1998 Toyota 4runner Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT DID NOT HOLD AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES YET THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CITATION FOR THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 05/18/11

I AM AN OWNER OF A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER (1998), AND CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN EMERGENCY (HARDER THAN NORMAL OPERATIONS), THE REAR SEAL (PASSENGER SIDE) WILL BREAK, LEAVING ONLY THREE (3) WHEELS BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR SEALS AT 68K MILES. AGAIN AT 105KMILES THE SAME ISSUE. I STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THE TOYOTA REAR SEAL IS NOT WITHIN SPECIFICATION OF THE PRESSURE DELIVERED TO THE BRAKE LINES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, SINCE A SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS. *TR THANKS

I LOVE MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SR5 - BUT I HATE THE EXPENSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, CABLES ETC FOUR TIMES. IT IS NEVER JUST THE PADS. EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION - THEY ALWAYS NEED TO MACHINE THE ROTORS. AND, NO IT IS NOT MY DRIVING ABILITY. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (400-600) THE MECHANICS ALWAYS SAY THE SAME THING - "WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME ON THESE 4WD 4-RUNNERS - THEY JUST DON'T DESIGN THE BRAKING SYSTEMS PROPERLY FOR THIS TYPE OF TRUCK". TWICE I HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING SOMEONE IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF COMPLETE FAILURE, ONCE WHILE ONLY GOING 20 MPH. TOYOTA TACOMA'S APPEAR TO NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM - I THINK AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRS AND TWO VERY NEAR ACCIDENTS - SOMEONE AT TOYOTA SHOULD EVALUATE THIS BRAKING SYSTEM AND EITHER OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE OR OFFER A WARNING TO POTENTIAL BUYERS. *NM

WITHIN YEAR ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALERSHIP WAS DUE TO BRAKING EXCESSIVELY DURING RAIN ON LONG DOWNHILL RUN. SUGGESTED TO GEAR DOWN WHICH I NOW DO. SITUATION DID NOT REPEAT EXCEPT THAT I NOW INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE SIMILAR "PULSATING" WHILE BRAKING. WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER REPAIR SERVICE THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO REPLACE ROTORS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES THEY TOTALLY FAILED, AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FRONT BRAKE VIBRATION. 2ND FAILURE DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES DUE TO WARPING. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT WAS DUE TO DRIVING HABITS OF HIS WIFE. *AK

BRAKES BECOME SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE HAS INCREASED NUMBER OF CLICKS TO TIGHTEN-THIS HAS OCCURRED AT APPROX 11,000 AND AGAIN AT APPROX 18,000 MILES; TOOK TO DEALER AT APPROX 11,800 INITIALLY WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY ONLY INSPECTED BRAKES (NO ADJUSTMENT)AND SAID BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAD TO RETURN TO DEALER AND HAVE SHOP FOREMAN DRIVE THE TRUCK WHO THEN TOLD MECHANIC TO ADJUST BRAKES. ONCE AGAIN I AM NOTICING BRAKES ARE SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE TAKES MORE CLICKS TO TIGHTEN (APPROX 18,000). I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS EXPECTED WITH TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES. HE SAID THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND ADJUSTED IF NECESSARY EVERY 5000 MILES (AT AN EXTRA CHARGE OF 30.00 DOLLARS). I EXPLAINED THAT THEY GO OUT OF ADJUSTMENT VERY QUICKLY AND NOT AT EXACTLY EVERY 5000 MILES, THEREFORE THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADJUST THEM UNTIL I HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN WHICH MEANS I AM SPENDING TIME AND MONEY (BESIDES THE EXPECTED 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE/ROTATE TIRES) WITH A PROBLEM I FEEL MAY NOT BE NORMAL FOR A $32,000 DOLLAR TRUCK AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARANTEE OR AT LEAST DESCRIBED AS A COMMON NECESSITY TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE PURCHASE( NOWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES IT STATE THAT BRAKES WILL NEED ADJUSTMENT FREQUENTLY DUE TO NOT SELF ADJUSTING).

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NOISEY BRAKES REPLACED.

BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. *YC

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

BRAKES FAILED.

BRAKES FAILED. *YC

HAD VEHICLE IN REVERSE & USING BRAKES HEARD LOUD CLICKING/GRINDING NOISES. TOOK TO DEALER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT THE ABS LIGHT KEEP COMING ON, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY DON'T SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN FAST ENOUGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, ALMOST HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE BRAKES MOVING BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK