2000 Toyota 4runner Suspension Problems

Your 4Runner's frame has developed serious rust and structural damage, including soft spots that have caused pieces to break off and fall while driving. The vehicle bounced and went off the road, damaging the front bumper, turn signal, and headlight, and both rear shocks are severely rusted and broken. Even after replacing the shocks, the frame damage is expected to worsen over time, creating a safety hazard for continued driving.

Your vehicle's frame has severe rust and corrosion that has weakened it significantly. A mechanic determined the frame is too damaged to be safe to drive. This is a structural integrity issue that affects the overall safety and stability of your vehicle.

Your 4Runner's frame has rusted through in multiple locations, particularly where the rear axle is mounted and along the side rails. The suspension arm has rusted severely and broken free from the frame, which affects your vehicle's structural integrity and suspension support. A frame restoration or replacement will be needed to safely repair this damage.

Your 4Runner experienced a critical safety failure when a defective frame weld caused the rear differential support to separate from the frame while driving at 55-60 mph. This caused severe, uncontrolled swaying of the vehicle and nearly resulted in loss of control. The repair will likely require professional frame welding and inspection of the differential mounting points.

While driving at highway speed, you heard a loud pop and lost control of your vehicle—the rear end swayed dangerously across lanes and you nearly hit other cars. When inspected, the frame had snapped due to rust, and the rear control arm detached from the frame, causing the loss of control. The frame rust was extensive despite no other visible rust on the vehicle. Fixing this would require frame repair or replacement and reattaching or replacing the rear control arm.

Your truck's handling became poor, and your mechanic found that the rear upper control arm brackets on both the passenger and driver sides had rusted through and broken. While driving on the highway at 70 mph, you heard a clunk and the rear of the truck started bouncing and swerving, indicating the rear axle was no longer properly connected to the frame. Your vehicle is now unsafe to drive and will likely need welding repairs to reattach the broken brackets to the frame.

Your vehicle's underframe has rusted through and broken, causing severe instability at highway speeds. When driving at 65 mph, your 4Runner suddenly started weaving violently side-to-side, and the problem continues whenever you exceed 45 mph, putting you at risk of losing control. The shop indicated the damage is not repairable, which suggests the structural integrity of your vehicle has been compromised.

Your 4Runner's frame has developed rust and holes. This is a structural issue that affects the vehicle's integrity and safety. Addressing this will likely require professional inspection to assess the extent of the damage and may involve rust treatment, welding, or frame replacement depending on severity.

Your 4Runner's spare tire mounting bracket rusted and fell off while driving on the highway, creating a safety hazard. The frame rust issue (known as 'Toyota rot') caused the bracket to fail completely. Fixing this would involve replacing the rusted spare tire carrier bracket and potentially treating or replacing the affected frame section.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED WITH HOLES. THE CONTACT ALSO FOUND THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONCTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000. *JB

MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 180,000 MILES ON THE CAR, HAS ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF RUST. BEING A DAILY DRIVER IT IS NEAR THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED. DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER. AS A SOLID RUNNING CAR, IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF MONEY TO JUNK THE CAR.

WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND MY FRAME BROKE AND CAUSE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO SHIFT CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO TOW MY VEHICLE.

TAMARA RECALL.. MY FRAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS ROTTING OUT WHERE THE BACK FRONT SPRING HANGERS SUSPENSION MOUNTS TO THE FRAME. ALSO THE FRAME RAILS ARE ROTTED OUT ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME AND IS SOON TO BE TOO DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. NOTICED WHEN LOOKING THIS PROBLEM UP ONLINE IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I REALLY LIKE MY 4RUNNER BUT I HAVE CHILDREN THAT I WOULD BE AFRAID TO LET BE RIDING IN IT IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO WORSEN!! SO IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE PARKED

I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I HEARD A CLANKING SOUND FROM THE REAR, THE CAR STARTED TO SWAY TERRIBLY AND SHAKE AND I LOST CONTROL. I CROSSED OVER THE HIGHWAY LANES, ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ENDED UP IN THE DITCH WITH THE CAR UPSIDE DOWN. A WITNESS DRIVING BEHIND ME SAID THE WHEEL OF THE CAR FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, WE SAW THE TIRE'S TREAD HAD BEEN RIPPED OFF, THERE WERE GASHES IN THE TIRE, AND THE REAR LEFT CONTROL ARM HAD FALLEN OFF. THE CAR HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION, AND THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH ONLY 15,000 MILES ON THEM. THE CAR HAD 118,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM TOYOTA HAS BEEN HAVING WITH OTHER 4RUNNERS OF THIS MILEAGE AND OF OTHER TOYOTA MODELS WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION OF THE SUSPENSION.THE IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR AT THAT MILEAGE AND I'M LUCKY I SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT FAILS WITHOUT WARNING.

FRAME ON BOTH MY 2000 4RUNNERS IS ROTTING OUT BOTH BODIES ARE IN PERFECT SHAPE CANT WAIT TO SUE TOYOTA WHEN THEY FAIL .

FRAME RUSTED AND TIRE CAME DETACHED FROM CAR WHILE DRIVING. FELT LIKE DRIVING ON ICE

THE FRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MEETS IS RUSTING OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. IT IS GOING TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE RIPPED OFF FROM THE FRAME RAIL. THERE IS ALMOST NO RUST ON THE BODY OF THE TRUCK AND IT SPEND MOST OF ITS LIFE IN ARIZONA OUT OF THE SALT BELT. IN ONLY 5 YEARS THE FRAME HAS STARTED TO DESEGREGATE AND IT HAS BEEN CLEANED REQULARLY. I'VE STARTED UNDERCOATING IT WITH PETROLEUM BASED PRODUCTS AND RUST CONVERTERS/ INHIBITORS AND IT IS STILL JUST METING AWAY. THE RUST HOLE HAS GROWN TO OVER 2 TIMES THE SIZE IT WAS 2 MONTHS AGO. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE FRAMES ARE THIS BAD, I HAD GM VEHICLES OLDER AND LESS MAINTAINED DO BETTER THAN THIS.

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2000 4RUNNER, IT STARTED TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY, IT WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THANK GOD THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY, I HAD TIME TO GET IT BACK IN MY LANE. IF NOT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A CASUALTY. I GOT IT HOME AND CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE WHOLE FRAME WAS RUSTED, HOLES EVERYWHERE YOU LOOKED. I JUST SPENT $2,000 ON NEW TIRES AND OTHER REPAIRS THREE MONTHS AGO. NOW THE 4RUNNER IS USELESS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY RECALL. WITH ALL THE 4RUNNERS ON THE ROAD THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE KILLED. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO FAIL UNTIL IT THROWS YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND KILLING EVERYONE IN YOU CAR AND OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE OTHER CARS THAT YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH. THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL AND HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE FRAMES. THIS 2000 4RUNNER IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, NO RUST ON EXTERIOR AND RUNS GREAT. DOES NOT BURN OR USE ANY OIL. BAD DEFECTIVE RUSTY FRAME WHICH WAS A POOR DESIGN OR LACK OF PREP IN MANUFACTURING.

DRIVERS SIDE BRACKET HOLDING REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF WHILE STOPPED. UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS IS.

THE ENTIRE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE IS ROTTING AWAY THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS THE PA. STATE INSPECTION

FRAME CORROSION ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. WILL CAUSE BODILY HARM OR DEATH SHOULD FAILURE OCCUR.

THOUGHT SHOCKS WERE BAD,PUT NEW ONES ON GOTTEN BETTER ONE PAYED ALMOST A 1,000 DOLLARS FOR FOUR SHOCKS.THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE I HAVE EVER IN COUNTER, YOU FI'LL EVERY BUMP AND ANYTHING ELSE IN THE HIGHWAYS. SURELY THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO RIDE,.I WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA OF ANY STYLE FOR THIS REASON EVER AGAIN. UNHAPPY OWNER

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA YEAR AGO, MY FIRST EVER CAR PAYMENT, COUNTING ON TOYOTAS BEING RELIABLE. NOW I HAVE 4RUNNER IN DRIVE WAY WITH BROKEN REAR TRAILING ARM & FRAME ROTT I WISH DEALER WHICH SHOULD IT TO ME OR TOYOTA WOULD STEP IN. WIFE & 15 MONTH OLD BABY TRAVELING 35-40MPH FELT RIGHT REAR DROP LIKE TIRE WENT SIDE WAYS... TRUCK WOBBLED/ROCKED LIKE BOAT IN WATER. LIKELY NEEDS NEW FRAME

I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I AM SUBMITTING THIS ON BEHALF OF ALL 3RD GEN 4RUNNERS! IT HAS NOT, YET, HAPPENED TO ME BUT I AM FEARFUL TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL I REPLACE THE PARTS EVEN THOUGH THEY SEEM FINE. AT THE LEAST A BETTER, SAFER DESIGN COULD BE MADE SO THAT WHEN IT DOES FAIL, PEOPLES LIVE AREN'T PUT INTO JEOPARDY. HELLO! I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT 1996-2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER'S AND THEIR VERY COMMON ISSUE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS FAILING. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS STOCK OR MODIFIED, FIRST YEAR OR LAST YEAR RUN BUT SOMEHOW TOYOTA ONLY HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2001 AND 2002 MODEL YEARS. LEAVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF US VULNERABLE TO A SEVERE ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE POINT IS THE BAIL JOINT AND WHEN IT FAILS IT SEVERS ITSELF FROM THE VEHICLE, PULLING THE AXLE SHAFT OUT AND CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DIP TO THE GROUND CAUSING A VERY UNSAFE DRIVING EXPERIENCE AS YOU COULD POSSIBLY DIE AT ANY SPEED. YOU CAN FIND THOUSANDS OF STORIES ON GOOGLE, IT HAPPENS LITERALLY EVERYDAY WITH PEOPLE REPORTING IN MANY 3RD GEN 4RUNNER FORUMS AND FACEBOOK GROUPS. GOOGLE '3RD GEN 4RUNNER LBJ FAILURE' FOR INSTANCE. WHY DOES TOYOTA ONLY NEED TO RECALL 2 YEARS OF A 6 YEAR VEHICLE RUN? ALL YEARS ARE EQUALLY AFFECTED. TOYOTA IS A NAME OF DEPENDABILITY SO THIS RARE ACT OF BETRAYING THE CUSTOMER AND PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE IS JUST SO UNLIKE THEM. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP YA OUT? I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY HAD THIS HAPPEN BUT I CHECK MY LOWER ARMS ALL THE TIME FOR ANY PLAY BUT HAVE HEARD STORIES OF OTHERS WITH DETAILED MAINTENANCE AND IT HAPPENING TO THEM REGARDLESS. IT'S TOTALLY UNSAFE AND A REDESIGN SHOULD BE THOUGHT UP, NEWER GENERATIONS DO NOT HAVE THIS FAILURE PRONE ISSUE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IF THEY DO FAIL THEY DO NOT MAKE FOR A VERY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT.

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME ROT. REAR SUSPENTION IS SEPERATING FROM THE FRAME, MIDDLE OF THE FRAME HAS A 2 FOOT SECTION MISSING, AND THE FRONT OF FRAME RIGHT BY THE FIREWALL HAS BIG ROT HOLES IN IT. THE TRUCK IS BECOMING UN SAFE TO DRIVE AND HARD TO CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

TOOK MY TRUCK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND THEY LET ME KNOW THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT.

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED ACROSS THE CENTER LINE FROM THE REAR END.

JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER FROM A DEALER. BEGAN SWAYING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PRODUCING A FAINT CLICKING SOUND. THE SWAYING WAS NOTICEABLY PREVALENT WHEN ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR, DRIVING OVER SMALL TERRAIN FEATURES (RAILROAD TRACKS, ROAD SEAMS ETC.) SWITCHING LANES AND COMING TO COMPLETE STOPS. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN FRAME. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS FATALITIES. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IT APPEARS THAT 17 YEARS WAS THE MAGIC NUMBER.

"TAKATA RECALL" I NOTICED A VERY LARGE RUST WHOLE IN MY FRAME RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER, IT SPANS ABOUT 5-6IN FROM WHERE THE VISIBLE WHOLE IS. ALSO WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET ATTACHES TO THE FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY. BOTH WHOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED A METAL BAR HANGING FORM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,491.

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE RECENTLY AND WAS TAKING IT TO HAVE IT SAFETY INSPECTED. DRIVING DOWN A CURVY ROAD, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER STRAIGHT. A LOUD THUNKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER REAR QUARTER. UPON INSPECTION IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LOWER 4 LINK FRAME ATTACHMENT TOWER (JUST FORWARD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE) HAD DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SEVERE METAL DETERIORATION FROM THE INSIDE OUT, HIDING ITSELF UNTIL IT PERFORATED THE FRAME. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THE FRAME WAS FOUND TO BE PERFORATED ALL ALONG THE LOWER INSIDE WALL - FROM THE 4 LINK TOWER TO THE MIDDLE CROSSMEMBER ATTACH POINT . THIS AREA OF THE FRAME IS ADJACENT TO THE MUFFLER AND IS EXPOSED TO EXAGGERATED THERMAL CYCLING ON A DAILY BASIS. SOME METALLURGICAL REACTION TO THIS CONDITION IS CAUSING EXTREME CORROSION OF THE FRAME RAILS TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF 1999 TO 2003 4RUNNERS IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT AND IT'S GOING TO GET SOMEONE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE ANYTHING IS AMISS UNTIL THEY POKE AROUND THE AREA OF THE INSIDE FRAME RAIL.

MY 2000 4RUNNER ONLY HAS 123K MILS ON IT AND THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED IT MIGHT BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I TRIED TO GET NEW SHOCKS ON IT AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T DUE TO THE BAD RUST. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN PERFECT CONDITION!

FRAME RUST TO THE POINT THE PASSENGER REAR CONTROL ARM IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF BC OF THE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST

I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER 15 YEARS AGO, ON YEAR 2000. I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND I DON?T ABUSE MY VEHICLES. LOVE THIS CAR. ONE DAYS DRIVING BACK HOME MY CAR SHAKE AND IT SEEMED AN ISSUE IN REAR ?CAUSE THE WAY MY CAR MOVE AND NOISE. IT APPEARS THE REAR LEFT AXEL MOUNTS WAS HANGING OFF THE FRAME. TALKED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER NOTHING THEY COULDN'T DO IT REQUIRES A NEW FRAME. STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS DOESN'T ALLOW WELDING DIRECTLY INTO THE FRAMES, IT'S UNSAFE. I WAS TOLD TO JUNK THE CAR OR REPLACE THE FRAME. JUST WHEN IT TURNED 15 YEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A BOOMING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME SEPARATED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 01/06/17*LJ

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. THE FRAME IS VERY BADLY RUSTED AND IS BEGINNING TO FAIL. I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY MECHANIC THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACING THE FRAME FOR SAFETY ISSUES. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED AND REPLACED THE SAME FRAME ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA BUT HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER... NORMAL DRIVING. REGULAR MAINTENANCE. LAST FEW TIMES I HAD A TRUCK IN THE SHOP (DIFFERENT ONES) THEY RECOMMEND I CONTACT SOMEBODY, ABOUT THE FRAME... IT IS BASICALLY RUSTED ALL THE WAY THRU. IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SEEMS LIKE... HAD MANY TOYOTA'S IN THE PAST (AND PRESENT)... HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

FATAL LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET CORROSION-

FRAME ROTTED OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR, TRACK BAR FOR REAR MOUNT RUSTED OFF FRAME.

RUST HAS CONSUMED MY FRAME, SUSPENSION AND LOWER BODY PANELS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY.HAD TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME TO FIND OUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH ALLOWING THE SWAY BAR TO DROP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.

IN A GRADUAL LEFT HAND TURN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE REAR IDLER ASSEMBLY ARM AT THE FRAME CONNECTION SEPARATED (BROKE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST PER CERTIFIED MECHANIC), CAUSING DRAMATIC BODY ROLL AND A NEAR DEADLY HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. ROLL OVER POTENTIAL WAS ALSO GREATLY INCREASED, AS NEEDED CORRECTION WAS EMPLOYED TO AVOID HEAD ON COLLISION - WHICH CREATED OVER STEER TO BE APPLIED TO COUNTER BALANCE SUDDEN ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE SPONTANEOUS BODY ROLL.

BOUGHT A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 3 MONTHS AGO. INSPECTION WAS UP AND TOOK IT TO GET INSPECTED. THEY SAID THE FRAME WAS TRASHED FROM RUST.

THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGE IN THE FRONT LEFT AND MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY.

UPON REMOVING AND REPLACING MY EXHAUST AND MUFFLER ON OUR 2000 4RUNNER LIMITED I SPOTTED A HOLE IN MY FRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE JUST BEFORE MY RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL AND SUSPENSION. I FINISHED INSTALLING THE NEW EXHAUST AN BEGAN INSPECTING THE FRAME ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE TRUCK IS NOT NEW ...IT ONLY HAD WHAT APPEARS TO BE LIMITED SURFACE RUST TO MOST OF THE FRAMEWORK. HOWEVER , THE PORTION THAT WAS DETECTED WAS CLEARLY RUSTED THROUGH AND NOW THREATENS THE FRAME INTEGRITY. I EXPECTED TO KEEP THIS CAR FOR A LONG TIME AND AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS MIGHT SHORTEN MY EXPECTED OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TRAVELING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. I HEAR A LOUD POP AND MY SUV VEERS HARD TO THE RIGHT CROSSING THE LOW SPEED LANE AND BREAKDOWN LANE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEXT TO ME. SUV MISSED THE GUARD RAIL, BUT CLIMBED AN EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. RESULTING IN ME FORCEFULLY TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL, HITTING MY HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND BRAKING THE SIDE GLASS WITH MY HEAD. AFTERWARDS, LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS APPARENT WHAT HAD CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME, CAUSED THE SHOCK MOUNT, AND REAR CONTROL ARM TO TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE FRAME ON OUT 2000 TOYOTA COLLAPSED BECAUSE OF RUST. THE COLLAPSE WAS ON THE SIDE FRAME RAIL, JUST BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OF MY VEHICLE. RUST HAS COMPLETELY PERFORATED AND SEPARATED STRUCTURAL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS (REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CONTROL ARM MOUNT). VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL MAJOR REPAIRS OR COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT IS PERFORMED. *TR

EXTREME RUST AND DAMAGE DUE THE AFOREMENTIONED RUST. THE REAR CONTROL ARMS COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF THE FRAME. I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS 15 YEARS OLD BUT THIS MUCH RUST IS NOT NORMAL AND WILL CAUSE INJURY TO MANY PEOPLE IF THEY DO NOT NOW IT IS FAILING. *TR

THE REAR AXLE HOUSING HAS RUSTED THROUGH SUCH THAT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID WAS LEAKING THROUGH A HOLE IN THE METAL AND DRIPPING ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE METAL WAS SO THIN, LIKE PAPER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ALL OF THE REAR AXLE FLUID COULD LEAK OUT, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO FREEZE OR SEIZE UP, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CREATING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE OTHER VEHICLES TO LOSE TRACTION ON ROAD DUE TO GEAR OIL LEAKING ONTO ROADWAY. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AXLE HOUSING. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SUPPORTS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I THINK THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE TOYOTA ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY DIFFERENTIALS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA USED INFERIOR METAL TO MANUFACTURER THESE PARTS. *TR

WHEN GETTING THE LEFT/REAR WHEEL BEARING REPAIRED (DUE TO HEAVY RUSTING OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, CAUSING FLUID LOSS), THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED EXTENSIVE FRAME LOSS ALSO DUE TO CORROSION. AFFECTED VEHICLE (OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION) WAS/HAD TO BE JUNKED FOR SAFETY REASONS, THUS FORCING ME TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED. IN N.E. (NORTH EAST) USA, TOYOTA TACOMAS (FRAMES MANUFACTURED IN THE USA) WERE RECALLED FOR THIS CONDITION BUT NOT TOYOTA 4RUNNERS (FRAMES MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN). BOTH MY 4RUNNER CORROSION CONDITIONS ARE NOT UNUSUAL IN N.E. USA! (PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). SHOULD TOYOTA BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION? *TR

VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND LOOSE IN THE REAR END WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. REAR END STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH PUSHING VEHICLE INTO CENTER OF 2 LANE HIGHWAY. ONCE VEHICLE WAS UNDER CONTROL AND OFF THE ROAD FRAME SHOWED SIGNIFICANT RUST. LOWER SUSPENSION ARM MOUNT ON FRAME HAD RUSTED AND BROKE. ROUGHLY 24 INCH SECTION OF THIS FRAME AREA HAD RUSTED OUT. LEAVING NO ATTACHMENT OF THE SUSPENSION ARM TO THE FRAME MOUNT. UPON INSPECTION MANY AREAS OF FRAME ARE SHOWING SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE. VEHICLE US NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 11-12 YEARS. BOUGHT IT WITH 12,000 MILE AND HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF IT. ENGINE PURRS LIKE A KITTEN. RUNS AS WELL NOW AS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. TOYOTA WILL NOT WARRANTY A BAD DESIGN/MANUFACTURING PROCESS. CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHOM I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING MANY OF THESE COMING IN AND TOYOTA WILL NOT WARRANTY THE BAD FRAMES. *TR

SUSPENSION SYSTEM RUSTED APART CAUSING THE REAR SHOCKS TO BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER ARE EXPERIENCING WITH FRAME ROT. THERE ARE NEARLY 200 COMPLAINTS ON HERE FOR THIS ISSUE...IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. I CARY MY 2 YEAR OLD AROUND IN THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. SURPRISED TO FIND SUCH A POOR QUALITY CAR FROM TOYOTA AND THAT THEY AREN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHEN THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FRAME AND SAME PROBLEM. *TR

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY PERCH SPRINGS/SHOCK MOUNTS HAD ROTTED OFF. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A WELDER AND TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WAS SO ROTTED OUT THAT I SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO. SAID HE HAD A 2000 TUNDRA WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED. WHY HASN'T THE 4RUNNER BEEN RECALLED YET? *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A FAMILY VACATION, THE 4 RUNNER HAD A NEAR CATASTROPHIC FRAME FAILURE. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THIS FAILURE CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND THE INABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNSAFE FOR OPERATION AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION REVEALED MULTIPLE FAILURE POINTS ALONG THE FRAME RAIL RELATED TO CORROSION. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER ONE YEAR AGO AT DRY RIDGE TOYOTA USED CARS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING IN THE REAR END FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE HIGHWAY AT ANY SPEED. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH THE SIDE TO SIDE REAR END WOBBLING WHICH WAS VISIBLE FROM VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND. UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AT A GARAGE AND PUT UP ON A LIFT, THE FRAME UNDERNEATH HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS READY TO BREAK. THE GARAGE SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR IT BECAUSE OF LIABILITY ISSUES. THEY SAID IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SO NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I CANT DRIVE, CANT BE FIXED AND A LOAN TO PAY ON IT. TOYOTA SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY WILL DO NOTHING. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, IT HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN A YEARS TIME AND ITS ONLY A 2000. *TR

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT A LEAK FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SO RUSTED THAT THE FLUID WAS NOW LEAKING FROM THE POROUS RUSTED HOUSING. BUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED SO BAD THAT DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY NOW OTHERWISE IMMACULATE CONDITION 4RUNNER IS NOW USELESS AND RENDERED INOPERABLE. THIS IS A RAMP IF PROBLEM WITH TACOMA/TUNDRA FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND SAME MODEL YEARS. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO BOUNCE LEFT AND RIGHT AND COULDN'T STOP IT. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE CAR .WHEN I CHECKED THE REAR SUSPENSION I'VE SEEN THAT THE ENTIRE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STABILIZATION BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN DUE TO RUSTED FRAME. I NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE . I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN LIBERTIVILLE IL AND AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE CAR THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AT THIS TIME AS A DEALER CAUSE TOYOTA DOES NOT A HAVE A RECALL ON TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS BUT THERE IS A RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON OTHER MODELS LIKE TACOMA OR TUNDRA. THIS IS RIDICULOUS . WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THIS CAR NOW. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IN MY AREA AND WHEN THEY SEEN IT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN NOT WELD THE FRAME AT THIS POINT CAUSE THE ENTIRE FRAME IS ROUTED AND ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. SO MY CAR IS TRASH NOW . THANKS TOYOTA *TR

THE VEHICLE FRAME IS DETERIORATING FROM RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SEVERE RUST IS PREVALENT AT SUSPENSION ATTACHMENT POINTS; SIGNIFICANTLY WHERE THE RIGHT-SIDE REAR "TRACK BAR" IS ATTACHED. IF THIS WERE TO FAIL, THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DISCONNNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSING A CRASH. FOUND OUT TONIGHT THE FRAME RAIL FORWARD OF THE TRACK BAR HAS ALSO DETERIORATED ON THE BOTTOMSIDE AND IS EXHIBITING NUMEROUS HOLES. THIS CONDITION MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSERVICABLE FROM A SAFETY ASPECT. IT CANNOT BE SAFETY INSPECTED IN NYS ANY LONGER. THIS VEHICLE WAS PUCHASED NEW IN ITHACA, N.Y. THE FRAMEWORK DETERIORATION IS INDICATIVE OF OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH FRAMES RUSTING AND CAUSING MAJOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUES. TOYOTA HAS DONE DUE DILIGENCE IN SUPPORTING THEIR CUSTOMERS ON THEIR TACOMA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES. THEY PERFORMED FRAME REPLACEMENTS AND A BUYBACK PROGRAM ON THESE. I BELIEVE THEY OUGHT TO DO THE SAME FOR THE 4RUNNERS SEEING THEY ARE A VIRTUAL DUPLICATE OF THE TACOMA TRUCKS' FRAME. THE FACT THAT THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA FRAMES WERE PRODUCED IN USA AND THE 4RUNNER'S FRAMES WERE PRODUCED IN JAPAN DOES NOT HAVE A BEARING ON THIS RUST PROBLEM..IT DOES SHOW AN ENGINEERING DEFICIENCY ON TUNDRA, TACOMA AND 4RUNNER'S FRAME DESIGN. THIS ISSUE IS CAUSING MY FAMILY AN UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN. I MOST EMPHATICALLY BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL !!. *TR

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A DEFECT IN THE FRAME OF MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. INSPECTION BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE FRAME EXHIBITS EXTENSIVE RUSTING. THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. IT HAS HOLES AND HAS SEPARATED ALONG THE BOTTOM WELD. THE MECHANIC WARNED THAT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IS LIKELY TO OCCUR. *TR

SAFETY ISSUE DO TO FRAME ROT.. COMMON ISSUE WITH 3RD GEN TOYOTA RUNNERS. BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW, AND NOW MY INVESTMENT IS AT RISK BECAUSE TOYOTA MAKES VEHICLES WITH POOR STEAL AND THE US DOT WILL NOT STEP UP AND FORCE THEM TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *JS

WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE DONE MY MECHANIC NOTICED SEVER FRAM RUST, SOME SPOTS GO RIGHT THROUGH FRAM. I KNOW TOYOTA RECALLED MANY VECHILES FOR THIS SO I CALL TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY CAN DO NOTHING FOR ME, THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID IF I WANTED IT LOOKED AT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY! SOUNDS LIKE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE MORE PROBLEMS BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JS

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED ROCKING VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH.I APPLIED ON THE BRAKES GENTLY AND THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT WOULD NOT STOP SHAKING, ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER ON ITS SIDE. AS THIS WAS HAPPENING MY HEAD WAS SMASHED AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW MULTIPLE TIMES, CAUSING A CONCUSSION AND CUTS TO MY HEAD AND BODY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AFTER NEARLY BEING HIT BY ON COMING CARS I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WHILE HITTING THE GUARD RAIL AS I CAME TO A STOP. AFTER I GATHERED MY THOUGHTS AND WHEN IT WAS SAFE, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THE REAR CONTROL ARM BECAME COMPLETELY SEVERED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF RUST ON THE FRAME. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR ISSUES AND FOUND THAT THE TOYOTA TUNDRA, TOYOTA SEQUOIA, AND VARIOUS OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME YEAR THAT SHARE THE SAME FRAME AS MY CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED BY TOYOTA DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME THAT COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I CALLED TOYOTA EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. SINCE MY CAR SHARES THE SAME FRAME AS THE OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED WIT THE SAME FRAME AS MINE AND IT'S FAILURE HAS CAUSED MYSELF PHYSICAL HARM AND THE POTENTIAL FOR OTHERS TO OCCUR. FURTHERMORE,SINCE THE CAR IS NOW UNDRIVABLE AND UNSAFE WITHOUT THE FRAME REPLACEMENT THAT IT NEEDS FROM TOYOTA, I FEEL THAT THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE SAME RECALL BECAUSE THE SAME THREATS HUMAN LIFE ARE CURRENTLY PRESENT TO OTHERS AND THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN IS KNOWN BY TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. *JS

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS RUSTED VERY BADLY LEAKING GEAR OIL. RUST IS EXTREMELY THICK. HUGE FLAKES MORE LIKE CHUNKS. LEAKING FROM REAR OF HOUSING WHERE RUST HAS PENETRATED FAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE A SLOW LEAK. REST OF 4RUNNER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. *TR

FRAME IS RUSTING THROUGH CAUSING INSTABILITY CONCERNS. *TR

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME RUSTED THREW AT AREA THAT HOLDS REAR AXEL IN PLACE REAR DRIVERS FRAME RAIL HAD RUSTED THROUGH WHERE IT MOUNTS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHEN FRAME FAILED VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND SWAYING TO THE POINT OF IMMEDIATE DANGER TO PASSENGERS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON HIGHWAY THIS VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FRAME FAILURE ON THIS AGE VEHICLE SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

FRAME RUSTED IN FRONT OF BOTH REAR TIRES LOAD BEARING AREA. TOYOTA REFUSES ANY WARRANTY OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM ON TRUCK FRAMES USED ON SUV'S. TACOMA FRAMES ALL RECALLED FOR SAME REASON. TOYOTA STILL STATES NOT TO UNDERCOAT WHEN PURCHASE IS NEW OR TO RUST PREVENT AT ANY WARRANTY/PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. CONSUMER PUT AT RISK TO A PROBLEM ONLY OBSERVABLE FROM A LIFT,AND TOLD TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS OR TOTAL LOSS,AND WILL NOT SELL THE FRAME EVEN AT FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. UPON READING BLOGS OF 4RUNNER OWNERS THIS IS A COMMON FREQUENT INCREASING SAFETY PROBLEM WITH ALL 4RUNNERS. *TR

REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING GEAR OIL FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL INTO REAR BRAKE DRUM HOUSING COVERING BRAKE SHOES, DRUMS, AND BRAKING COMPONENTS IN GEAR OIL. LOSS OF GEAR OIL IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAN CAUSE DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AS WELL AS FAILURE IN REAR BRAKING. A NOTORIOUS ISSUE WITH 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNERS DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OF REAR AXLE SEALS AND RETAINERS, THEREFORE FAILING TO PROPERLY SEAL COMPONENTS. SEALS BEGIN TO LEAK AGAIN SOON AFTER; EVEN WHEN REPAIRED, DUE TO POOR MATING OF SEAL AND RETAINER ON AXLE WITHIN THE AXLE HOUSING. *TT

WHILE HAVING MY 2000 4RUNNER SERVICED RECENTLY, MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY CARRIAGE FRAME WAS CRACKED AND ROTTING. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER IN BRISTOL CT, WHO PUT VEHICLE ON HOIST AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR TSB ON MY SUV, AND PROBABLY NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND INFO & PICTURES TO DISTRICT OFFICE FOR REVIEW AND ADVISE WHEN THEY HEARD BACK. I ASKED THEM ABOUT FIXING IT IN THE MEANTIME, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T ACCEPT THE LIABILITY? I CAN EMAIL PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO REVIEW THESE AS WELL. I AM HAVING IT WELDED IN THE MEANTIME, AS THE CRACK WAS RATHER SEVERE. MY MECHANIC AND TOYOTA BOTH ADVISED THAT IF THE CRACK BROKE THRU WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR AXLE WOULD COME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. THE ESTIMATE TO FIX MY SUV IS APX. $1,500, WHICH INCLUDES REPLACING THE GAS TANK UNDER-SHIELD, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A CHUNK OF SWISS CHEESE AS WELL. PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY RECOURSE I MAY HAVE. *TR

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND PULLED SEVERELY TO LEFT. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL CAR AND SLOW DOWN, DRIVE CAR HOME. I HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND SAID FRAME HAD ROOTED AND STABILIZATION BAR BROKE LOOSE CAR CAN NOT BE FIXED AND IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR 4 RUNNER TOYOTA IS AWARE OF IT AND REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. VERY DANGEROUS. IF MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ANY FASTER VEHICLE COULD HAVE FLIPPED OVER. *TR

FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST THAT HAS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BECOME WEAK AND UNSAFE. MULTIPLE HOLES IN FRAME HAVE DEVELOPED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WASHED REGULARLY AND STORED INDOORS FOR YEARS BUT HAS SEVERE FRAME ROT. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROBLEM WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES JUST THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA HAD ISSUES. THE FRAME ON THE 96-02 4RUNNERS ARE THE SAME AS THE TACOMA, ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE REAR SUSPENSION SETUP. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME RUST ISSUES. *TR

SEVERE FRAME ROT ON OTHERWISE VERY WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE. WILL CERTAINLY RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE SOUNDED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED WHICH CAUSED THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE TO SKID ACROSS THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET. IN ADDITION, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I TOOK MY CAR FOR STATE INSPECTION. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AN IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. THE 2000 $RUNNER HAS THE SAME FRAME AS THE 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA IN WHICH TOYOTA BOUGHT BACK THE TACOMAS FROM THE OWNERS FOR 150% OF THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE. IF TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ONE MODEL (TACOMA) AND FIXES THEN THEY SHOULD ALSO FIX THE 4RUNNER. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL IS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE INSIDE OF THE RAIL. *TR

FRAME IS RUSTING. PERFORATION. I WAS HAVING REAR SHOCKS REPLACED AND WHEN MECHANIC PULLED HIMSELF UNDER THE VEHICLE ON HIS ROLLER CART HIS FINGERS WENT THRU THE FRAME. *TR

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I HAVE NOTICED MY FRAME NEAR THE REAR SUSPENSION IS SO SEVERELY ROTTED THAT THE FRAME WILL NEED TO BE CUT AND RE-WELDED OR REPLACED ALL TOGETHER.THERE ARE MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE BOX FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME. WATER SEEPS IN THROUGH THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE RECENTLY AND THEY INFORMED ME AS WELL OF THE EXTENSIVE RUSTING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AND WILL BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO TWO REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF FRAME. THE REST OF THE 4RUNNER IS IN PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO SURFACE RUST, ROT OR OTHER BLEMISHES. HOWEVER, BELOW THE VEHICLE THE FRAME IS RUSTED EXTENSIVELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALER WHERE THEY BOTH INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRACTURED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE REPAIR. A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST THROUGHOUT THE FRAME AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

THE REAR AXLE HOUSING HAS RUSTED THROUGH, WHILE THE VEHICLES BODY HAS NO RUST. TOYOTA FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLES YEAR AND MILEAGE. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE NUMBER 1109161548. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SUPPORTS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL OCCUR ON THE 4 RUNNER WITH MUCH LESS MILEAGE. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ALL OF THE REAR AXLE FLUID COULD LEAK OUT, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO FREEZE, CREATING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. TOYOTA HAS A RUST PROBLEM WITH THE TACOMA PICKUP, WHERE THEY REPURCHASED VEHICLES AS A RESULT OF FRAME RUST OUT. WE ARE OF THE OPINION TOYOTA HAS USED INFERIOR METALS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THEIR VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN I CALLED THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN TORRANCE CA. THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN MANAGEMENT SINCE I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE DECISION OF THE PERSON I DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS RUSTED AND CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE RUST AND CORROSION THAT CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF

TODAY, OBSERVED SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LONGITUDINAL FRAME MEMBER. THE FRAME RAIL WAS PERFORATED FOR ~24 INCHES ON THE BOTTOM, INSIDE OF THE RAIL, NEXT TO THE MUFFLER AND UP TO AND INCLUDING THE MOUNTING POINT FOR THE REAR WHEEL LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE RAIL WAS PERFORATED TO A WIDTH OF UP TO ~1 INCH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME AND AM REPORTING IT AS IT COULD BE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE REVIEWED DESCRIPTIONS AND PICTURES OF THIS ISSUE ON WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG FORUM AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF FRAME PERFORATION IN THIS EXACT LOCATION ON 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNERS (SEARCH "FRAME RUST" OR I CAN PROVIDE LINKS). I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE (CASE#110-621-0707) AND THEY INDICATED THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE AN ONGOING PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

2000 SPORT EDITION 4 RUNNER, ALL WORKING COMPONENTS AND FRAME ARE BADLY RUSTED. NOTHING CAN BE WORKED ON WITHOUT BREAKAGE OF PARTS AND BOLTS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS FROM THE EAST COAST WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS. CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN REPLACEMENT FRAMES OR THEIR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BACK FROM TOYOTA. OUR CAR IS FROM VERMONT AND NEW YORK WHERE I AM SURE THEY USED ROAD SALT AND THIS IS WHY THE UNTREATED FRAMES OF THESE VEHICLES CORRODED SO BADLY LIKE OUR 4 RUNNER. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE THE SAME OFFER FOR THE 2000 4 RUNNER. MY SON WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AND AT 18 YEARS OLD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR $9000.00. WE WERE CRUSHED WHEN WE REALIZED THE EXTENT OF RUST DAMAGE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE. NOTHING CAN BE REPAIRED WITHOUT HUGE EXPENSE, AND EVERY THING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS CAR NEEDS REPLACED. WHERE IS TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE AND SATISFACTION NOW? *TR

TOYOTA 4-RUNNER 2000, AXLE CENTER WAS TOTALLY BROKEN. *BF WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SUDDENLY FELT THE VEHICLE BEND TO THE RIGHT AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

TOYOTA 4-RUNNER 2000, AXLE CENTER WAS TOTALLY BROKEN. *BF WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FELL ABNORMAL, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A DIVIDER. *JB

PROBLEMS WITH TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 2000 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. *MR THERE WAS A NOISE AND VIBRATION WITHIN THE TIRES WITH THREE DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES AND ARE AS FOLLOWED: FIRESTONE WITH ONLY 10K MILES, GOODYEAR WITH ONLY 13K MILES, AND MICHELIN WITH ONLY 22K MILES. THE SUSPENSION WAS CHANGED BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE FOR A SOLUTION. *SCC *JB

BOUNCING OF VEHICLE FROM REAR END. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45-50 MILE PER HOUR IN SLIGHT RAIN. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLIDE TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE MIDDLE GUARD RAIL AND AND ROLLED OVER. THIS WAS NOT HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY A MONTH OLD(1500 MILES). I TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT 'S JUST OUT OF SPECS AND ON THE REPAIR STATEMENT DID NOT SHOWN THAT IT HAS BEEN FIXED OR NOT.*AK

EXPERIENCING WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, VEHICLE PULLS SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, BECAUSE THE HIGHWAYS ARE SLANTED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT.