2005 Toyota 4runner Electrical Problems

You discovered that your 2005 Toyota 4Runner's odometer reading was significantly different between when you bought it (217,000 miles) and when you registered it (342,912 miles), indicating the mileage may have been tampered with or altered. This is a case of potential odometer fraud from the private sale. You may need to contact your local authorities or consumer protection agency and consult with an attorney about your options, as this involves the vehicle's history and your purchase agreement.

I was driving my 4Runner and the rear glass exploded and shattered. This is a known issue with Toyota and documented in T-SB-0189-17 and warranty enhancement ZG7. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the glass shattering. Toyota refuses to cover the repair costs and the estimate provided by the dealer is $1,200. Photos were taken in my garage when I got home immediately after the explosion occurred.

THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED ON IT'S OWN WITH GLASS SHATTERING EVERYWHERE WHILE THE DEFROST FUNCTION WAS ON. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BEFORE IT HAPPENS. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THE DESIGN FLAW YET ALLOWS THIS DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE TO HAPPEN WITH CONSUMERS BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SAY TO BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION BUT NOTHING THAT THEY CAN SEE UNTIL IT HAS EXPLODED. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE NAMED RYAN INFORMED ME TODAY THERE IS NOTHING TOYOTA CAN DO FOR ME. THEY NEED TO REIMBURSE CONSUMERS FOR REPLACEMENT NO MATTER THE TIME FRAME BECAUSE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS A DESIGN FLAW!

AFTER MY REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR A FEW MINUTES, I HAD IT REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE CONNECTIONS FOR THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER WERE BURNED. THIS CAUSED GREAT HEAT TO BUILD UP, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO SHATTER.

DEFROST CABLES CONNECTED TO THE REAR WINDOW MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE THE REAR WINDOW TO EXPLODE. INITIAL SIGN IS THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC A SHORT WHILE BEFORE THE WINDOW EXPLODED. THIS OCCURRED WITH THE DEFROST BEING OFF IN 74 DEGREE WEATHER. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOR 2 MINUTES BEFORE IT SHATTERED. BASED ONLINE SEARCHES, MANY OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS HAVE HAD THEIR REAR WINDOWS EXPLODE DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM, BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY SHATTERED. WHILE REPLACING THE WINDOW, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED MELTED AND CHARRED HEATER WIRES THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE REAR WINDOW. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, THE LIGHT DISABLED THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOCAL DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER ONE YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,310. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AFTER THE FIRST DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL VISITS. THE SECOND DEALER INSTALLED A NEW SENSOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 03/26/10

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL. HEAVY PRESSURE HAS TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE WHEN STOPPING IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM CONTINUING TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON.. THE RPMS INCREASE UP TO 200 - 300 WHEN THE AIR CONDITION TURNS ON. THE SURGING IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TYPE. UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB