2008 Toyota 4runner Electrical Problems

While driving at 50 mph, you noticed a burning wire smell and smoke coming from the steering area, but no warning lights appeared on your dashboard. You safely pulled over and waited an hour before restarting the vehicle and driving home. A diagnostic appointment was scheduled at the dealership, but the vehicle was not repaired. The electrical wiring in the steering column may need inspection and replacement to prevent potential fire risk.

TOYOTA ISSUED A SHORT TERM WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, EXPIRING MARCH 2018, FOR A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. I BELIEVE THAT THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS OPPOSED TO A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. THE DEFECT IS IN THE REAR WINDOW SEAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; USE OF THE DEFROSTER CAN CAUSE THE WINDOW TO BLOW OUT. MY CAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT BODY DEFECT ADJACENT TO THE REAR WINDOW SEAL, AND THE SEAL IS DAMAGED, INDICATING THAT THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I SPOKE WITH CORPORATE TOYOTA; THEIR STANCE IS THAT THEY WILL NOT DO THE REPAIR UNTIL AFTER THE WINDOW BLOWS OUT. IT IS LIKELY THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME, AS THERE IS INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS, BUT HAS ONLY RECENTLY NOTIFIED OWNERS. WHEN I SPOKE TO TOYOTA, THEY ASKED WHAT THE MILEAGE WAS. I TOLD THEM IT HAD JUST REACHED THE 100,000 MILE MARK - AND THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD AND HAD LASTED WELL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY PART LED TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT RECALLS DO NOT HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AFTER 100,000 MILES, WHICH PROBABLY EXPLAINS THE DELAY IN NOTIFYING OWNERS, AND IN CALLING THIS, WHICH IS A DEFINITE AND SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" INSTEAD OF A RECALL. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, OTHER THAN THAT, AND THE CHOICES WHICH I HAVE ARE TO AVOID USING THE DEFROSTER (NOT A VIABLE OPTION IN THE NORTHEAST), DO NOTHING AND WAIT FOR THE WINDOW TO BLOW OUT (NOT A SAFE OPTION); PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT, OR SELL THE CAR, WHICH I CAN'T DO IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, KNOWING THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT DEFECT. TOYOTA STATES THAT THE ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR WITH ALL CARS - THAT IS LIKELY TRUE. CARS IN DRY CLIMATES WITH MINIMAL RAIN AND COLD WEATHER ARE PROBABLY UNLIKELY TO MANIFEST; CARS IN THE WET AND SNOWY NORTHEAST, WHERE I LIVE, ARE PRESUMABLY MORE LIKELY TO MANIFEST.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DAYTIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND HIM A $300 VOUCHER FOR THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT HE ONLY WANTS THE ISSUE REPAIRED SO THAT HE CAN SEE THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,500. UPDATED 03/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB

WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES (POLARIZED) THE VEHICLE'S RADIO AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL DISPLAYS CANNOT BE READ. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE OFF OR LOWER THEIR PRESCRIPTION OR REGULAR SUNGLASSES IN ORDER TO READ THE DISPLAYS. DOING THIS WHILE DRIVING SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS ADDITIONAL DISTRACTED TIME IS USED TO READ THE DISPLAYS. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS IT'S A DESIGN ISSUE, NOTHING THEY CAN DO; THE NATIONAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR