AND WAS TOLD THE KLANGING CAME FROM THE SKID PLATES RATTLING. THIS TIME THE NOISE WAS THE ABS ITSELF ... WHAT NEXT? *AK

THE SEALS ON THE REAR AXLE BLEW OUT, SATURATING THE REAR BRAKES WITH DIFFERENTIAL, RENDERING THEM USELESS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD EITHER. *AK

UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE, AND CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, REAR AXLE SEALS LEAK FLUID. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS MADE FOUR DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE DISPLAYS CONTINUOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE DELIVERY DATE. TAKEN BACK TO SELLING DEALER IN MIAMI AND HENDRICKSON TOYOTA IN POMPANO, FLORIDA, NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO REPAIRS MADE. FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE HARD BRAKE PEDAL, THEN SOFT BRAKE PEDAL ON SUBSE

SKID PLATE--BOLT.

BRAKES.

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKED OIL, CONTAMINATING REAR BRAKES, AND CAUSING REAR BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALSO AND PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IS INADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT PLUS THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM DOESNT HELP EITHER IT ONLY CAUSES MORE LOST OF BRAKING POWER ESPECIALLY ON DOWN HILL STOPS.TOYOTA MADE THESE VEHICLES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SIZE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS.UNFORTUNATLY I HAVE THE SMALLEST ONE WHICH JUST DOES DO A GOOD JOB STOPPING SUCH A LOAD.( DOT NUMBER: )

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL RESISTS, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . ALSO WHEN TRAVELING DOWN AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE SLID ABOUT 50 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

OWNER NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES FROM DELIVERY. BRAKE PEDAL IS SOMETIMES HIGH AND STIFF WHILE OTHER TIMES IT FEELS SOFT AND MUSHY AND GOES FARTHER DOWN BEFORE IT SEEMS TO BE EFFECTIVE. FINALLY BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ABS ACTIVATED.

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHILE APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS FOR PROBLEM . DEALERS CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

ANTI RATTLE SPRING BROKE, CAUSING NOISE.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH , WENT TO SLOW DOWN, APPLIED BRAKES ,VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING. HEARD LOUD NOISE COMING FRONT END, PUSH PEDAL TO FLOOR. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN EMERGENCY STOPPING THE ABS SYSTEM FIRST DID NOT ENGAGE THEN FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. *AK