2004 Toyota 4runner Seats Problems
11 owner-reported seats complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (11)
DRIVERS SEAT ON TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, WHEN ADJUSTED AND LOCKED IN PLACE, HAS WAY TOO MUCH LATERAL MOVEMENT. THE SEAT "ROCKS" FROM SIDE TO SIDE APPROXIMATELY 1-2 INCHES. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU ARE STRAPPED INTO THE SEAT, WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND SEAT LOCKED IN PLACE. I HAD MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECK THE SEAT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SECURELY BOLTED/FASTENED TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOLD ME IT WAS, BUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY THE SEAT FRAME, AND THAT THE WORD HE WAS GETTING IS THAT TOYOTA MAYBE INSTITUTING A SAFETY RECALL SOON. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR ACCIDENT, I AM CERTAIN THE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE, PUTTING THE DRIVER AT SERIOUS RISK OF HARM OR EVEN DEATH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WOULD NOT ATTACH TO THE MECHANICAL RAIL PROPERLY AND AS A RESULT, PIECES OF FOAM FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT CUSHION WERE BECOMING STUCK WITHIN THE FRAME RAIL TRACKS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE YET THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND I TOOK IT IN WHEN IT WAS NEW FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT. WHERE THE SEAT CONNECTS TO THE BACK WHEN YOU STOP OR START THE HINGE OR TRACK HAS CONSIDERABLE PLAY IN IT AND YOU FEEL A CLUNK EVERY TIME. THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. I REPEATEDLY ASK TOYOTA IF THIS PRESENTS AND DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT SINCE THERE IS SO MUCH PLAY IN THE SEAT. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO SAFETY CONCERN. IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S TRACK RECORD FOR LYING I'M NOW MORE CONCERNED AND WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS AN ISSUE. MANY 4 RUNNER OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED? *TR
I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. DUE TO POOR DESIGN DRIVERS SEAT FRAME HAS COLLAPSED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2003-2005 4RUNNERS ACCORDING TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. SO MUCH SO THAT TOYOTA HAS SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED REGARDING THE MATTER. I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH IT BROKEN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE REALIZING THE PROBLEM. HAD I BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE FRAME BROKEN, THE SEAT WOULD HAVE OFFERED ZERO SUPPORT AND IT'S FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH IN AN OTHERWISE SURVIVABILITY ACCIDENT. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT MOVES WHILE DRIVING, WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR TURNING. IT SOUNDS LIKE A CLICKING NOISE AND FEELS LIKE A SHIFT FORWARD OR BACK. THIS HAS BEEN THERE SINCE PURCHASE AND DEALER HAS NO FIX. *TR
DT: ONTACT STATES THE DRIVER'S LUMBART SECTION OF THE SEAT IS LOOSE. WHEN YDRIVING AND STOPPING Y CAN FEEL THE FRONT SECTION OF THE SEAT MOVING. AND WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT CAN FEEL THE SEAT MOVING. THIS HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME. HE HAS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAID IT IS WORKED AS DESIGNED. HE NOTICED THIS ON 6-30-05. THE DEALERSHIP DID COMPARE THE PROBLEM TO A 2005 TOYOTA FORERUNNER AND SAID THE SAME PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING WITH THE 2005 MODELS BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL TOYOTA COMES OUT WITH A SERVICE BULLETING OR A RECALL. HE HAS TALKED TO TOYOTA AND THEY GAVE HIM A CLAIM NUMBER AND SAID SOMEONE SHOULD GET BACK WITH HIM ON OR AROUND THE 21ST. OF JULY 05.*AK
THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES (OR ROCKS) WHILE DRIVING. THE LOCAL DEALER ASSURES ME THAT THE DEFECT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, YET I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS CONSTANTLY CLICKING AND SHIFTING UPON ACCELERATION, BRAKING AND TURNING. THE TECHNICIAN'S AT THE DEALER SAY IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND THEY ALL DO IT. THE CAR HAS 7500 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES FOR THE SAME AND IT IS GOING BACK AGAIN FOR IT ON 5/27/05. I FEEL IF IT MOVING THIS MUCH WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE WHAT WILL IT BE DOING IT A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW. I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE SOMETIME THE SEAT WILL ACTUALLY MOVE BACK A NOTCH WHILE ACCELERATING AND ALMOST CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE STEERING AROUND A CAR THAT HAD PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. AS FOR THE ROTTEN EGG SMELL I ALSO GET THAT WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN MOSTLY AND IT IS VERY ANNOYING AS IS THE DRONNING OF THE DRIVETRAIN OR DIFFERENTIAL UPON ACCELERATION, THAT I HOPE WILL BE ADDRESSED AT THE NEXT SERVICE DATE ABOVE. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR A LOOSE SEAT IT IS RIDICULOUS WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY OUT THEIR THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR SUCH A SIMPLE PROBLEM.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT POPS AND MOVES WHEN BRAKING OR TURNING CURVES (ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS). IT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT AND AROUND THE FRONT "THIGH" PORTION OF THE SEAT.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER SEAT MOVING AND MAKING NOISES DURING DRIVING ON 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND TOYOTA WILL NOT RECALL.*AK
I HAVE A NEW TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR5 PURCHASED IN APRIL 2004. THE DRIVERS SEAT IS LOOSE AND MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BREAK OR GAS PEDDLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DAYTON TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THAT IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION AND THERE IS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. HE SHOWED ME OTHER 4 RUNNERS ON HIS LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THESE VEHICLES CAN BE SOLD IN THIS CONDITION. *AK