2007 Toyota 4runner Body & Structure Problems

Your 2007 Toyota 4Runner is swaying side-to-side while driving at normal highway speeds (around 35 MPH), even though no warning lights are showing up on your dashboard. You've also noticed that the subframe underneath your vehicle has developed significant rust and corrosion. This combination of swaying and structural corrosion could indicate suspension or frame damage that needs professional inspection. A mechanic will likely need to inspect the suspension components and assess the extent of the subframe corrosion to determine what repairs are needed.

Your mechanic discovered severe rust underneath your car during a brake repair, with metal flakes actively falling off the frame. The mechanic warned against using a lift again due to concerns about structural integrity, noting this level of rust is abnormal for a well-maintained vehicle. This could affect the safety and structural stability of your car and may require professional rust assessment and repair.

Your 4Runner's frame has developed extensive rust that a Toyota dealer has indicated may be unsafe. The structural damage is significant enough to warrant attention and potential repair or replacement of affected frame sections.

Your 4Runner's frame and suspension components, including the control arms and support brackets, are showing excessive rust. A Toyota dealership indicated that proper maintenance may help prevent or slow rust development. Over time, rust can weaken structural integrity and suspension reliability.

Your 2007 4Runner's frame is rusting and deteriorating rapidly, even though it only had minor surface rust when you bought it. The rust has gotten noticeably worse within just a few months and continues to spread at an accelerated rate. Frame rust repair typically involves sanding affected areas, applying rust treatment, and repainting or applying protective coatings to prevent further deterioration.

THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY PLACES. WE HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND BEEN ADVISED THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MANY 4 RUNNERS AS WELL AS OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES IN THE SAME ERA.

VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND FRAME IS RUSTING THRU IN MULTIPLE SPOTS ALREADY

VERY RUSTY FRAME. RADIATOR MOUNT RUSTED OUT AND ALSO CROSSMEMBERS.

THERE IS LOT OF RUST ON THE FRAME AND TOYOTA IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NOTICED RUST ON FRAME FEW YEARS AGO BUT THE DEALER SAID TOYOTA WILL NOT DO A ANYTHING. IF TACOMA IS BEING RECALLED, 4 RUNNER SHOULD BE SINCE IT IS BUILD ON THE SAME FRAME. *DT*JB

THE WHOLE AREA OF EXPOSED STEEL HAS BEEN SO CORRODED WITH RUST THAT I ACNNOT EVEN REMOVE BOLTS TO SERVICE SEVERAL OF THE KEY COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FRAME, CROSS MEMBERS, SUSPENSION ETC. ARE ALSO AFFECTED IN THIS WAY.I'M NO EXPERT BUT IT IS PROGRESSIVELY BECOMING MORE AND MORE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY IF I LOSE BRAKES OR SOME OTHER NECESSARY FUNCTION. PLEASE HELP, IS THIS A BAD BATCH OF CHEAP STEEL?

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND HEARD LOUD NOISE. I HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING AND THE CAR CROSSED LANES LUCKILY MISSING OTHER VEHICLES. IT STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A BODY SHOP HAPPENED TO WITNESS THE WHOLE THING. HE TRIED TO DRIVE IT INTO HIS SHOP (TWO DRIVEWAYS AWAY) BUT ENDED UP HAVING TO DRAG/TOW IT IN BECAUSE THE FRONT END FRAME HAD RUSTED AND FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE. THAT BODY SHOP LOOKED AT IT AND I ALSO GOT A SECOND OPINION AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT STEERING RUSTED SO BADLY IT DISCONNECTED COMPLETELY AND FELL OUT FROM THE FRAME. IT IS ALSO SO RUSTED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH METAL TO RE-WELD IT TOO. THE CAR IS TOTALED WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND WAS LUCKY I HAPPENED TO ONLY BE GOING 25 MPH DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD AND NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR THAT WAS RUNNING GREAT AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE OR EVEN FIXABLE AND MY CHILD AND MYSELF WERE IN SERIOUS DANGER. EVERY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THIS IS A FAULT COMMON IN TOYOTAS AND IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME AND SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND WAS TOLD THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS FILE A COMPLAINT BUT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESOLVING.

THE HATCH LATCH HAS MELTED AND PRESENTS PROBLEMS IN UNLATCHING. THE DEALER DENIES THIS IS A PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY IN COOLER WEATHER, I AM OFTEN NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES. THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT THE CAUSE IS FAULTY WIRING THAT OVERHEATS THE MATERIAL. ALSO, THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL; THEREFORE, NOT RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

BACK DOOR LATCH HAS BECOME A STICKY MESS. WHEN OPENING, A TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE GETS ALL OVER YOUR FINGERS.

THE TAILGATE LATCH IS MADE FROM SOME RUBBER COMPONENT. IT HAS MELTED INTO MUSH. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN BACK HATCH DOOR. IT ALSO HAS MADE A MESS ON PAINT ON TAIL GATE. *TR

I HAVE AN INSURMOUNTABLE LEVEL OF RUST ON THE FRAME AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. THERE SHOULD NOT BE THIS LEVEL OF RUST AT THIS POINT ON THE VEHICLE'S LIFE. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE INSIDE THE TAILGATE HANDLE HAS MELTED AND ERODED. IT IS STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND CONSISTS OF A BLACK TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE. YEAR ROUND THE HANDLE IS DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND MAY CAUSE TAILGATE TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE 2007 4-RUNNER. THIS MAY POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE TAILGATE OPEN WHILE TRANSPORTING CARGO ON THE ROAD. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FAULTY PART ON THE VEHICLE. UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS MODEL YEAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT SHOULD STILL BE CORRECTED AS THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE BACK HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED AND GETS A TAR LIKE RESIDUE ON YOUR HANDS, TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS PROB SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A HUGE COMPLAINT. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE INSIDE THE TAILGATE HANDLE HAS MELTED AND ERRODED. IN WARM WEATHER, IT IS STICKY AND CAUSES BLACK TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON HANDS. IN COLDER WINTER MONTHS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS TO OPEN THE TAILGATE. IN QUICKLY SCANNING ALL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE RELATED TO THE 2007 4-RUNNER, ABOUT 10% ARE FOR THIS ISSUE! NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY OR VEHICLE OPERATION ISSUE, BUT INDICATES A FAULTY PART ON THE VEHICLE. UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS MODEL YEAR IS LONG OUT OF WARRANTY, IT SHOULD STILL BE CORRECTED, AS A GOODWILL MEASURE IF NOTHING ELSE. *TR

THE LIFT GATE HANDLE IS STICKY AND LEAVE BLACK RESIDUE ON FINGERS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS MELTED. I THINK IT IS A REAL PROBLEM. I'M RESEARCH HOW TO REPAIR, BUT ONCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS SITE I SEE THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. I THINK TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE BACK GATE DOOR HANDLE MELTED AND GETS VERY STICKY. THIS MAKES THE DOOR SOMETIMES NOT ABLE TO OPEN IN COLD WEATHER AND IS VERY HOT AND CAN BURN IN THE HOT WEATHER. THIS CAR AS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND ALL OTHER SEALS AND GASKETS WORK. THIS RUBBER HANDLE COVER HAS FAILED AND IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

HANDLE/LOCK ON REAR HATCH IS FAULTY. MECHANISM ON THE HANDLE/LOCK OF THE REAR HATCH OF 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE TO ALLOW HATCH TO BE OPENED. PROBLEM HAD BEEN INTERMITTENT, NOW IS MORE PROBLEMATIC. CANNOT OPEN REAR HATCH TO ACCESS THE CARGO AREA OF VEHICLE. DEALER SERVICE DEPT ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. LOTS OF SIMILAR ISSUES FOUND ONLINE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE YET. *TR

THE TRUNK LATCH TO OPEN THE DOOR IS INCREDIBLY STICKY AND LEAVES A BLACK RESIDUE ON MY HANDS. WHEN I TRY TO OPEN IT NOW THAT IT'S COLDER IT WON'T OPEN. I'M AFRAID IF THERE IS EVER AN EMERGENCY I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET IN. *TR

ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR DOOR, MY CAR BEGAN TO RUST OUT OF NOWHERE. I DO NOT LIVE BY THE OCEAN OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT TO CAUSE RUST AND IN THE WINTER TIME, THE TRUCK IS GARAGE KEPT. AFTER HEARING FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, CALLING TOYOTA TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE EXPERT LOOKED AT THE RUST, WENT TO SCRAPE IT, AND THE EXTERIOR CRUMBLED IN CREATING A DECENT HOLE. THE EXPERT SAID THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR A TRUCK THIS AGE SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HE CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN SAYING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM TOYOTA SHOULD FIX, BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECALL ON THE ISSUE. THE EXPERT TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE AND IS EATING AWAY AT THE LAYERS OF PAINT. HE SAID I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAUSE. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE COULD FIX IT AT A HIGH PRICE, BUT THAT MAY NOT EVEN SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I AM FILING THIS BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON A CAR 6 YEARS OLD AND WELL KEPT SHOULD BE RUSTING AND FALLING APART. *TR

THE BACK DOOR RUBBER COVER OF THE HANDLE WAS MELTED FOR SECOND TIME, THE FIRST TIME WAS ON JUNE 26,2009 AND ITS WAS CHANGE BY GUARANTEE FOR THE DEALER. NOW I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THE RUBBER WAS MELTED. THE PART NUMBER IS 84840-35010. I THINK THAT TOYOTA NEED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITH A GOOD QUALITY RUBBER. *TR

THE PAD (LOCATED ON THE HATCHBACK LATCH) WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR HAND TO PRESS DOWN TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK HAS MELTED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK AS THE RUBBER HAS MELTED & THE BUTTON NO LONGER RELEASES PROPERLY. WHEN I CALLED DON MCGILL TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX, THEY EXPLAINED THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM & IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $350 TO REPAIR SINCE IT INCLUDES REPLACING THE ENTIRE BUTTON & ELECTRICAL PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HATCHBACK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CANNOT OPEN THE HATCHBACK PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY HATCHBACK HANDLE WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. THE PARTS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY USED ON THIS HANDLE ARE FAULTY. *TR

THE BACK, TRUNK HANDLE SWITCH CONSISTS OF A BLACK, RUBBER TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT MELTS EVERY SUMMER. I LIVE IN TEXAS SO SUMMERS CAN GET EXTREMELY HOT. SO, IT HAS MELTED/GOTTEN HOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST BURNED ME AND MY HUSBAND'S FINGERS. ADDITIONALLY, IT WILL LEAVE BLACK STAINS ON OUR FINGERS REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE BUT ALSO A HAZARD. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WOULD REPLACE IT IS THE SAME MATERIAL. SO, I'M WRITING THIS TO HOPEFULLY GET A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA TO REPLACE THESE HANDLES WITH ANOTHER TYPE OF MATERIAL. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS NOT ONLY WITH 4RUNNERS THAT THIS HAPPENS ON BUT ALSO SIENNAS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS WITH ANY VEHICLES WE PURCHASE REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE LIVE. TOYOTA SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOT EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO JUST FIX IT ON THEIR OWN, NOT TO MENTION REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME SWITCH THAT WE HAD ISSUES ON TO BEGIN WITH. *TR

THE REAR DOOR OPENING HANDLE HAS MATERIAL THAT HAS MELTED MAKING IT ALMOST ALWAYS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. I MOVED LAST AUGUST FROM TEXAS TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND APPARENTLY THE MATERIAL TOYOTA USED IN IT'S 2007 4-RUNNERS CANNOT HOLD UP TO THE TEXAS HEAT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR TOYOTA WHICH COVERS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED DENIED PAYING FOR THE REPAIR STATING THAT MY REAR DOOR CAN BE OPENED SOME OF THE TIME!! THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION & I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET MY DOGS OUT OF THE REAR DOOR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS..FORTUNATELY NONE OF THEM LIFE THREATENING YET. *TR

2007 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH BAD GROUND CLEARANCE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SCRAPES THE GROUND. TOYOTA REPS AND SERVICE REPS KEEP TELLING HER THAT GROUND CLEARANCE IS MEASURED DIFFERENT WAYS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WANTED A VEHICLE WITH HIGH GROUND CLEARANCE. THE DEALER TOLD HER THE VEHICLE HAD 9.1 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, BUT LATER THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT WASN'T TRUE. *JB