1998 Toyota 4runner Steering Problems

Your steering system failed when the driver's side front lower ball joint completely broke off while driving at about 15 mph, causing the wheel and tire to separate from the vehicle. This loss of a wheel creates an immediate loss of control and stability. The ball joint will need to be replaced, and the wheel assembly should be inspected for damage.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I WAS PULLING INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH. THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE INITIAL NOISE I HEARD SOUNDED LIKE I HAD DRIVEN OVER A METAL TRASH CAN WHICH MADE ME SUDDENLY STOP MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS WHAT I SAW. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLAT PAVED ROAD AND MY LOWER BALL JOINT (ATM 1012460) CAME OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO SKID TO A HALT. MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS AND PUSHED INTO MY FENDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND OTHER PARTS. THIS PART (LOWER BALL JOINT) WAS REPLACED 8 MONTHS PRIOR ALONG WITH TIE RODS, AXLE, CONTROL ARM, UPPER BALL JOINT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS IN THAT AREA. RIEBES AUTO PARTS REPLACED THE FAULTY BALL JOINT, TIRE, FENDER, AND OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED. I JUST GOT IT BACK LAST NIGHT AND MY WIFE STATED IT FELT LIKE IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND ON THE WAY THE OTHER SIDE POPPED OF GOING 15 MPH ON A FLAT ROAD. SO ALL THE SAME DAMAGE AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE Y WIFE AND KIDS WERE JUST IN THE CAR A FEW HOURS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. IF IT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN ROLLING. ALTROM LOWER BALL JOINT FOR A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS THE PART. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND CLUNKING. I WAS NEAR HOME AND ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. UPON TOWING TO THE MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED OUT AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. FRAME ROT WAS DISCOVERED ON THE SIDE RAILS. CAR IS CONSIDERED UNDRIVEABLE AND SHOULD BE TOTALED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON WAS DRVING THE VEHICLE 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER INTO THE MEDIAN. THE ACCIDENT WAS FATAL AND THE DRIVER DIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH WITHOUT WARNING POWER STEERING WENT OUT RESULTING LOST OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE CAUSING A MAJOR COLLISION. NLM

MY DAUTHER AGED 10 YEARS, WAS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR TRYING TO GRAB A BAG OF CHIPS THAT WERE IN THE LUGGAGE. WHEN WE GOT REAR ENDED AT THE HIGHWAY EXIT, THE BACK DOOR OF THE SUV POPPED OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE CAR DOORS WERE LOCKED. MY DAUGHTER WAS THROWN OUT OF THE BACK OF THE SUV AND IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK THAT REAR ENDED US. LUCKILY SHE FELL ON SOME PILLOWS THAT WERE ALSO FLUNG FROM THE CAR, THEREBY REDUCING HER INJURIES. ALSO THE PICKUP TRUCK THAT REAR ENDED US HAD STOPPED, SO SHE DID NOT GET RUN OVER BY IT. THIS DOOR SHOULD NOT HAVE OPENED WHEN IT WAS LOCKED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE VOICED MY CONCERNS TO TOYOTA, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. *AK

ENGINE FAILED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS FOR NO REASON. BOTH TIMES SLOWING DOWN WHEN GOING TO TURN. NO ONE WAS HURT./// LOST CONTROL OF 4 RUNNER WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR EXIT RAMP AT 35 MPH AND WET ROAD. SPEED WAS NOT EXCESSIVE FOR CONDITIONS. CAR SPUN HIT GUARD RAIL AND THEN HIT AND DID A 360. 4 DAYS LATER, DRY FREEWAY AT 70 MPH CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO LEFT, SPUN 360 THEN INTO GRASS MEDIAN 360 , THEN 360 BACK ONTO FREEWAY AND CAME TO STOP, ONLY GOD COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM BEING A DISASTER. TWO PASSENGERS, NO ONE WAS HURT. CAR COVERED WITH GRASS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

ALARM AND KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

ALARM SYSTEM OUT OF ORDER. YH

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH