We found the following complaints for TOYOTA 4RUNNER (2000)
Read complaints for TOYOTA 4RUNNER (2000)
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While driving 35 mph, the contact crashed into the rear of anoher vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not sure if a police report was filed. The contact sustained two slipped discs in the lower back, a bruised liver, a fractured vertebrae, and three missing teeth. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection and the contact was informed that the frame was rusted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed to have the vehicle towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was 98,000.
Takata recall. I was driving approx. 55 miles per hour on highway 138. I hit black ice and drovestraight into a tree on the side of the road. The air bags did not deploy. I sustained injuries to my face and head, from smashing into the steering wheel.
About 1 month ago the air bag light started flashing. It is available for inspection. It had not been in an accident. We took it to a local toyota dealer. There are some middle of the story details, but bottom line is eventually they told me it could not be fixed secondary to inability to obtain a control module. This has been verified by toyota customer service.
2000 4runner fuel gauge is misleading in terms of amount of gas used/remaining in tank.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owned a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be started. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 142,130 and the current mileage 144,133.updated 11/27/12 the consumer stated the manufacturer was conatacted a claim was filed, but no assistance was offered. The vehicled was sold as salvage. The consumer no longer owns the vehicle. Several times the vehicle would not start laeving the consumer stranded. It would stall in traffic. A new clutch and safety clutch were installed, new starter also. The vehicle still would stall. The vehicle did not come with an alarm but the locks would fail as well, locking the consumer either in or out of the car. Updated 12/10/2012
My 2000 4runner engine broke down on the highway, it started making a loud clanking noise andwe pulled over and it died and wouldn't start again , we had to gave it towed home and the mechanic informed us after replacing the starter , alternator and battery that it needed a new engine.we have always kept up with oil changes and tune ups so this was a shook to us. We will be contacting toyota to see what is going on with these 2000 4runners since i have read that many consumers are having the same problem.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated while that while the vehicle being diagnosed by a mechanic for a unrelated issue, the mechanic informed that there was rust coming from the rear end of the frame. Additionally, the contact stated there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe, the cadillac converter and the passenger side frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Replaced engine with a rebuilt on, because engine bad design.oil passages too small . No help from toyota who designed and made the engine. Damaged occurred over time: sludge build up, gritty sludge.
Hi,i have a 2000 toyota 4 runner.it has a little over 200k miles and i took it in for service to have the timing belt and water pump replaced.i drive the vehicle daily.the mechanic did not perform the work because he noticed the frame had rusted through and recommended to not drive the vehicle for safety reasons.he stated that if the frame did bend or separate the vehicle would buckle and there would not be any control, especially on the expressway.the mechanic recommend that i check to see if there has been any recalls.i did check to see if there were any recalls and there was not.i was informed that the toyota tundra and toyota tacoma had similar issues with the frame's rusting through and toyota did a recall/buy back for those vehicles.i was on the toyota forum and it sounds like there are a lot of toyota 4 runners in this same circumstance.i feel if there are other similar vehicles from toyota having the same issue, then they should be included in the recall/buyback process.thank you.
Our 2000 toyota 4runner, on a recent road trip, had the engine light come on while we were in rural kansas.upon having it towed to the nearest toyota dealership, we were told it had "engine sludge," and that we needed, at the least, a rebuild of our engine, and at most a new engine.the car has been well-maintained, and prior to this incident had run fine.oil had been changed on a regular basis, and the vehicle had sufficient oil, and clean-looking oil, as it had always had.
A control valve within the radiator burst, causing engine coolant to get into the transmission and seize it.mechanic diagnosed the problem.indicated that transmission was to be removed, system flushed, new radiator installed, transmission either rebuilt or replaced and for the whole system to be road tested.approximate costs vary from $1700.00 to over $3000.00.
On a sunday afternoon during last summer, i was driving my 2000 toyota 4runner with my wife and 9-yr old daughter at the back seat. I had the car on cruise control at about 65/70 mph.before moving over to my destination off ramp, i tried to cancel the cruise control but to my horror it was not canceling. The harder i pressed the brake, the faster the car tried to move forward/accelerating.i had to take and somehow managed a immediate left on a t junction with traffic light control. I was almost going to hit the car in front running at a speed appropriate for a busy city street. We all started praying to god. I was on a bridge/overpass. There was no way to drive off the roadway. I almost passed out in horror, but barely managed to move over to the lanes in the opposite direction (luckily there was no median and the oncoming traffic light was red). When nothing was working, i somehow managed to turn the engine switch off. And stop the car with the help of the break within a few hundred feet just barely avoiding head on collision with the oncoming traffic. After stopping, i triedto start the car. As soon as i turned the key on the rpm jumped to 6000/7000. As ipush the brake hard to stop the car from moving, the car was jumping violently. We were scared, got out off the car and the road. I called the police. Before a policeofficer came, a kind driver stopped and helped mepush the car to the shoulder. The officer left without even taking a report.i took and left the car to the nearby toyota dealer. Next day, theytoldme the problem was due to the throttle valve getting stuck open. I had to pay to clean the valve. Updated 04/22/10the water pump was leaking and had to be replaced. Updated 10/05/10
I pulled onto the highway and heard a loud noise, like someone threw a wrench into my engine.all my dash lights came on, and i lost all power.i pulled over to the side of the road where my husband checked under the hood to find what appeared to be a dark liquid all over the bottom of the engine, axles, and front chunk.we were towed home, where he found a piece of the engine side bell housing lying in the skid plate.now my car is lawn art and i'm searching for a recall.it has had the oil changed about every three months and is not mistreated. I still have about a thousand miles before my next oil change is due.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame was severely rusted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the frame was entirely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 113,231. Djr updated 10/24/2014*ljupdated 4/20/2015
Frame rust-through - vehicle's frame has prematurely rusted through from the inside-out along passenger side in area of muffler assembly.
I recently bought this car and noticed that the fuel gauge is reading full tank. After driving the car for about 00 miles, my car stalled on me in the middle of a busy highway. Only to find out that i was out of gasoline.i was lucky, i did not get hit.
When i fill my car up it only takes 12 gallons of gas. Tank size is 18.5.
Fuel gauge is inaccurate, gives misleading information, may be too much or too little fuel remaining.this leads to frequent, unnecessary, gas stations stops.
While having my 2000 4runner serviced recently, my mechanic advised me that my carriage frame wascracked 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 fromthe 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.
2000 toyota 4runner fuel gauge not working. Toyota has issued a bulletin and basically redesigned the parts for a faulty system and expects the consumers to pay for their engineering problems. I don't think it's fair to have consumers pay 800 to 900 dollars as quoted from my dealer for a design flaw for toyota.
Bought truck used had 2 weeks noticed problem now its going to cost 400.00 to fix.
2000 4runner fuel gauge is misleading in terms of amount of gas used/remaining in tank.
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?
Vehicle stalls and dies on freeway almost causing wreck. Find out there is no fuel in tank even though fuel gauge reads 1/2. Toyota says tsb el010-00 addresses known defective 1999 and 2000 fuel gauges and also addresses some gauges inaccurately reading empty when 4 gallons remain, vehicle is out of warranty.
Fuel gauge seems to be malfunctioning or inaccurate. My concerns for it being inaccurate are that when refueling the tank after 8-10 miles the yellow light has come on, the tank only "fills up" with 13.2 gallons where the manual states that it has a fuel capacity of 18.5 gallons (page 261 of manual). After filling up the tank, the needle seems to be at the "full" line. However, after only driving 5 miles on a residential road of at a maximum 40 mph, the needle of the gauge "comes off" full quickly. Only driving 26 miles, the needle is at the 1/4 line of gauge. Estimating the car to getting 104 miles per tank.
Readings fluctuates, or indicate more gas than actually in tank. I was on the freeway in motion and the truck stopped working. I lost power steering and power breaks. It was a dangerous situation and lucky nothing happened. It turns out the quarter tank reading was false. The tank was empty.
No injury or crash . . . Reporting what i believe may be a design defect which could potentially be a safety danger.---the rear differential housing in the 2000 toyota 4runner i own seems to be rusting unusually quickly. This is a 10-year old vehicle, but it only has 113,715 miles on the odometer when it sustained a leak due to corrosion.apparently this is a known issue as both the local toyota dealer and my local mechanic said they are seeing this issue with toyotas. The local mechanic stated that it seems to be due to toyota having thinner metal in the housing.
My 2000 4runner is rusting out next to the rear passenger wheel well. It's always been parked in the garage. I take it for regular washes--and this still happened. I purchased my 2000 4runner brand new with an additional undercoating protection--but you would not know it by looking at the rust damage. This is the telltale spot, it seems, for 4runners rusting out. This is unacceptable toyota!!
2000 toyota 4runner 6cyl 78000 miles.noticed rear end differential is leaking oil. Dealer says it is because i park it on dirt driveway.not leaking at seal or normal connection point.is coming through the metal itself.they said the metal has become ' porous '.last 4 runner had 340,000 miles on it and never had a drop come through the metal and was used extensively off road.this vehicle minimally.this is obviously a defective part through substandard manufacturing process or inferior metal.i am getting no help from dealer in fixing this problem.have seen alot of people with same issue on line and was referred to this site through a link.
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.
Severe frame rot on otherwise very well cared for vehicle.will certainly result in catastrophic failure.
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.
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.
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?
Driving in mild winter condition (light wet slush) on a maintained highway my 4runner began to fish tale. When an attempt was made to correct the fish tale no control input from the drive would correct the sliding motion. This caused the vehicle to slide toward the shoulder of the road. On the shoulder of the road the vehicle began to slow to almost a stop, however, the rear end was far enough off the shoulder that it began to be pulled by gravity down hill. While it slid down hill the rear wheel hit a rock causing the axle to snap near the contact point of the wheel. This caused the vehicle to roll one and a half times endangering four lives. The air bags failed to deploy however none were injured. The car was destroyed and not able to be driven.
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.
Vehicle began to sway violently while driving on the interstate.the weld joint which joins the rear drivers side lower control arm attachment point to the frame had separated allowing to control arm to move forward an back.this in turn allowed the rear axle to turn from side to side.on inspection the frame is heavily rusted in this area and the weld has given way and is tearing apart from front to back.the joint on the passenger side is also rusted, but the joint has not yet separated.
Experienced soft hum like noise. Took vehicle to local toyota dealer for diagnosis. Rear end housing found to be severely rusted to the point where the internal fluid is seeping out thru the rear of that housing. Non reparable, needs replaced minimum $3000. Dealer said this is not an isolated problem & had contacted toyota of this situation. Dealer was told it happens & toyota would not do anything about it. Has been a good vehicle otherwise. Disheartened & financially stressed!
I discovered this morning that the rear differential housing cover is leaking oil the vehicle has had some major rust issues which have affected the structural and mechanical well being of this vehicle.
Rear differential cover is rusted and fluid leaches right through the metal spraying fluid on to spare wheel and rear bumper and anything in tow.cover is evidentially cheap metal and is poorly designed as the cover is welded on and cannot be replaced without replacing the entire rear axle.there is no other significant rust on this vehicle and the remainder of the axle is in very good condition therefore i believe that this is a manufacturer defect which should be addressed by toyota.i have been quoted $1500-$2000 for a replacement axle which is 1/4 of the vehicle's value.toyota chose a poor design and material for this part and should be held accountable for this issue as it is the only weak link on the entire vehicle, unfortunately the rear axle is not an optional part for its operation.i have reviewed several message boards and have found that there are several other 4runner owners in the range from '99 to '02 with the same exact issue and all report no other rust on the vehicle except for this one location.my mechanic advises the only repair for this issue is the complete replacement of the rear axle when only a small plate has failed.
My 2000 toyota 4runner has a rear differential rust through issue releasing gear oil onto the highway and potentially causing my rear end to seize possibly causing a crash.
2000 toyota 4runner died and broke down completely on us 68, a very busy six lane highway.vehicle was towed to a transmission service in morgantown wv.differential was fixed on 18 nov.by afternoon a pinhole leak was discovered in the differential cover.most oil had leaked out in approximately 2 hrs.mechanic says pinion was cracked in half - new parts were oem from toyota,.but a new differential cover is not available.apparently only as a new axle.mechanic will mig weld the cover.approximate cost for everything $2000.seems weird that toyota will not support its customers by making new covers available.especially since many customers in canada and upper us have reported this problem.
Rear differential housing completely rusted through such that differential fluid is leaching directly through the metal and dripping onto the roadway.this could result in the differential seizing up and causing loss of control of the vehicle, or other vehicles to lose traction on road due to gear oil leaking onto roadway.toyota does not sell differential housing and insists entire differential must be replaced at a cost of over three thousand dollars.rust problem first observed in 2005 and steadily becoming worse each month.no repairs yet made because of excessive cost.owner is expecting and waiting for a safety recall for this issue.
A control valve within the radiator burst, causing engine coolant to get into the transmission and seize it.mechanic diagnosed the problem.indicated that transmission was to be removed, system flushed, new radiator installed, transmission either rebuilt or replaced and for the whole system to be road tested.approximate costs vary from $1700.00 to over $3000.00.
Rear differential casing is completely rusted through.it is beyond repair and requires replacement of entire unit.
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.
The contact owned a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be started. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 142,130 and the current mileage 144,133.updated 11/27/12 the consumer stated the manufacturer was conatacted a claim was filed, but no assistance was offered. The vehicled was sold as salvage. The consumer no longer owns the vehicle. Several times the vehicle would not start laeving the consumer stranded. It would stall in traffic. A new clutch and safety clutch were installed, new starter also. The vehicle still would stall. The vehicle did not come with an alarm but the locks would fail as well, locking the consumer either in or out of the car. Updated 12/10/2012
Rear differential housing has rusted through, leaks fluid, and is irreparable.
My 2000 toyota 4runner shakes at speeds above 60mph. It also does this while braking. It is visibly noticeable in the steering wheel, but all passengers in the car can feel the shaking and vibration. It becomes almost violent and alarming around 70mph. I have taken it to several repair shops and no one can find a solution. I have read hundreds of posts about this problem that ranges from 96-08 models.
My 2000 toyota 4runner has a rear differential rust through issue releasing gear oil onto the highway and potentially causing my rear end to seize possibly causing a crash.
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?
Rear differential fluid leak due to excessive rusting of housing in gear carrier area.
Rusted & leaking rear differential housing on 2000 toyota 4runner.
Rear differential housing completely rusted through such that differential fluid is leaching directly through the metal and dripping onto the roadway.this could result in the differential seizing up and causing loss of control of the vehicle, or other vehicles to lose traction on road due to gear oil leaking onto roadway.toyota does not sell differential housing and insists entire differential must be replaced at a cost of over three thousand dollars.rust problem first observed in 2005 and steadily becoming worse each month.no repairs yet made because of excessive cost.owner is expecting and waiting for a safety recall for this issue.
2000 toyota 4runner - sr5 4wd - manual transmission:rear differential housing rust-out with pinhole leaks causing gear oil to leak.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4 runner. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact noticed that there was oil leaking from the rear differential. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 120912.updated 03/10/10 the rear differential had rusted in multiple locations, which allowed gear oil to be released onto the road.updated 05/17/10
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner.the rear differential cover had corrosion, and the differential fluid was leaking. As a consequence the differential could freeze and cause the vehicle to crash.the manufacturer does not sell a cover for the differential, but the whole differential needed to be replaced. No repairs were made. The current mileage was 92,000. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Rear differential fluid leak due to excessive rusting of housing in gear carrier area.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that there was oil leaking from the rear of the vehicle. Upon further investigation, the contact discovered that the rear differential was leaking. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or a local mechanic for a diagnostic test or repairs. The failure mileage was 170,000.
The driver seat bolts where the mounts are located are completely stripped/rusted out which will require complete welding repair. No active recalls are found. 3 out 4 bolts are stripped/rusted out.unsafe to drive, driver seat on verge of dislodging out, can cause accident. Very common 4runner problem, owner should not be responsible for manufacturer default.
Frame rust exceeds normal wear and tear.frame rusted right through. Bolts rusted.the frame absolutely disintegrating. Entire frame needs to be replaced.brakes the absinitiates at nearly every stop. Whole system needs to be replaced.
In august of 2009 i purchased a 2000 toyota 4runner with approximately 89,000 miles on it. I drive every day for work as a salesperson so i have become quite accustom to the vehicle and the way it handles. From the beginning of my experience with the vehicle i have noticed a problem with the brakes. More specifically with the handling of the vehicle when the anti-lock brakes engage, but also with a stiffness that occurs in the brake pedal when it is depressed rapidly.the issues with the anti-lock braking system are by far the most disconcerting.the problem is that when the abs engages the vehicle ceases to slow down. This will happen even in conditions when the vehicle is traveling slowly. For instance, at 10 miles per hour the vehicle will slide two to three meters without slowing. This distance increases with additional speed. The anti-lock brakes engage in situations where the vehicle is not sliding. This happens most commonly on rough road surfaces. I have experienced dangerous situations where i slid into an intersection, or been forced to drive off the road to avoid vehicles in front of me because i hit a bump.the problem with the stiffness in the brake is also of concern to me. If i am trying to slow the vehicle while traveling down hill i find that the break becomes very stiff. This can often lead to the situation where the dangerous anti-lock brake problem occurs. The pedal becomes very stiff and then if i hit a bump the vehicle goes out of control causing me to have to take evasive action.any research into a solution for this problem would be greatly appreciated.
I took my 4 runnerto joseph toyota to thehave the rotors checked and the i was told they found rust on my main frame and would not service the car. They said i needed to buy a new car because mine was not safe. This is the only car i have and i have taken good care of it. I was shocked that toyota would turn me away after purchasing 4 cars from them. They told me that the 4 runner wasn't covered by the recall for main frame rusting like the tacoma. I think when toyota knows this problem exist they should have to take responsibility for the defect. Not everyone can just go buy another car.
On february of 2004 i just bought my toyota 4runner. On the way home the brakes were vibrating when i would press on the brakes. So i turned around and brought it right back to the dealer. (family toyota) they in turn fixed the problem.about a month later the same thing happened they vibrated. I took it to b&d auto friends of mine and they told me i needed to get my rotor replaced so i did. $310 in repairs. Now after being totally in love with this 4runner it is doing it again. Dec. 2005 i took it back to b&d auto and same problem needed rotors and the brakes or wearing at different angles. So i had it replaced. ($310) again. This past weekend 1/13/2007 i was out with my friends camping and i had to do some dirt driving up and down steep hills. The bakes under heavy pressure didn't do so well. As i was going down the hill to the camp it was very hard to stop and scared the crap out of me and my friends. On the way home the brakes keep vibrating and i don't want to throw more money into this on going problem. Thank you very much.
My 2000 toyota 4runner shakes at speeds above 60mph. It also does this while braking. It is visibly noticeable in the steering wheel, but all passengers in the car can feel the shaking and vibration. It becomes almost violent and alarming around 70mph. I have taken it to several repair shops and no one can find a solution. I have read hundreds of posts about this problem that ranges from 96-08 models.
Continuing problems with excessive vibration when applying brakes.entire vehicle vibrates.
"rusted frame", my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehicle became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up until this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
"rusted frame"my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehile became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up untill this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
Driving home from work my tortion bar snapped off my chassis, come to realize a huge section of my chassis rotted away.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, a noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. In addition, the contact had to maneuver the steering wheel in excess in order to turn the vehicle.the vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician stated that the rear trailing arm had corroded and fractured. The technician also stated that the vehicle could not be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000. Updated 7/9/15
While driving home from work on 01/24/2015 i felt and heard a noise coming from the rear of my vehicle and the vehicle started to swerve and i almost lost control of the vehicle. I came to a stop and checked the vehicle but didn't notice anything wrong. I got back into the vehicle and drove at a slower speed, when i got home i pulled into my garage and checked the under side and noticed that the frame was cracked where the control arm mounts. I looked on line for recalls and although there are a lot of complaints and there are recalls for the 2000 toyota tacoma which shares the same platform there are no recalls for frame rust on the toyota 4runner. In addition to the crack on the frame there is considerable rust on the entire frame and i think i'm lucky to be un hurt and alive. Please help me and all the other toyota 4runner owners.thanks
While driving today the steering became unstable, erratic, and the car lurched out of my lane into oncoming traffic. A new noise appeared to be coming from rear left tire. When i safely pulled over and inspected vehicle i noted the frame was severely rusted and that the forward welded mount for the lower suspension arm had fractured along the factory weld and was dangling down. This car has never been wrecked. It has been inspected and passed pa state inspections yearly since 2002.
Frame rust causing suspension arm to drop while driving. It dug into road surface which lifted entire rear into the air. Kind of a pole-vault effect. Very dangerous.checking for frame rust is not something listed in toyotas maintenanceschedule nor should it have to be by owners
On 08/13/2014 my 16year old son was driving his 2000 toyota 4runner on the interstate at highway speeds when right side lower control arm bracket build into the frame fell off the frame and cracked.upon further inspection the frame had rusted from inside out causing the welded bracket to break at the factory weld.it is our understanding that this was a common problem and toyota was doing a voluntary buy back that expired in 2011.we purchased the vehicle in 2013 and was never made aware of any such issues.it appears to us since there has been no service centers willing to re weld the bracket back in place that we are going to have to junk a great running great body condition car due to this problem that appears to be common.according to multiple service garages that have inspected for repair none of them will due to liability and that there is no good metal left to weld to as the frame is simply rusting into holes.any advice on fixes or recalls etc would be much help.toyota dealers advised nothing we could do.
"rusted frame", my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehicle became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up until this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
Rust in all parts of the framefront/rear
Frame has rotted through and caused the bar from axle to frame to break at the frame.this happened while i was driving causing the car to sway seriously. I was able to pull off the road preventing a possible accident.
Extensive frame rust-through and failure. Left and right rear halves of frame cracked. Rear control arm brackets cracked at welds.
Severe corrosion in the structural framing (the box beam on the right side) of the car resulted in the sudden loss of a portion of the bottom flange of the box beam. The portion of the bottom flange that fell off is about 3 in. Wide by 14 in. Long.that portion of the failed flange also included the connection of the struct rod supporting the right rear wheel.the lost of the struct rod support to the structural framing caused the vehicle to sway widely side to side and to roll left to right while i was trying to control the car.the car drifted to the side when i applied braking to the car.it was very fortunately that when this failure occurred, i was driving on a local road in less than 40 mph, and there was no other cars in my immediate surrounding.otherwise, a serious accident could have happened.after sending the car to the repair shop, it was observed that the corrosion has severely undermined the structural integrity of the structural framing of the car, in this case it was the longitudinal box beams supporting the car.i discussed the problem with toyota of america and they informed me the warranty for corrosion is only for 60 months.however, i told them the structural framing of the vehicle should have a much, much longer service life than 60 months.a sudden structural failure of the vehicle in motion could have deadly consequence.the odometer reading of my car is less than 63,000 miles.
My 2000 toyota 4runner shakes at speeds above 60mph. It also does this while braking. It is visibly noticeable in the steering wheel, but all passengers in the car can feel the shaking and vibration. It becomes almost violent and alarming around 70mph. I have taken it to several repair shops and no one can find a solution. I have read hundreds of posts about this problem that ranges from 96-08 models.
Driving in mild winter condition (light wet slush) on a maintained highway my 4runner began to fish tale. When an attempt was made to correct the fish tale no control input from the drive would correct the sliding motion. This caused the vehicle to slide toward the shoulder of the road. On the shoulder of the road the vehicle began to slow to almost a stop, however, the rear end was far enough off the shoulder that it began to be pulled by gravity down hill. While it slid down hill the rear wheel hit a rock causing the axle to snap near the contact point of the wheel. This caused the vehicle to roll one and a half times endangering four lives. The air bags failed to deploy however none were injured. The car was destroyed and not able to be driven.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame underneath the front passenger seat was completely rusted and rotted out. The contact was so apparent that it did not need to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure mileage was 140,828. ...updated 01/05/17
Frame is rotting away on a vehicle with 158,646 miles. Toyota has been aware of this issue for years, yet no recall for the 4runner 's. What will it take , a death, because of a frame failure?
Rust and holes in the frame.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the subframe was rusted to the point that a holedeveloped under the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed that the subframe would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 240,000. Updated 02/22/2017*ct
2000 toyota 4runner frame rustedthrewat 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.
Frame is rotting from the inside out. Very little visible corrosion,and all of the sudden larhe sections of missing steel. This vehicle only has 157,600 miles, and should have lasted to 300,000, as it is mechanically solid. I think the tundra, tacoma, and sequoia recall, should have added the 4runner.but toyota would not have been able to blame the dana corporation.toyota was of no help, when they werenotified, as i expected.i guess they have to wait for fatalities to begin. This is the last part of the vehicle that should fail!.
Frame cracked and broke.
2000 4runner limited rusting on body with 66,000 miles.frame and underside also rusting.live in utah, they use salt on the roads.
Vehicle was taken to dealer for scheduled 95k mile service. I was contacted by the dealer and told that the vehicle was "not worth working on because the entire frame is rotted and this is a safety hazard. The vehicle should not be driven". The vehicle has been well maintained and is excellent condition in all other aspects. I see many instances of this happen in other on-line sites. Toyota has recalled other vehicles in the same model year (2000 tundra) for a similar problem yet this one has been ignored.
4runner frame is rusting along with suspension components the body is in perfect shape i have 2 vehicles that fit this description
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
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.
Frame is showing signs of serious rust.
Took 2000 4runner in to get muffler replaced. They discovered extensive frame rot/corrosion where the rear suspension trailing arm mount ties into the frame. The welded seam of the box tubing has rusted out. They wanted to let us know, because they feel the vehicle is unsafe to drive. And, they suggested we contact toyota to see if there was a recall or if sub-par metal was used, because the frame shouldn't be in such a terrible condition for a vehicle its age. The rest of the vehicle is in very good shape. There is no recall for the 2000 4runner, although there are recalls for similar problems on other toyota vehicles. We do not feel comfortable driving the car, knowing that the structure is compromised. And, we certainly can't sell the vehicle in this condition, knowing that it is a safety hazard.
The frame in this particular model gen 3 4 runner has severe rust due toa substandard steel that was used for production.the tacoma's frames were voluntarily replaced by toyota . None of the 4 runners qualified even though the steel used and chassis were the same. I was made aware of this unsafe chassis by mechanics who has informed me of this horrendous condition exists with this model year and other years up until 2005.this condition can ,if not already, cause cause serious injury, and is detremental to the normal operations of our highways.
Frame rusted out date is when i was informed of the issue
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact discovered that the frame was rusted on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but they could not repair the vehicle because of the excessive rusting. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
The frame corroded, making lot of holes in the frame at the bottom of the truck.
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.
Frame rust-through - vehicle's frame has prematurely rusted through from the inside-out along passenger side in area of muffler assembly.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While the vehicle was being serviced, the contact was informed that the subframe had excessive corrosion and was unsafe to drive. On some sections of the subframe, there were three inch holes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 201,000.
Brought veh in for nhsi, was told that veh would not pass again due to frame perforation.the rust is coming from the inside out on passenger side inner frame rail along where the muffler is located. Spoke to toyota on many levels and was told by them that there are no frames available for purchase and that the "chucks" to build the frames with had been lost so toyota will not be making anymore. So i cannot fix this problem properly if i was to pay out of pocket. Paid a body shop $650 to weld in a patch to get me by as i still owe on it.too bad toyota will not recognize this as the same issue tacoma, sequoia, and tundra have.if the frame was to separate @ the corrosion sight @ highway speeds it would result in injury and possibly death!!
Severe corrosion in the structural framing (the box beam on the right side) of the car resulted in the sudden loss of a portion of the bottom flange of the box beam. The portion of the bottom flange that fell off is about 3 in. Wide by 14 in. Long.that portion of the failed flange also included the connection of the struct rod supporting the right rear wheel.the lost of the struct rod support to the structural framing caused the vehicle to sway widely side to side and to roll left to right while i was trying to control the car.the car drifted to the side when i applied braking to the car.it was very fortunately that when this failure occurred, i was driving on a local road in less than 40 mph, and there was no other cars in my immediate surrounding.otherwise, a serious accident could have happened.after sending the car to the repair shop, it was observed that the corrosion has severely undermined the structural integrity of the structural framing of the car, in this case it was the longitudinal box beams supporting the car.i discussed the problem with toyota of america and they informed me the warranty for corrosion is only for 60 months.however, i told them the structural framing of the vehicle should have a much, much longer service life than 60 months.a sudden structural failure of the vehicle in motion could have deadly consequence.the odometer reading of my car is less than 63,000 miles.
2000 toyota 4runner has major frame issues that could break at anytime and cause an accident! these frames rust out without the owners knowing. These are family vehicles that are driven for many years and toyota has had issues with other frames on different models but same year vehicles. Toyota has had numerous complaints on these frames and has never recalled these models. For the safety of my family and others please look into this matter!
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side frame was corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed that the frame was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 132000. The vin was unavailable.
There are multiple holes in the frame, it is rusting through very badly. It is unsafe. I can take more pictures if needed. The "date this happened" isn't accurate, this vehicle has been rusting quickly for a long time.
The contact 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while having regular maintenance performed, it was notified that the frame was completely corroded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The failure and current mileage was 220,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While driving 70 mph, the rear driver's side trailing arm, which was connected to the frame of the vehicle, fractured. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home safely at a reduced speed. A representative from la crosse toyota (800 3rd st s, la crosse, wi 54601, (608) 793-7000) inspected the vehicle and took several pictures. The contact was informed that someone would be in touch with him. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 211,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the rear of the frame was fractured and rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 211,000.
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.
The frame is rusted to the point that it may break apart while driving.tacomas of similar years with the same frame have a similar problem and a recall for this problem.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the rear frame was rusted with holes. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 164,000.
I took my vehicle in for an oil change and tire rotation. The mechanic called and said that the frame is broken and that you have a recall on it. He said to contact you for what to do next. Since we have owned the car it has had a clunking sound on the front drivers side.
I have a complaint.. What i thought was sway bars turned out to be a frame problem. Ian very disappointed at toyota that there is no recall on these frames. They are the same as the tacoma frames. Very upset. Could have been killed by this mistake ..
My mechanic was repairing the rear shocks and noticed frame rust.he said frame rust has been a problem with some toyota trucks and 4runners.he knows this because he worked for toyota at one time.he suggested calling toyota and filing a compliant and request for repair with them which i did.the case number is 1605101239.in the course of my conversation the toyota agent advised me that toyota tucomas and tundras were having similar issues and that toyota was offering "customer support" on those vehicles but even though the frame rusting issue was the same on 4runners toyota was not offering any " customer support " or recalls for 4runner frames even though they are aware of the issue.further internet research indicated that rusting frames on 4runners is a common problem but toyota refuses to do anything about a potential safety issue for it's customers.please help.appreciate anything you can do.
Significant rust on the frame affecting the structural integrity of the vehicle
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, a noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. In addition, the contact had to maneuver the steering wheel in excess in order to turn the vehicle.the vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician stated that the rear trailing arm had corroded and fractured. The technician also stated that the vehicle could not be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000. Updated 7/9/15
Frame on passenger side hasrusted away, large pieces gone. I no longer feel safe when driving it. My complaint number with toyota 1608181265.it appears that the ac drip hose empties on to the frame in the same spots as the rust. There are 159,289 miles on the 4runner.
I took my 4runner to my mechanic for an oil change today. When on the lift he noticed that the passenger side frame is rusted out. He felt it was unsafe and needed fixed or scrapped asap. This vehicle runs great and i have had no other issues. This is my daily driver and i always have my five year old with me. This is a major safety concern. I am not in the position to buy a new vehicle right now. It is crazy that toyota recalled the frames for tacoma and tundra but have done nothing for 4runner owners.
Significant frame rust
I was driving with 2 young kids and turning around at a dead end when i heard a loud noise. I looked under the car and saw nothing. The car startedswaying when we drove home. I looked under again at home and saw my rear sway bar hanging down broke/rusted off from the frame. The whole frame behind were it broke was rotted right next to the gas tank. The 4runner only has 79,000 miles and has no rust on the body. I have washed the undercarriage really good over the years just to keep it clean. There is no point in having a motor that goes 200,000 miles if the frames cant make it to 80,000. I see many much older vehicles on the road as a frame should be the last thing to rust. If i was on the highway and that happened i easily could have crashed because the 4runner started swaying badly. I was a huge toyota fan before but now i see all their frames are thin cheap steel.
I have a 2000 4runner which has always been maintained. There is excessive rust underneath the carriage/frame to the point where tire tech would not try to remove the spare. The power steering wheel fluid is now leaking from the line due to the rust. Toyota has recalled 2000 tacomas and tundras for rust problems in their frames but not 4runners of same year. I have called the dealership and was told since there is no recall on these vehicles they will gladly inspect my frame for a charge. My rustedspare tire mount is a safety hazard itself let alone the other problems developing.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While chaning the brakes, the contact noticed that the frame was rusted. Additionally, while driving 30 mph, the rear frame dettached. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the frame needed to be replaced. The contact called fred anderson toyota of asheville (777 breva road, asheville, nc 28806, (828) 585-5825) and notified them of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 1907010686. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 217,957.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame of the vehicle was curroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect and determined that the vehicle had too many miles and age; therefore, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 273,454.
Vehicle began to sway violently while driving on the interstate.the weld joint which joins the rear drivers side lower control arm attachment point to the frame had separated allowing to control arm to move forward an back.this in turn allowed the rear axle to turn from side to side.on inspection the frame is heavily rusted in this area and the weld has given way and is tearing apart from front to back.the joint on the passenger side is also rusted, but the joint has not yet separated.
4runner was in shop for muffler repair when rusted right side of frame near rear torsion bar was pointed out to me. My concern is torsion bar will brake away and cause accident.
Fail safety inspection doe to a very bad rost frame complete unsafe to useless
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While driving 25 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle moved side to side. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent dealer who diagnosed that the frame was fractured, rusted, and the trailing arm anchor was rusted and fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
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.
Upon trying to sell my 2000 toyota 4runner to a prospective buyer who was an employee of greentree toyota, in ct, he pointed out that the frame on the passenger side forward of the rear axle was rusted through on the inside for about 18 inches. It is unsafe to drive. When i had it serviced at toyota in september 2013, no one told me about this severe safety issue.i have been at risk since then while driving the vehicle.upon searching the internet, i see that this is a common problem with this make and model, yet toyota refuses to issue a recall.they issued a recall on tacoma frames which uses the same frame as the 4runner.
2000 toyota 4runner sr5 with 145,000 miles. At a regular maintenance, i was shown a picture of a hole in my frame. Right hand rear of frame where lower trailing arm bracket is welded was rusted through with substantial instability concerns and potential loss of use due to inability to pass state inspection. . otherwise frame fine and no rust/rot on left hand side front or rear. My 4runner has been an excellent and reliable vehicle with regular maintenance. It had only a rust spots on the frontbumper, and that's all! this is our family vehicle, and is not abused. I only have 145,000 miles and feel strongly that a frame on a vehicle should last much longer, as in past vehicles i've owned. I have had no problems with my 4runner, i don't want to junk yard it over a bad quality frame from toyota, but it may come to this if i can't have it welded. Toyota need to own up to this issue with a recall on the 4runners like they did with their trucks. Safety should be first. This is a pressing issue and need to addressed .
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine inspection when she was informed that the frame was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised the contact that they were unable to provide any assistance. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 167,200.
Extensive frame rust at rear control arm mounting location and forward of it.
Took my vehicle in to get a rear seal leak fixed and the toyota dealership called me and told me that my frame was unsafe to drive because of rust and erosion and that i would have to sign a paper when i pick the vehicle that i acknowledge that i the vehicle is unsafe to drive.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame exhibited a large amount of rust. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 108,000.
Frame is rusted completely and unsafe which is a very common problem please help was driving home city street
As i started to accelerate at a busy intersection, my 4runner started to jolt and once it began moving it started a swerve motion. It became difficult to stop as well. No indicator light came on to warn me of any problem while i was about to enter the interstate highway. So i turned off the road. I brought the truck to my mechanic who stated the frame had broken loose. The mechanic also stated this was not due to wear and tear, but it was in his professional opinion a manufacturing rust defect. He said this should have never happened. I don't have images at the time i'm writing this report because my 4runner is at the service garage, however i can furnish images upon request.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated he was performing a repair to the vehicle for an unrelated failure when he noticed that the entire passenger's side frame was completely corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed that the frame was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000. The vin was unavailable.
Frame totally rotted away and suspension detached with 4 children in the vehicle! thank god i stopped the vehicle and had it towed. You almost killed 6 people toyota!!!!
Frame rust to the point the passenger rear control arm is about to fall off bc of the amount of frame rust
My 2000 4runner is rusting out next to the rear passenger wheel well. It's always been parked in the garage. I take it for regular washes--and this still happened. I purchased my 2000 4runner brand new with an additional undercoating protection--but you would not know it by looking at the rust damage. This is the telltale spot, it seems, for 4runners rusting out. This is unacceptable toyota!!
Vehicle has been family owned since new, well cared for and garage kept. Vehicle has 123,000 miles and looks great. While driving home from work on 5/26/17 the vehicle suddenly started to sway side to side and i feel if i was going any faster may have caused a rollover. I pulled to the side of the road and was inspecting all components in front and rear when i noticed the trailing arm bracket on the drivers side rear end had completely separated from the frame at the factory weld. No other visible frame rust that i have found so far but i have not completely inspected. With toyota having notorious frame rust issues and recalls on the tacoma, i cant believe they haven't addressed the same dangerous issue on the 4runner. My wife owns the same make model and year 4runner and i have advised her not to drive it as well until it can also be inspected. I have owned at least 10 toyotas in the past and were in the market to soon purchase new ones. If toyota fails to address this issue i will be sure to shop for another brand.
2000 4runner limited rusting on body with 66,000 miles.frame and underside also rusting.live in utah, they use salt on the roads.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated while that while the vehicle being diagnosed by a mechanic for a unrelated issue, the mechanic informed that there was rust coming from the rear end of the frame. Additionally, the contact stated there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe, the cadillac converter and the passenger side frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While driving 35 mph, the contact crashed into the rear of anoher vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not sure if a police report was filed. The contact sustained two slipped discs in the lower back, a bruised liver, a fractured vertebrae, and three missing teeth. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection and the contact was informed that the frame was rusted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed to have the vehicle towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was 98,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance performed at the dealer, he was informed that the frame suffered from massive corrosion and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 133,000.
"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.
I was driving my 4runner and notice the back brakeswere making noise. I also noticed a knocking noise that sounded like something was broke. While driving my car to the shop i felt like the backend was swaying. I drop my car off expecting to have some brake work done, possiblyeven a sway bar or something replaced. The mechanic called me the next day and informed me that they cannot even look at my car because if they put it on the rack, it will break in half. My frame was completely cracked in half. Now this is the type of thing that does not happen overnight. There was obviously an issue with the frame for a while. The mechanic suggests i call toyota to see if there is a recall. I call toyota and there is no recall associated with the 2000 4runner. I did however find out that there was a recall on a 2000 toyota tacoma frame for the issue of rust and frames cracking. The toyota 4runner and toyota tacoma both have the exact same frame. If there is a recall on one, why wouldn't there be a recall on the other? i believe the reason is because toyota sold more 4runners in 2000 than they did tacomas. They didn't want to recall the 4runner for fear of losing so much money. They are putting lives at risk by not owing up to this error.
Frame is really rusting bad as is the case with 100s of other 4runners. T4r.org will show hundred upon hundreds of complaints of this. My truck only has 99k miles and the frame is almost completely wrecked. This has been an issue on these trucks for years and nothing has been done. Please look into this it's a huge safety issue!
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that after the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be serviced, the technician stated that the frame of the vehicle was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.updated 09/15/15*lj
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.
While driving on the nys thruway in the vicinity of harriman, ny, the steering began to wander, and the vehicle felt unsafe to drive.i was able to drive a short distance to an auto repair shop, which inspected the 4runner and found extreme rust damage to the undercarriage frame such that it should not be driven again, and could only be scrapped.they observed that the right rear wheel was close to breaking off, which would have resulted in a serious accident where we could possibly have been killed.we were shocked that such a dangerous rust condition could develop in a toyota 4runner that was only 12 years old, was built and intended for heavy duty use, and had been maintained in strict accordance with the owner's manual.this vehicle had never been driven off-road.we notified toyota by telephone and letter of this occurrence, and were informed that there had been no recall of this model, and that there was nothing that they would do.a search of the internet showed many reports of similar occurrences for this year and model.we strongly believe that a safety recall needs to be considered.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the vehicle shook. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed that the under carriage was severely corroded and fractured. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current was 128,000.updated 9/2/14the consumer stated the vehicle was sold to a service that buys junk cars for a total of $600.00. Updated 12/17/2014
The frame on the car is rusted beyond what is normal.
Frame rails rusting thru.i hope i don't die in this thing or kiil another else.
My 17 year old was driving our 4runner, and it began swaying all over the road.luckily, he was only a couple miles from home, and made it back safely.the frame has rotted away from the inside out, leaving the rear axle components not properly "attached", and making the vehicle unsafe to drive any distance.the body on this vehicle is in immaculate condition, and i was looking forward to being able to drive this vehicle up to 200,000 miles, which should not be uncommon for this vehicle type.i've contacted toyota customer experience and filed a complaint.i was told nothing will be done and no financial considerations will be made either.this is a known problem with this generation 4runner, and toyota should be made to offer to fix or make financial considerations for this vehicle just as they have done with the toyota tacoma with essentially the same frame.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame had excessive rust. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a new frame was required. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,000.
I had an issue with the 4wd so i brought the car in the my local shop. While investigating the issue, the auto shop discovered some major frame rot towards the back right wheel that extended into the arm that holds up the back wheels. I was told that the car is unsafe to drive and there is no telling what would happen in an accident or if i simply went over a bad pot hole. I was also told by a separate auto person that the 4wd issues i had been experiencing may also be the result of the frame rust which most likely warped the frame and messed with the gears involved in 4wd.i brought my car to the local toyota dealer for a second opinion on the safety of the vehicle. The dealer refused to take a look and instructed me to call customer service. I called customer service and they offered no assistance.this issue is very similar to the toyota tacoma recall and should be addressed in a similar fashion. I was told by customer service that they do not consider them similar because the tacoma frames were made in america while the 4runner frames were made in japan.i don't know why that takes away their liability for a poorly made vehicle with clear manufacturing issues. I have read about this problem with other 4runner owners and know that it's not just my problem, this is an owner-wide issue and clearly something that can be traced back to toyota's manufacturing process of this vehicle.now i am stuck with an unsafe vehicle that i cannot drive with a clean conscience nor sell with a clean conscience. Toyota's poor manufacturing has left me liability issue that i think should be addressed. I would at least like to trade in the vehicle for a new one with a sound frame!
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.
The vehicle was severely damage in the front left and middle of the truck. The truck airbags did not deploy causing injury.
Excessive frame rusting and weakening of suspension mounting points.
While in motion we noticed side to side movement in the rear of the vehicle which felt unstable..the right rear spring arm broke loose from the frame. Upon inspection it was noticed that the inside of complete frame assemblyhad 1 1/2 inwide gap rusted away the complete length of the frame.
Frame on passenger side (front,left) is rotted. While i was driving on the highway i almost got in an accident because the frame gave out. Now iā€™m out of car and i donā€™t want to pay but iā€™m going to have to thousands of dollars to get the frame fixed. Thatā€™s money i donā€™t have as i am a recent college student trying to pay of his loans.
Rear trailing arm mounts rusting away from frame. In addition, some other parts of the frame are rusting through.
The frame is rusted through on the passenger side of the vehicle. The mechanic at muffler man showed me that it is about ready to break its rusted so bad. He showed me that where the ac unit is placed the water from it runs down the frame collects there and then rusts out the frame. Driver side is good. The vehicle is unsafe to drive at this time. The vehicle was stationary on a hoist when they showed me.
Car was towed to body shop and once put on lift mechanic observed socks went right through the enitire frame advising us this car is not salvageable to do a rotted frame and futhermore is a death trap for anyone to drive italso rear differential is leaking.. Car has under 130,000 miles and was maintained with all records in tact.. Apparently toyota is aware of this saftey issue and has not recalled on this make ,year and model
Passenger side frame rail is rusted through on the inside of the rail.
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.
Severe blowout of frame , engine only has 130 thousand , this issue should be recalled along with the others that have been , its a bad d grade metal that makes up the frame its garbage
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 rottedout 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 ridingin it if the problem continues to worsen!! so if something isn't done the vehicle will have to be parked
We purchased a 2000 toyota 4runner with the knowledge that the vehicle was 14 years old however, the body, engine and interior of the vehicle were in great condition.we became aware of the frame rust when taking it for inspection and had some repairs made in order for the vehicle to pass state inspection.we take good care of our vehicles and we were checking the brakes and we were going to undercoat the frame when we discovered the large amount of rust and damage.i contacted toyota, they gave me a case number and transferred my call to "corporate headquarters".spoke to a phone representative who basically told me there was nothing they could do and the weather conditions cause a lot of the problems.my response to that was our 1998 blazer never had the amount of frame rust that this 4runner has, both driven in the same conditions.certain toyota models that are also having frame rust have been covered up to as long as 15 years on frame damage why wasn't the 4runner.i'm sure all models during this time were built with below standard frame material so why wasn't this addressed with all models?
The frame has rusted through in several spots.
The frame of my car has completely rusted- to the point where parts of it are breaking off. The rest of the body/engine are in great condition. I have done research and there are thousands of other complaints with the same issue on the 3rd generation toytoa 4runners (years 1998-2002). Toyota did a recall on the 1998-2002 tacoma frames which are identical to the 4runner. The car in unsafe to drive and toyota will take no accountability for this problem.
Frame rusted and tire came detached from car while driving. Felt like driving on ice
I hit a pot hole traveling at 25 mph and broke the frame of my 2000 4runner.i brought the car to my mechanic and he said the frame has rusted from the inside out and is non-repairable and was very dangerous to be driving.the truck is in otherwise good condition mechanically and the body has no rust.
Frame rotted out on passenger side of car, track bar for rear mount rusted off frame.
I was driving the truck to a body shop to fix the frame and body of the truck, as directed from toyota.which i was told from toyota in portsmouth nh, to take it to a body shop to get it fixed.when driving the vehicle they car began to accelerate out of control, i had to pass several vehicles, the car was shaking as i had the breaks on the whole time.it was upwards of 80 miles an hour with out any control.my sister was following me, i also have proof from the body shop, as i barely made it there, i had to put on the emergency break to stop the car.toyota customer service told me, probably driver error, not the case.when i left the truck with the body shop, they told me the frame and body of the truck were not repairable.i paid toyota for tire rotation, oil change, and filters, to hear that i have to scrap the car.i still feel unsafe driving due to the truck accelerating out of control, and got no support from toyota.
Major rust/corrosion on inside right frame rail extending from front section of vehicle's frame to rear frame. The frame supports near transfer case and the right rear control arm pose a serious risk of detachment. Rear right control arm failure could result in serious crash or injury at city or highway speeds.rust has eaten through most of the right frame rail with large holes.no action being taken by toyota, no shop wants to repair.
On working under vehicle i noticed that the passenger side structural rail leading to the rear of vehicle was rusty so i poked it and my screwdriver went right through, it was rusted through, it will need welding, as i tow a work trailer (and for safety reasons of course). Then the thin rear wall of the differential rusted through and started leaking oil, the part is not sold separately and i was quoted 1500.- for the part and at least 500 labor, by falmouth toyota. I was told it was a common problem, but that toyota wasn't standing behind their vehicle. If i hadn't been under the car for other reasons this could have turned into a catastrophic failure. I urge you to contact your representative if you have had similar problems.
This is what broke on my truck
I discovered that my 2000 toyota 4runner has sever interior frame rot in front of the rear trailing arm connection points, more so on the passengers side.this will become very unsafe after a while if nothing is done to address the problem.i remember toyota recalling tacomas for the same issue.why will they not uphold toyota quality and safety and recall a vehicle that is built on basically the same frame as the tacoma?the rest of the body is perfect.that in itself proves a design and construction flaw of the frame.
Right side of vehicle has rusted through approx 48 to 60 inches.rear stabilizer bar is detached from frame.entire right side of frame "is compromised" per mechanic/body shop.
Frame has holes in it, truck is perfect in every other way, frame holes same as recalled on tacoma and tundra, same safety issue, could break during operation.
I have owned this vehicle since 2005. I have taken it to a certified toyota dealership for every major checkup or repair. Not one service tech or mechanic has mentioned or noted anything about frame rust on this vehicle until a state inspection in june 2016. The mechanic tells me that my vehicle has a huge hole in the frame and is rusting out and is unsafe to drive. His fix for this problem was to direct me to his sale manager to purchase a new vehicle ( haley toyota midlothian, va) . Not one word about this prior to this event. My vehicle has only 140,000 miles. This is unsatisfactory.
Vehicle started handling poorly. I had recently replaced the rear shocks and thought i needed an alignment done. Brought it to my mechanic who pointed out that my rear upper control arm brakcet on the passenger had rotted and broken, causing the squirrely handling. Shortly after, while driving home from work on the highway at ~70mph, i heard a clunk and the tail end of the truck started jumping/swerving. Took back roads home and assessed the problem. Lo and behold my driver's side upper control arm bracket encountered the same fate. Rotted and broken. My vehicle's first owner was in minnesota but since then it has been in texas where there is no salt on the roads. I've done what i can to seal and prevent further rust on the frame after purchase and yet this still happens? my truck is no longer drive-able as it's extremely unsafe to have my rear axle disconnected from the frame. So until i can manage to 1) find someone willing to weld my frame 2) pay for such a service i am without a vehicle... I paid $2000 for this car less than a year ago with only 170k miles on it.
I am writing to report a defect in the frame of my 2000 toyota 4runner. The frame exhibits extensive rusting. The frame has holes and has separated along the bottom weld.toyota has declared the vehicle to be unsafe to operate, yet will do nothing to compensate for or correct the problem.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated the frame was rusted on the sides of the vehicle. A mechanic diagnosed that the frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
"rusted frame"my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehile became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up untill this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
Took my truck to toyota dealership for repairs and they let me know the frame is rusting out.
Rotting frame! un drivable. Stabilizer bar popped off.
There is a rust issue on the frame.
Frame is rusting prematurely.
Drivers side bracket holding rear wheel snapped off while stopped. Unable to drive vehicle as is.
Upon a recent mechanical inspection my 2000 toyota 4runner has been deemed unsafe for driving due to frame degradation due to rusting.the frame has several locations with holes and deterioration that seriously undermine the mechanical rigidity of the frame and truck.this vehicle has been well maintained and is in great condition with the frame as the only exception.i have owned several vehicles from different manufacturers and have driven and stored them in the same location but have not experienced the same issues. Frame rust and deterioration to the extent that my vehicle has experienced is not tolerable from any manufacturer and should have been addressed during the design, testing, and manufacturing stages of production.i believe that the 2000 toyota 4runners, along with previous years with identical frame builds, should be investigated and recalled in a similar manner to the toyota tacomas of the same generation that were recalled for the same issue.the 2000 toyota 4runner was marketed as a family vehicle with a history of safe operation and should be held to this standard.someone is going to get injured driving one of these vehicles.
I am the owner of a 2000 toyota 4runner with a dangerous condition due to rust perforation on the rear passenger side frame rail. The rust extends 4-5 ft and has caused the right rear control arm mount to rip away from the frame. On 6/10/2011, smart motors - madison, wi informed me that there was rust perforation on the right rear frame that was found during a separate repair. They informed me that they were documenting it and forwarding pictures to toyota motor sales. [xxx], a senior service advisor, said he would speak with the district service parts manager and follow up. He was concerned for the safety of the vehicle. After no action from smart motors and waiting for toyota to contact me, i then contacted the toyota customer experience center stating the concern and was given a file #1308200825. To this date, no action has been taken by toyota motor sales for a campaign or safety recall. This same condition has been recorded numerous times. There appears to be a design defect that causes this frame area to hold water. Toyota has recalled/bought back toyota tacomas with similar issues. I am urging nhtsa to aggressively pursue the safety defect in this vehicle so that no one is injured or killed. I have made the personal decision to take this vehicle off the road, and it is undriveable. I contend that an eleven year old vehicle at the time of first recorded observed defect is an issue that nhtsa should investigate. I appreciate your time and diligence in this matter and i am willing to answer any questions an investigator may have, and to make the vehicle available for inspection. I have attached the following documents to verify correspondence with toyota:- service order from 6/10/11- internal history report recommending frame estimate at $14,500- correspondence with toyota customer experience centerrespectfully,[xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The frame where thelower 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.
Frame rust exceeds normal wear and tear.frame rusted right through. Bolts rusted.the frame absolutely disintegrating. Entire frame needs to be replaced.brakes the absinitiates at nearly every stop. Whole system needs to be replaced.
Frame corrosion issues need to be addressed. Will cause bodily harm or death should failure occur.
Brought vehicle into dealership for general maintenance.service tech indicated that the frame was rusted through so bad that the vehicle might not be safe to drive.service tech was concerned even lowering it from the lift.he indicated that he has seen this issue on a fair number of other toyota vehicles that share the same frame design.i'm now left with a car that would be very drivable if it wasn't for the defective frame.
Hi,i have a 2000 toyota 4 runner.it has a little over 200k miles and i took it in for service to have the timing belt and water pump replaced.i drive the vehicle daily.the mechanic did not perform the work because he noticed the frame had rusted through and recommended to not drive the vehicle for safety reasons.he stated that if the frame did bend or separate the vehicle would buckle and there would not be any control, especially on the expressway.the mechanic recommend that i check to see if there has been any recalls.i did check to see if there were any recalls and there was not.i was informed that the toyota tundra and toyota tacoma had similar issues with the frame's rusting through and toyota did a recall/buy back for those vehicles.i was on the toyota forum and it sounds like there are a lot of toyota 4 runners in this same circumstance.i feel if there are other similar vehicles from toyota having the same issue, then they should be included in the recall/buyback process.thank you.
Extensive frame rust-through and failure. Left and right rear halves of frame cracked. Rear control arm brackets cracked at welds.
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 causedtotal 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.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed that the frame was rusted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure and current mileages were 121,000.
Frame rot beyond repair
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.
The frame on my 2000 toyota 4runner is rusted out on one side of it, it was just the side, but now there is rust holes in the bottom of it as well. This is a very big issue and could end up totaling my truck if i'm not willing to spend thousands on a new frame/repair. These 4runners are known for being reliable, but also for terribly made frames, and i have run into that unfortunate case. Please actually look into recalling and replacing these frames, i know many other people with this same issue, and it doesn't make sense why other trucks except for the 4runner were recalled. Everyone with one of these models would greatly appreciate a recall on these frames. Thank you, [xxx] (do not have a specific photo of the rust on frame, but i do have one of the rust on the body, just to give you an understanding, the frame is way more severe though)information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I took my 2000 4runner into a toyota dealership for a service check and to have all fluids changed, and as soon as they had the car on the lift they called to inform me that an extensive portion of the passenger side frame rail was rotted. I went to the dealership to inspect the rust and rot under the car and to take photos. I asked if this problem was seen a similar models of my truck and i was told that toyota has replaced other truck frames under recall, however there are no recalls for the 4runner at this time.i asked how the frame could be repaired, and the service manager told me that they couldn't help me and that i would have to seek another shop, and they sent me on my way.they didn't warn me of any safety concerns nor did they recommend a local shop that could help with the specific repair.
Took my 2000 toyota 4runner to a mechanic after noticing the frame looked like it was rusted through in one area. Mechanic said the frame was seriously rotted through in many areas and could not be fixed. He said it was unsafe to drive and told me i'd be crazy to drive it down the highway. I had just bought this vehicle 1 month ago with 146,000 miles on it and it is considered unsafe to drive. Unbelievable that there is not a recall on the 4runner for this problem yet toyota trucks with the same frame problem have had recalls and buy back offers. Is toyota waiting for deaths to occur? i have purchased 2 toyota vehicles prior to this 4runner. I trusted the name to be one of the safest & most reliable. I am mortified to know there are so many of these vehicles on the road with rotted frames, quite possibly with young children in them, that could result in a death if the frame gives out while driving. Please take this seriously nhtsa and help to get the toyota 4runner recalled for this rotted frame problem. It is truly a matter of life or death!! shame on toyota for making light of the problem. My trust in the toyota name is forever tarnished. I, like other people that have posted on here, will be waiting for a class action lawsuit to occur. I certainly would never sell this to someone else knowing they could be seriously injured or die due to the frame failing while driving.
The frame is rotting out all along the passenger side due to rust. Its starting to rust around key frame brackets. After a mechanic looked at he said this is a problem with this series 4runner.
Vehicle frame is rusted so bad that my rear sway arm broke away from the frame on the passenger rear side.car is unsafe to drive due to the car bouncing all over the road due to the rusted frame.
Exstensive frame rust.
The steel frame is rotting through on my 4runner. I have owned a lot of cars and have never seen a frame rot problem like this.
Frame is excessively rusty and severely cracked, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive. It became apparent when vehicle began to sway dangerously while driving straight on the highway at a high rate of speed. Slowing down did not help reduce sway. Sway was so excessive that the keys in the ignition were forcefully banging against steering column, and stopping driving immediately was necessary to prevent the vehicle from rolling over. Frame is cracked on both sides, one side severely. Photos included.
While vehicle was on lift being serviced my mechanic advised me to respond to his shop, observed large sections of vehicle's frame completely rotted and missing, mechanic advised frame needs to be replaced. *dt
Driving in mild winter condition (light wet slush) on a maintained highway my 4runner began to fish tale. When an attempt was made to correct the fish tale no control input from the drive would correct the sliding motion. This caused the vehicle to slide toward the shoulder of the road. On the shoulder of the road the vehicle began to slow to almost a stop, however, the rear end was far enough off the shoulder that it began to be pulled by gravity down hill. While it slid down hill the rear wheel hit a rock causing the axle to snap near the contact point of the wheel. This caused the vehicle to roll one and a half times endangering four lives. The air bags failed to deploy however none were injured. The car was destroyed and not able to be driven.
I have only had this truck for 2 months. The frame is rotten so bad that the metal co netted to the real trailing arm has fallen off the frame... The car is unsafe to drive. This is a 17 year old car but there is no way the frame should be rotten this badly. It seems that this is a very common problem for the toyota's of these years and toyota had a recall on tacoma but not 4runners...... I have a honda that is 5years older and doesn't have any frame for like this.... Toyota can do a recall on tacoma and tundra then they can fix the 4runners too!!!!!!
After dropping my kids off to school and exiting off the interstate at 45 miles per hour, i heard a loud pop and the truck started to fish tail until i was able to get it stopped without wrecking or ending up in the ditch.after speaking to a mechanic, he said this was a common problem with 2000 4runners and to contact toyota.the back frame on the passengers side has completely rusted thru leaving the rear axel with no support.after reading all the complaints about this same exact issue, at the same exact location, means that this is obviously a toyota defect.i bought my 4runner understanding that this vehicle would get me at least 200,000 miles.i'm currently at 118,000 and it already needs to go to the junk yard.i'm shocked and appalled that toyota would allow these vehicles to be out on the streets knowing that they are endangering hundreds and thousands of lives everyday.this clearly should have been a subject of recall and no doubt lives will be lost before something is done.a very serious issue and toyota needs to recall this vehicle asap.as it stands i will never buy another toyota and will go to the ends of the earth to tell my story and how toyota turns their back on customers and the safety of those you drive this 2000 4runner.with the web and all the social media forums at my finger tips, i will make it my mission in life to see that toyota is held responsible for their irresponsibility and lack of loyalty to toyota buyers.do the right toyota and recall the 2000 4runner for the piece of junk that it is before lives are lost!the frame on the back axel completely rusts thru leaves no options for repair but to simply scrap your vehicle with low mileage.such a dishonest company with no remorse and no respect for lives on the road driving everyday.
The entire frame under the vehicle is rotting away the vehicle is unsafe to drive and will not pass the pa. State inspection
Traveling on interstate at 65 mph and heard a "pop." vehicle started swerving badly -- total loss of control. Rear end wagging horrifically nearly hitting cars in other lanes. Managed to get to shoulder but couldnt see what was wrong.got vehicle off at exit and to garage.was told frame snapped and rear end control arm no longer attached rear end to frame. Frame rot extensive.scary as hell. No other rust on vehicle.thought vehicle would flip!
My 2000 4runner went in for pennsylvania state inspection and failed due to the frame being rusted out.as this is my only means of transportation i was forced to pay for the spot where the hole was to be cut out and welded with new metal.the whole underneath of my 4runner is rusty and i believe there are other parts of the frame that are to the point of possibly needing to be replaced.my rear differential is also almost rusted through.i believe this is a major safety issue especially in light of being in a crash and having a brittle frame that could break in half easily.i realize that in cold weather states there is the threat of salt and calcium chloride causing oxidation but my wife has a 2000 nissan that has seen the same exact winters and roads and is in 10 times better shape underneath than my 4runner.i have tried calling toyota corporate to no avail.i feel like logging a complaint is all i can do.toyota says they didn't have problems with 4runner frames because they were made in japan but when i see domestic vehicles and other import vehicles like my wife's not looking like or having the rust issues mine does i'm inclined to say that toyota is either lying or doesn't know the full extent of the problem.i would like to see some action on their part before somebody gets injured due to frame failure.
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.
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.
The longitudinal frame rails are completely rusted through on all four sides of the box frame on both sides.there is also significant rust in the cross rails, particularly at the attach points to the side members. An auto body repair shop owner says that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and needs a complete frame replacement.the vehicle has been garaged its entire life and there is absolutely no rust on the body. The shop owner says that he has seen a lot of 4runners with the frame in this condition and that toyota needs to step up and support the 4runner as it has with the sequoia and the tacoma, which also have severe frame rust issues.
Frame rusted through and snapped apart while making a left turn into traffic.. Rear passenger side.
Purchased the vehicle on 4/15/16. Extremely clean both inside and exterior of vehicle.had around 104k miles.i was under the vehicle changing the oil and noticed extensive frame rust including one area where the frame had been repaired from a hole right where the lower control arm attaches for the rear axle.there is another hole starting in the same location and since it is a box frame and seems to be rusting from the inside out, it's almost impossible to stop.i was really excited about getting this vehicle and paid cash for it with money we had saved.now i cannot let my family drive the car since i think it is unsafe.
"rusted frame", my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehicle became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up until this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame exhibited excessive rust build up. The contact called the manufacturer, who stated that they would provide a remedy for the vehicle. The vehicle was no longer drivable. The failure mileage was 140,000.
With only 129,000 miles and with normal driving conditions my frame has rusted through leaving my vehicle too dangerous to drive.the vehicle is in great condition in every other aspect, and was not driven off road or misused in any way.i noticed the rear end swaying when going over bumps in the road and took it in to the local mechanic.he said i should not drive the vehicle again and it was only good for parts at best since the frame is unrepairable.in addition to the obvious place it is cracked it is rusting away in multiple other locations.i am stuck with a car that runs great, but is a safety hazard.had i not noticed the swaying i may have been killed or killed other motorists due to this manufacturing defect.
2000 4runner with frame rust/rot, rear passenger side railing arm fell off. Lucky i was not driving fast on a highway, it was just a slow speed street. Took to two frame shops, one said would not work on it since it's so bad. Other says i need a new frame costing about $3400.body in excellent condition.my dad's 1984 gm blazer frame is still solid and have a lot thicker frame!
Frame rust there are areas where the frame is completely rusted through.this is rusting from the inside out and it's been told to me it was due to toyota not rust proofing the inside of the frames or coating them at all.
Upon inspection of my vehicle while on lift, i found an area of rust perforation above the right rear control arm bracket on the frame. The area is approx .5"x 3" in length.
Went to go and have my 2000 toyota 4-runner inspected and was told it would not pass due to the frame being rusted out and was not safe to drive....called toyota and was told sorry there is nothing we can do.
The truck began to feel funny while driving on a city street,i took it in for inspection,and the frame has separated from rust,making the vehicle unsafe,and a possible death trap for the motorist.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the entire frame was corroded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a complaint was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.
I reported a serious safety issue several years ago with a defective frame weld on my 2000 toyota 4runner, which caused my rear differential support to separate from the frame while driving at 55-60 mph. This caused a severe, unexpected swaying of the vehicle back and forth and almost complete loss of control
Rust has consumed my frame, suspension and lower body panels.
I have a 2000 4runner with 144000 miles and the underside is rusting away. I now have holes in the frame. Toyota has advised me try to repair or purchase something else because this vehicle is no longer safe to drive and will not pass virginia state inspection. I have 1994 toyota dlx pickup that has 372000 miles and the underside of it is in good shape.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle began to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the frame rails were severely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired.a dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000. The vin was unavailable.
The frame on my 2000 toyota 4runner is missing sections of due to that.i have contacted toyota and the informed me that my 4runner is not covered under the recall for rusted frames.i do not know where else to go to get my 4runner's frame repaired or replaced. Please advise,thank you
My frame rotted from rust
About 1 month ago, the frame of my 4runner without warning had a catastrophic failure while on a highway and my rear control arms disconnected/pulled out of the frame. Fortunately i did not have a serious accident, but it easily could have been.the lack ofany warning signs was the scary part in all of this.after a bit of basic searching on the web, including nhtsa, it appears my case is not a unique one. It is quite obvious that this these vehicles are susceptible to premature frame rust issues.i find it extremely irresponsible that toyota has turned a blind eye to something so serious.hypothetically, i can see a car frame failing but not a robust truck frame of this era.in my particular case, my vehicle was regularly maintained at a toyota dealership, washed regularly, garaged and the rest of the body is rust free and mechanically everything else is working flawlessly.
Takata recall..my 2000 4 runners frame is rusted out on the back end and my fiance had to put a plate on the right front about 3-4 yrs ago because it was rusted pretty good too..it now like dances in the back end if i hit a rough patch in the road which doesn't make me feel safe at all to put my children in it.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 40 mph, a popping noise was heard under the vehicle and the vehicle erroneously pulled to the right. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the subframe was severely rusted and corroded, which caused a support bar to fracture in half. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer (greens toyota of lexington, 630 e. New circle rd, lexington, ky) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Frame of the vehicle is corroded and i almost lost my life.i was driving on the highway when i was picking up speed, i lost control of the steering.
I took my well maintained third gen 4runner to the shop to get new tires because it has been acting up and i thought it was the worn out tires that affected the drive, which caused my car to swift and jerk but to my surprise it was actually a broken rusted frame that caused the hazard movement when driving and not the tires. The mechanic shop told me it's not fixable at all and should not drive. They recommend i look into a recall because as i'm aware now this has become a problem for many 3rd generation owners of the 4runner. I'm the 3rd owner technically 2nd since it belonged to my father who bought it off the first owner for me.and it's been well maintained both by the previous owner and i.
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 totwo 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.
It is a known problem that toyota wishes to not address that the frames are not properly treated for rust prevention and are prone to rusting out and falling apart at a rate that is beyond reasonable. Pictures from hundreds if not thousands of 4runner owners are all over the web and toyota forums showing the same issue. The most problem spot is on the right side of the frame on the inside near the muffler, near the rear axle. I can physically push my hand right through the rusted out frame. The similarly designed tacoma was recalled due to the frame rusting through so bad it would break apart. Unfortunately toyota does not wish to cover all the bases and have left the 4runners out to rust (pun intended)
Like so many others i've heard of, the frame has rusted through. The back left wheel assembly is now wedged up onto the floorboards. The exhaust system has broken apart before the muffler. I just bought this car two years ago and loved it, but now am horribly disappointed in the frame and toyota's lack of desire to do a recall.
Driving home from work my tortion bar snapped off my chassis, come to realize a huge section of my chassis rotted away.
Right rear control arm frame bracket broke, brought to garage for repair to findpassenger side frame rusted out from rear to front and unstable, drivers side frame rusted and deteriorated as well, mechanic says vehicle unfit for the road, motor, transmission and body still great shape, shame on you toyota for using such low quality steel on a important structure of the vehicle, could of resulted in loss of life. Rectify this issue before it does please.
Progressive severe rear frame corrosion leading to structural failure.
The passenger side frame rail on my 2000 4-runner is completely rusted thru on the section next to the muffler. Looks like its going to break in half.
Vehicle had no visible signs of frame rust. Drove vehicle over a small bump at 5mph & heard a sound from rear. Parked car. When driving away later noticed a sway in low speed driving. Got out and saw the rear drivers frame rail had cracked where it mounts the lower control arm. That section had to have rusted from the inside out as it is a boxed frame and there was no visible rust on the outer frame. This is a very alarming issue and a major safety concern. Vehicle is driven in northeast but garaged. We've had rusted body panels only on much older cars - this seems like a major flaw in vehicle design. Especially as it isn't visible and just recently passed a state safety inspection.
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?
Vehicle has 180k on it. Its rusted out beyond repair on the frame at both driver and passenger side coil shackles. The tacoma had a frame recall, i believe we should to. My vehicle is only starting its life. Can go 500k plus miles. Something needs to be done.
I was driving down the interstate, traveling at approximately 55 mph and went over a small transition in the road and the car started rocking violently from side to side, like the vehicle was going to roll over.any time that the car is over about 40 mph and it hits even the smallest of bumps, this is the result.upon inspection of the vehicle, i found that the passenger side frame rail was severely rusted, with structural damage as a result, including one of the stabilizers hanging loose.i took it to a shop to see if it was repairable, and they stated that this is the worst case of frame rust they have ever see, even on vehicles twice its age! and that it cannot safely be repaired!this has been an issue with many other 4runners of the same age, as evidenced by reading other complaints on here and the ntsb web site, as well as many other web sites of this type.this is the same thing that caused the 2000 toyota tacomas to be recalled.this vehicle is no longer safe to drive, and cannot be sold to someone at the price it should be valued without this issue, so i have lost the full value of this vehicle! there is no reason that a 17 year old vehicle should have this amount of frame damage as a result of rust!
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and the mechanic advised that there was excessive rust on the frame. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the rust and the manufacturer suggested to the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer took pictures of the rust failure and sent the pictures for the manufacturer to review. The dealer deemed the vehicle non-repairable and un-drivable. The vehicle was not repaired.the failure mileage was 140,000.
4runner has 142,000 miles and i was just told by my mechanic that it is unsafe to drive due to corrosion o frame. There is a 2ft section that is non-excitant. Entire frame is rusted junk.
"rusted frame", my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehicle became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up until this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
This is a 13 year old suv, that despite proper maintenance and a dependable engine had to be junked due to an almost completely rusted through frame.after noticing some increased rattling under the car, my husband found not only had the muffler brackets rusted away (some pieces fell out), but it was one pothole away from separating from the swing arm.very dangerous (accident waiting to happen) and appeared to have rusted from the inside out.not readily noticeable from the outside.we took it off the road immediately.toyota does't seem to bother to acknowledge this problem let alone do anything about it.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While the vehicle was being serviced at priority toyota chesapeake (1800 greenbrier pkwy, chesapeake, va 23320), the dealer discovered that the passenger side frame rail was rusted and had several holes. The vehicle could not be repaired due to the extent of the damage. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000. The vin was unavailable.
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.
The frame is severely rusted
The frame on my 2000 toyota 4-runner is rusted out and is not drivable due to safety concerns.i have 282,000 miles on it and i have to junk a car that drives due to this rusted out frame
Takata recall. I was driving approx. 55 miles per hour on highway 138. I hit black ice and drovestraight into a tree on the side of the road. The air bags did not deploy. I sustained injuries to my face and head, from smashing into the steering wheel.
While driving 2000 toyota 4runner i noticed it was not handling normal.the vehicle would wander and would not go in the direction i was turning. After getting back home, i inspected underneath the vehicle checking the front end suspension.while under the vehicle i noticed the right rear stabilizer mount had rusted off the frame. The vehicle is now undrivable due to this hazardous condition.
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 thatdealership 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.
This is a very well known issue, my frame on my 2000 4runner is completely rusted out, my shock mount rusted and broke while driving. There are many many many cases of the 3rd gen 4runners rusting out, a simple google search yields pages and pages of corrosion to frames. This needs to be addressed as other toyota vehicles in this age grou has recalls for frames.
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.
I am writing to report a defect in the frame of my 2000 toyota 4runner. The frame exhibits extensive rusting. The frame has holes and has separated along the bottom weld. The source of the worst rusting appears to be condensation from the ac unit dripping onto the frame and running along it. Toyota has declared the vehicle to be unsafe to operate, yet will do nothing to compensate for or correct the problem.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While at an independent mechanic for service, the technician diagnosed that the frame was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The vin was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated the vehicle was taken for routine inspection when he was informed by the technician that the vehicle exhibited rust and holes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The current and failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
I have a 2000 toyota 4runner; the right side frame area approximately 4 feet of the frame near the muffler area is rusted out. I understand the toyota tacoma has a frame recall up to year 2000. Isn't the tacoma frame and the 4runner frame the same. This should be address as a safety issue. There are numerous stories about rusted frame on the 2000 4runner rusted frame.
My 2000 toyota 4runner has rust perforation in the frame and im scared to drive it.
2000 toyota 4runner with the frame rotted by the muffler . The rot goes about 3 feet in length by 1 1/2 inch. Right where the lower rear axle hooks up to the frame. The rear axle has rotted out and all the fluid leaked out causing the gears to get chewed up. Imagine that happening at 65 mph and the rear wheels locked up. Disaster. If you would like pictures on how bad it looks i have them. This is a clean truck with no dents anywhere.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The vehicle was parked when the contact noticed the entire frame under the vehicle was severely rusted. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 130,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While the vehicle was being serviced by an independent mechanic, it was discovered that the passenger side frame was rusted on both sides and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,600. Updated 6/24/15
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?
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that when taking the vehicle to a dealer for inspection, she was informed that the frame was rusted and advised her that it was too dangerous to drive. The dealer was unable to repair the vehicle due to the extreme corrosion on the frame. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4 runner. The contact stated after inspecting his vehicle there was rust and corrosion on the frame. The dealer was notified and stated there were no recalls or related warranties; however, they agreed to repair the vehicle for $1200. The manufacturer was notified and stated there were no recalls or warranties. The failure mileage was 120,000.
We have a 2000 toyota 4runner,purchased brand new from a maine dealer.this vehicle recently failed state inspection due to rust holes in the frame.the mileage read 88,600 and it was declared unsafe for the road by our local garage and the local toyota dealership, shepard toyota, rockland, maine. We called toyota and inquired about a buy back program for 4runners, as it has the same frame as a tacoma.tacomas have been recalled for frame rust.toyota informed us that the 4 runner was not part of the recall program,and that they would not help us resolve this safety problem.we scheduled it for repair at shepard toyota.the repair consisted of a tack welding of a steel plate over the rust holes to conceal them, and then something black was sprayed over it.the steel repair plate does not have a continuous weld completely around it.this oversight might allow accelerated corrosion by trapping moisture and road salt behind it.shepard toyota deemed the vehicle safe and it passed the maine safety inspection.wecharged $166.50 for this safety defect repair.we chose the 4 runner was for its ability to tow.we have explained to toyota that this vehicle is not safe and that we tow heavy trailers on a regular basis.the trigger to allow a tacoma owner to participate in the buy back program is when rust holes appear in the frame.even though our 4 runner has 2 (now hidden) rust holes through the frame, and possible holes concealed behind other components such as the fuel tank, toyota is not concerned with this safety issue.we are also wondering if toyota uses less corrosion protection on vehicles with california emissions.our 4runner was retrieved from another toyota dealer in another state as our original dealer did not have one in stock.is it legal for a maine toyota dealership to sell a vehicle with california emissions?we would like nhtsa to investigate our issues and have toyota take our safety concerns seriously and take action. Updaed 04/01/10.
My wife and i own a 2000 toyota 4runner and we recently discovered that the frame has rusted through.toyota had a recall on tacoma and tundra models from the same year with similar issues and was able to help consumers.because there have not been enough complaints on the 4runner, they have neglected my concerns.the frame is not safe and further damage to the frame could result in severe injury to my family or others.i ask that toyota be forced to expand the recall to other vehicles.in addition, it has come to my attention that the frames all came from the same manufacturer.the metals used to make the frames were not of the highest quality, which is resulting in this deterioration of the frame.
2000 4runner limited rusting on body with 66,000 miles.frame and underside also rusting.live in utah, they use salt on the roads.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame was rusted on the rear passenger and driver sides. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear swing arm fractured and the front crossmember was about to fracture. The vehicle was repaired.the manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame was completely corroded. The contact was concerned that the frame would possibly fracture. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 127,000. Updated 10/22/2014*ljthe consumer stated the manufacturer and the dealer were contacted. The dealer advised that the vehicle was not safe to drive due to extensive rust on the frame. The manufacturer did not offer any assistance. Updated 04/2/2015
I'm the original owner of a 2000 toyota 4 runner suv which is the non-truck version of the tacoma which is currently being investigated by nhtsa for rust and corrosion problems.since the 4 runner and tacoma are built the same, except one is a truck and the other a suv, isn't there the same problem of rust and corrosion?one example is that the spare tire is located in the same place on both types of vehicles!
We own a 2000 toyota 4 runner whose frame has corroded to the point that a toyota dealer and an independent (second opinion) vehicle repair shop advised that it was and had been completely unsafe to drive.my son, who drove it 600 miles to college, was put in serious danger. We took a total loss on the car after having had it dealer serviced since buying it new in 2000.this is a safety issue according to the toyota dealer.it is precisely the issue toyota faced with the tacoma and tundra models, which they recalled and stood behind through repairs/replacement/dollar credits.we and the dealer contacted toyota directly several times and the company refuses to stand behind the 4runner with the same frame corrosion problem as those models.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4-runner. The contact stated that the passenger side frame was rusting and holes were developing on the body of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame was severely rusted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the frame was entirely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 113,231. Djr updated 10/24/2014*ljupdated 4/20/2015
2000 toyota 4 runner sr 5with 143,000 miles per toyota dealer the frame is rusted through and unsafe to drive. Unlike toyota tacoma, no 4 runner recall.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected it failed inspection due to excessive frame rust. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the frame rust and the manufacturer stated that there was nothing they could do because there was no warranty or a recall. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic but they would not weld the frame due to excessive rust.the contact stated that this was a major safety issue that could cause a crash.the failure mileage was 91,000.
2000 toyota 4runner failed new hampshire state safety inspection due to excessive frame rot/rust, most evident at right rear trailing arm mount.contacted toyota customer service and was advised there was nothing they could do because there was no warranty or a recall for this issue.this is a major safety issue.this frame rot is the same issue toyota faced with the tacoma model that utilizes the same frame as the 4runner.per the toyota news release of 3/7/08 toyota provided tacoma owners an " extended frame corrosion warranty"up to 15 years to provide "goodwill assistance to owners who have experienced, or may encounter, frame problems as a direct result of rust perforation".i was told by toyota customer service that the 4runner frame is only covered by the comprehensive warranty of 3years/36,000 miles. Toyota will not recognize that the same issue is occurring to 4runner owners with the same frame.toyota has recognized there is an issue with these frames, established a precident regarding replacement, yet will not include the 4runner in their offer of an "extended frame corrosion warranty".the body of my particular vehicle is in mint condition with no rust, including the underbody,but the frame has failed under it!toyota must include 4runners in their "extended frame corrosion warranty"!
Heard a noise in back of car..got my tires rotated, while up on the rack i noticed the back passenger bracket that holds my axel on was rotted in half, called toyota, made an appointment with local toyota garage. They told me it was not safe to drive! axel could fall off, could lose breaks, drive shaft could fall out plus there is a hole in my frame. Frame rot again! would not do anything about it, told me there is no recall on this yet! they deemed it unsafe to drive...what the[xxx]??information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
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
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the right frame near the muffler was corroded more than three feet long and approximately one and a half inches wide. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians advised him to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle and refused to assume the repair cost. The approximate failure was mileage 140,000.
Brought my 2000 toyota 4runner sr5 to toyota dealership to repair my rear differential assembly that was leaking.once the truck was put on the lift it was quickly discovered by the mechanic i had much greater problems than a leaking rear differential, he informed me that my frame was "junk".he told me there was substantial rot on the passenger side frame rail starting from where the rear suspension ties in all the way to the front of the vehicle.he saw no point in removing gas tank on the other side to investigate how bad it may be there, that the passenger side was enough to render the car unsafe to drive.i quickly asked if there were recalls on the frame to which he said no, toyota isn't doing anything to remedy this issue at this time.he told me a frame for this vehicle would cost me between $10-12 thousand dollars!i've taken it to two different highly qualified body shops and both have given me outrageous quotes to get this frame patched, yet both also said it would only be a temporary fix, that the frame would in fact need to be replaced, and both encouraged me to stop driving the vehicle.i have two small children and am now left trying to figure out what to do with transportation as i no longer have a safe vehicle.my truck has been well kept and dealer serviced its entire life it only has 128,000 miles on it.toyota.... Stand behind your products and replace these frames before someone gets killed.im sure there are thousands of motorists driving this same year vehicle that look to be in great shape and have no idea their vehicles could literally fall apart at a moments notice!
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While driving 70 mph, the rear driver's side trailing arm, which was connected to the frame of the vehicle, fractured. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home safely at a reduced speed. A representative from la crosse toyota (800 3rd st s, la crosse, wi 54601, (608) 793-7000) inspected the vehicle and took several pictures. The contact was informed that someone would be in touch with him. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 211,000.
My 2000 toyota 4runner (163k miles) failed nh state vehicle inspection today due to excessive frame corrosion.i was shown a rust hole the size of a silver dollar in the rear portion of the vehicle's structural frame.i immediately took the vehicle to a local body shop for a repair estimate.i was told that the frame could not be fixed via welding, due to the extent of the rust on the inside of the boxed frame.instead, the frame would need to be completely replaced to address issue properly, safely and cost-effectively.i was informed that toyota motor corp. Acknowledges and remediates similar rust issues with its tundra and tacoma models of similar model years, but does not support rust issues with its 4runner model.
My 2000 4runner went in for pennsylvania state inspection and failed due to the frame being rusted out.as this is my only means of transportation i was forced to pay for the spot where the hole was to be cut out and welded with new metal.the whole underneath of my 4runner is rusty and i believe there are other parts of the frame that are to the point of possibly needing to be replaced.my rear differential is also almost rusted through.i believe this is a major safety issue especially in light of being in a crash and having a brittle frame that could break in half easily.i realize that in cold weather states there is the threat of salt and calcium chloride causing oxidation but my wife has a 2000 nissan that has seen the same exact winters and roads and is in 10 times better shape underneath than my 4runner.i have tried calling toyota corporate to no avail.i feel like logging a complaint is all i can do.toyota says they didn't have problems with 4runner frames because they were made in japan but when i see domestic vehicles and other import vehicles like my wife's not looking like or having the rust issues mine does i'm inclined to say that toyota is either lying or doesn't know the full extent of the problem.i would like to see some action on their part before somebody gets injured due to frame failure.
Pass side rear frame rusted through!
Frame is rusted through.toyota has recalled frames for tacomas and tundras but not 4runners 4runner is built on same frame as tacoma. Why no recall?
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.
I brought my vehicle to a repair shop for inspection because the vehicle was not riding safely.they found extensive rust and corrosion on the back under carriage of the frame of the car posing a potential safety and road hazard. It was not normal wear and tear. I don't have the vin number yet to post because the vehicle is in the shop to be repaired.
My mechanic informed me that my well maintained 4runner has holes in the frame from rot and is junk.the rest of this vehicle is in beautiful shape. I am really upset.
Took 2000 toyota 4runner sr5 in for inspection. My independent mechanic said frame is bad. Frame is severely rusted and has multiple holes on passenger side rear wheel area in both the front and back of this area. It also has severe rust and holes in the frame on the driver side in the same rear area and above the gas tank on the driver side. Vehicle is considered unsafe because of the damage to the frame. Spoke to the local toyota dealer customer service repair center rep and inquired about any recalls for rusted frame such as the buy back program that toyota had for the tacoma. I was informed there were no recalls or buy backs for the 2000 toyota 4runner sr5.i called toyota corporation customer support and filed a complaint with them. I was also told that there were no recalls or buy backs at this time. I asked if there was anyone else i could speak to in regards to this matter and was told that there was not.rep said they would notify me if toyota issued a recall. I told the rep what good would that do since i would have to scrap the vehicle and unless toyota issued a recall within the next few days a recall would not help me if i no longer owned the vehicle. I also told the rep that this placed an undue economic hardship on me because i would have to purchase a replacement vehicle since the 4runner was no longer safe because of the frame damage. Hesympathized with me but said the only thing he could do for me was file my complaint and issue me a case number. Searching the internet it seems that there are a lot of toyota 4runner owners that have the same issue. I think the nhtsa needs to step in and make toyota issue a recall for these faulty frames.it is obvious that toyota used inferior metal to manufacturer these frames and that is why they are rusting out prematurely.
Frame rot along topside of rail with hole present , just behind passenger wheel. Concerned that frame will fail while driving. Vehicle is in great shape otherwise.
Took the vehicle in for regular service (oil change, tire rotation, etc.) and was informed that the frame had rusted through in several areas.they recommended taking the vehicle to a toyota dealer since extreme rust problems have been a recurring problem with toyota trucks & suvs.looking online, i saw recalls for the rust problems with trucks, but no recall for 4runners???i think there should be the same responsibility shown by toyota for the same problem in similar vehicles.
Severe frame rot on otherwise very well cared for vehicle.will certainly result in catastrophic failure.
Replacing the muffler and was informed by the mechanic that the frame is rusted through. Should not have happened. Needs recalled.
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.
Frame rusted through.will not pass state inspection.
The frame is rusted out.i can only see one side.toyota took pictures, but never heard back from them.i took some photos myself.
I had an issue with the 4wd so i brought the car in the my local shop. While investigating the issue, the auto shop discovered some major frame rot towards the back right wheel that extended into the arm that holds up the back wheels. I was told that the car is unsafe to drive and there is no telling what would happen in an accident or if i simply went over a bad pot hole. I was also told by a separate auto person that the 4wd issues i had been experiencing may also be the result of the frame rust which most likely warped the frame and messed with the gears involved in 4wd.i brought my car to the local toyota dealer for a second opinion on the safety of the vehicle. The dealer refused to take a look and instructed me to call customer service. I called customer service and they offered no assistance.this issue is very similar to the toyota tacoma recall and should be addressed in a similar fashion. I was told by customer service that they do not consider them similar because the tacoma frames were made in america while the 4runner frames were made in japan.i don't know why that takes away their liability for a poorly made vehicle with clear manufacturing issues. I have read about this problem with other 4runner owners and know that it's not just my problem, this is an owner-wide issue and clearly something that can be traced back to toyota's manufacturing process of this vehicle.now i am stuck with an unsafe vehicle that i cannot drive with a clean conscience nor sell with a clean conscience. Toyota's poor manufacturing has left me liability issue that i think should be addressed. I would at least like to trade in the vehicle for a new one with a sound frame!
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While the vehicle was being serviced by an independent mechanic, it was discovered that the passenger side frame was rusted on both sides and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,600. Updated 6/24/15
Rusted out frame. I took my truck in for some minor repairs. The shop called me back and said the frame is so rusted that the car is no longer safe to drive.. The support holding up the transmission is about to break. This could've caused a serious accident or worse if it happened while i was driving.. Not to mention i don't have the money to just buy a new car on a whim.. Unfortunately i will have to continue driving this death trap until either the frame breaks or i have the money to buy a new car. Toyota needs to do something about this before someone gets hurt or worse.. I know i'm not the only one with this problem. They need to recall the 4runners like they did the tacomas..rusted out frame!!!!rusted out frame!!!!rusted out frame!!!!
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a loud noise was heard underneath the vehicle. The contact noticed that the main frame underneath the vehicle was rusted and had holes. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired.the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
At a regular oil change, at a toyota dealer, i was shown a picture of a hole in my frame.my 4runner has been an excellent and reliable vehicle with regular maintenance.it has a rust spot on a bumper, and that's all! this is our family vehicle, and is not abused. I only have 154,000 miles and feel strongly that a frame on a vehicle should last much longer, as in past vehicles i've owned.i have had no problems with my 4runner, and don't want to junk yard it over a bad quality frame from toyota, but it may come to this if i can't have it welded. The vehicle is not safe, the hole is in a weight bearing area. Shame on toyota for not doing a recall on the 4runners like they did with their trucks.safety should be first.yes, i do transport children in my vehicle on a daily basis, so again, shame on them. I strongly feel that others are not safe, and someone should address this pressing issue.
Frame is rusting through causing instability concerns.
Frame rails between front and rear wheels rusted through. Not little holes but sections 1 to 2 feet long and big enough to put your hand into. Updated 05/09/12 the consumer stated the passenger side frame rail, inside, outside, and bottom, had rusted. From the front wheel back to the rear tire.updated 05/12/2012
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.
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 !!.
I took my 2000 toyota 4runner limited to my local mechanic for the annual ny state inspection.this is a one owner (me) vehicle with only 126,777 miles.what he found was extensive rust and perforations on the passenger side frame from front to rear.he told me that it was not repairable and that it is a safety concern.he said we were lucky not to have experienced a complete collapse and failure in that section while driving.i was shocked at the amount of rust and deterioration i saw in the frame.i called toyota corp the same day and explained the issue.i was told that an authorized toyota dealership would need to look at the vehicle and document it.i tool it to the dealership the next day and the service manager completed a report and took photos.he informed me that the vehicle has frame perforations beyond repair and that the rear end housing is porous.he also found an exhaust leak.he stated that the vehicle was not safe to drive. He told me that this has been an issue with the 4runner for several years.he also told me that the tundra and tacoma had a similar rust issue and that there was a safety recall campaign for those vehicles whereby new frames were installed, but not for the 4runner.he did not know why the 4runner was not included in the recall campaign.this is a serious safety issue that could result in serious injuries and fatalities.this is also an economic concern to me.my 4runner's interior and exterior is in very good to excellent condition.it's value is around $7 thousand.i expected to drive this vehicle for a long time.now it sits in my garage waiting for toyota or the dot to rectify the issue.i urge toyota and the dot to issue a recall for this frame problem in order to avoid needless customer injuries and fatalities.
Frame rustedin 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.
2000 toyota 4runner was in for scheduled routine maintenance.at this time, it was reported that the vehicle's frame is cracked and not safe to drive.the vehicle was then looked at by a local welder who confirmed the cracked frame and reported excessive frame corrosion.
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.
Went to my mechanic for an full exhaust repair and was told that the vehicle had frame rot so extensive that the repair should not be done, and that in fact the car was unsafe to drive. There was a recall on this frame for the tacoma and the tundra as well, and there should be one on this generation of 4runner. I have a 1989 4runner with 250k miles and no such issues with frame rot. Now i'm out thousands of dollars since i'll have to junk the car and buy a new one. Toyota should take responsibility for this.
Right hand rear of frame where lower trailing arm bracket is welded was rusted through.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated while at a local mechanic he was informed that the sub frame was completely rusted. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
While having my 2000 4runner serviced recently, my mechanic advised me that my carriage frame wascracked 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 fromthe 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.
Severe rust on passenger side of frame unsafe will not pass inspection.
Submission from constituent re 2000 toyota 4-runner safety & environmental issues concerns [toyota motor sales].the consumer stated the frame on his vehicle is rusted, to the point where the vehicle is not safe to drive. The frame rail is exhibiting corrosion to the point where sections of the frame have completely disintegrated leaving him with major holes and welded suspension mounting components completely separated from the actual frame rail.
I have a 2000 4runner sr5 sport that has lived its life in new england. The car is in good shape and the frame of the car appears to have some surface rust. I had the exhaust replaced last week and they found that the inside of the frame had totally rotted out from the inside, so that the there are only three sides to the four of the tube frame left. I heard that toyota has had issues with frames rusting. I have two children i drive around in this car and i feel this is a serious safety issue toyota should address before someone gets killed.
Frame rot.right side along rear wheel.crack in the frame.otherwise frame fine and no rust/rot on left hand side.
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.
Went to change my oil at my local toyota dealership and was alerted to come and see the frame.it was rusted and had holes in the frame.this should not happen to a car this old.shame on toyota to not recall the vehicle!this is an embraceable to a company built by safety, quality and loyalty. Called toyota customer service and was informed that they could not do anything about it and that a recall was not issued so they would not fix the problem.
2000 toyota 4runner frame rustedthrewat 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.
The frame is rusted/corroded through in multiple places where important parts are attached. I was told by the mechanic that it is not safe to drive, however it is my only form of transportation.
Frame rust-through - vehicle's frame has prematurely rusted through from the inside-out along passenger side in area of muffler assembly.
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.
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 andis 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.
We took our toyota 4runner 2000 suv to a local toyota dealer for an estimate on a repair. My husband was told that frame perforation on the right side frame rail was found. The vehicle was looked at by a fts and deemed unsafe to drive. The problem can not be fixed by the dealer and we were told to call toyota hq and they referred us back to the dealer.we escalated the issue to the division sales manager and we told that therenothing that can be done as the vehicle is out of warranty and toyota no longer makes the frame used in our vehicle. I have read several similar complaints for the same make and model and we find it disturbing that a recall has not been issued for this vehicle like the tacoma & tundras of the same year.
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
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 4runnersin 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.
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.
Severe frame rot on otherwise very well cared for vehicle.will certainly result in catastrophic failure.
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.
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.
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.
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 forumsand 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.
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.
The entire frame under the vehicle is rotting away the vehicle is unsafe to drive and will not pass the pa. State inspection
Traveling on interstate at 65 mph and heard a "pop." vehicle started swerving badly -- total loss of control. Rear end wagging horrifically nearly hitting cars in other lanes. Managed to get to shoulder but couldnt see what was wrong.got vehicle off at exit and to garage.was told frame snapped and rear end control arm no longer attached rear end to frame. Frame rot extensive.scary as hell. No other rust on vehicle.thought vehicle would flip!
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.
"rusted frame", my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehicle became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up until this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
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.
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.
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.
The vehicle was severely damage in the front left and middle of the truck. The truck airbags did not deploy causing injury.
Took my truck to toyota dealership for repairs and they let me know the frame is rusting out.
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 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.
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?
Rust has consumed my frame, suspension and lower body panels.
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 rottedout 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 ridingin it if the problem continues to worsen!! so if something isn't done the vehicle will have to be parked
I reported a serious safety issue several years ago with a defective frame weld on my 2000 toyota 4runner, which caused my rear differential support to separate from the frame while driving at 55-60 mph. This caused a severe, unexpected swaying of the vehicle back and forth and almost complete loss of control
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 daughterwas traveling any faster vehicle could have flipped over.
Vehicle started handling poorly. I had recently replaced the rear shocks and thought i needed an alignment done. Brought it to my mechanic who pointed out that my rear upper control arm brakcet on the passenger had rotted and broken, causing the squirrely handling. Shortly after, while driving home from work on the highway at ~70mph, i heard a clunk and the tail end of the truck started jumping/swerving. Took back roads home and assessed the problem. Lo and behold my driver's side upper control arm bracket encountered the same fate. Rotted and broken. My vehicle's first owner was in minnesota but since then it has been in texas where there is no salt on the roads. I've done what i can to seal and prevent further rust on the frame after purchase and yet this still happens? my truck is no longer drive-able as it's extremely unsafe to have my rear axle disconnected from the frame. So until i can manage to 1) find someone willing to weld my frame 2) pay for such a service i am without a vehicle... I paid $2000 for this car less than a year ago with only 170k miles on it.
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 othertoyota 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.
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.
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.
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. 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 thatdealership 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.
Fatal lower control arm bracket corrosion-
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.
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 totwo 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.
Frame rusted and tire came detached from car while driving. Felt like driving on ice
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.
Frame rust causing suspension arm to drop while driving. It dug into road surface which lifted entire rear into the air. Kind of a pole-vault effect. Very dangerous.checking for frame rust is not something listed in toyotas maintenanceschedule nor should it have to be by owners
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.
While driving home from work on 01/24/2015 i felt and heard a noise coming from the rear of my vehicle and the vehicle started to swerve and i almost lost control of the vehicle. I came to a stop and checked the vehicle but didn't notice anything wrong. I got back into the vehicle and drove at a slower speed, when i got home i pulled into my garage and checked the under side and noticed that the frame was cracked where the control arm mounts. I looked on line for recalls and although there are a lot of complaints and there are recalls for the 2000 toyota tacoma which shares the same platform there are no recalls for frame rust on the toyota 4runner. In addition to the crack on the frame there is considerable rust on the entire frame and i think i'm lucky to be un hurt and alive. Please help me and all the other toyota 4runner owners.thanks
Frame rotted out on passenger side of car, track bar for rear mount rusted off frame.
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.
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
While having my 2000 4runner serviced recently, my mechanic advised me that my carriage frame wascracked 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 fromthe 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.
The frame where thelower 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.
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.
2000 toyota 4runner frame rustedthrewat 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.
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 torusted frame. I never seen something like this before. This is unacceptable . I took the car toa 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
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.
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.
"rusted frame", my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehicle became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up until this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
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?
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 !!.
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 causedtotal 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.
"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.
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.
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.
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 rotti 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
Due to the dreaded ' toyota rot ' frame failure the spare tire mechanism had rusted off going down ushighway 25 in kentucky and put a poor man and his children in harms way. Toyota doesn't care about their customers they just want your money !!! i feel this problem could have been avoided toyota should have recalled these vehicles knowing the frame issues have existed since the mid 90s!!!!when i look up my vehicle it has zero recalls shame on you toyota there should be a remedy even if it's splitting the cost with your customer. Very unsatisfied
While driving today the steering became unstable, erratic, and the car lurched out of my lane into oncoming traffic. A new noise appeared to be coming from rear left tire. When i safely pulled over and inspected vehicle i noted the frame was severely rusted and that the forward welded mount for the lower suspension arm had fractured along the factory weld and was dangling down. This car has never been wrecked. It has been inspected and passed pa state inspections yearly since 2002.
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.
Frame rustedin 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.
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 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 andis 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.
Passenger side frame rail is rusted through on the inside of the rail.
Frame rust to the point the passenger rear control arm is about to fall off bc of the amount of frame rust
Drivers side bracket holding rear wheel snapped off while stopped. Unable to drive vehicle as is.
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.
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.
On 08/13/2014 my 16year old son was driving his 2000 toyota 4runner on the interstate at highway speeds when right side lower control arm bracket build into the frame fell off the frame and cracked.upon further inspection the frame had rusted from inside out causing the welded bracket to break at the factory weld.it is our understanding that this was a common problem and toyota was doing a voluntary buy back that expired in 2011.we purchased the vehicle in 2013 and was never made aware of any such issues.it appears to us since there has been no service centers willing to re weld the bracket back in place that we are going to have to junk a great running great body condition car due to this problem that appears to be common.according to multiple service garages that have inspected for repair none of them will due to liability and that there is no good metal left to weld to as the frame is simply rusting into holes.any advice on fixes or recalls etc would be much help.toyota dealers advised nothing we could do.
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.
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.
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.
Rust and holes in the frame.
Frame is rusting through causing instability concerns.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, a noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. In addition, the contact had to maneuver the steering wheel in excess in order to turn the vehicle.the vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician stated that the rear trailing arm had corroded and fractured. The technician also stated that the vehicle could not be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000. Updated 7/9/15
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.
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
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 corrosion issues need to be addressed. Will cause bodily harm or death should failure occur.
The under frame rotted out and broke while traveling on highway at 65mph, when all of a sudden the vehicle started weaving back and forth violently. Almost lost control of vehicle before slowing down.pulled over because we thought we had a flat. Was not the case. Got back on the road and any time we went over 45mph it started to violently weave back and forth. Luckily we did not roll over or crash with an autistic child in the back of the 4runner or my very ill husband on oxygen. If not addressed or recalled soon, someone is going to get seriously hurtor worse. This needs to be recalled. My 4runner only has 168,000 miles on it.contact stated vehicle was taken to the shop for repair but was told it was not repairable.
Extensive frame rust-through and failure. Left and right rear halves of frame cracked. Rear control arm brackets cracked at welds.
"rusted frame"my 2000 4runner suffered structural damage when the frame broke away from the rear control link support brackets while driving.the rear of the vehile became unstable and hard to control.we could not drive vehicle and had to have it towed to a garage. We are trying to determine if the frame can be repaired not.i called a toyota representative and they would not help because there was only a recall on pickup trucks of these years and not 4runners.this is a vehicle that was garage kept for a good portion of its life.i religiously wash my undercarriage throughout the winter months in pa.i have owned 11 toyotas in my driving life, i am 55.several of my vehicles went over 300,000 miles and i have never had a frame rusting problem up untill this one.the body on this truck does not have a speck of rust anywhere but the frame is disintegrating.i find it sad that toyota will not acknowledge that there is a problem with these and fix them.
I was driving and all of a sudden my car started across the center line from the rear end.
My 2000 toyota 4runner shakes at speeds above 60mph. It also does this while braking. It is visibly noticeable in the steering wheel, but all passengers in the car can feel the shaking and vibration. It becomes almost violent and alarming around 70mph. I have taken it to several repair shops and no one can find a solution. I have read hundreds of posts about this problem that ranges from 96-08 models.
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.
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.
Frame on both my 2000 4runners is rotting out both bodies are in perfect shape cant wait to sue toyota when they fail .
Rust in all parts of the framefront/rear
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?
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.
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.
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?
My toyota 4runner, dated 2000, is running by itself. I need to keep pressing the brakes hard in order to slow the car down. This is happening for the last several years. I believe the electronic system is defective.
The frame on my 2000 4 runner is rusted through.i brought it to get work done it by a certified mechanic and he wouldn't put it on the lift because the frame is so rotten.
My wife was coming from with and was getting on interstate when car started swaying uncontrollable when i looked at it the arm that holds the rear end had roted off good thing she was not up to speed
Rotting frame! un drivable. Stabilizer bar popped off.
Frame rotted
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.
Frame is rusting through.
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 rottedout 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 ridingin it if the problem continues to worsen!! so if something isn't done the vehicle will have to be parked
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.
Frame rust found next to muffler on passenger side and next to gas tank on driver side. Has rusted through and control arm is almost broken off.request frame replacement.
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.
Frame is rotting away on a vehicle with 158,646 miles. Toyota has been aware of this issue for years, yet no recall for the 4runner 's. What will it take , a death, because of a frame failure?
4runner was in shop for muffler repair when rusted right side of frame near rear torsion bar was pointed out to me. My concern is torsion bar will brake away and cause accident.
Car was towed to body shop and once put on lift mechanic observed socks went right through the enitire frame advising us this car is not salvageable to do a rotted frame and futhermore is a death trap for anyone to drive italso rear differential is leaking.. Car has under 130,000 miles and was maintained with all records in tact.. Apparently toyota is aware of this saftey issue and has not recalled on this make ,year and model
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 is unsafe to operate according to nysdmv my mechanic informed me the frame is completely rusted through in several places compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle. This is absurd as i have older vehicles with the same mileage in the same apparent exterior condition. That are solid and inspectable. So now i must pay thousands of dollars for a repair or replacement or sell it as parts. Toyota needs to replace this frame like they have with their other vehicles.
Frame is getting many large rust holes
Takata recall..my 2000 4 runners frame is rusted out on the back end and my fiance had to put a plate on the right front about 3-4 yrs ago because it was rusted pretty good too..it now like dances in the back end if i hit a rough patch in the road which doesn't make me feel safe at all to put my children in it.
Removed mufflerto replace,foundholes in frame on the inboard side andbracket securingrearend in placerotted1/2 way around where it secures to the frame at the weldconnection , so the bracketis1/2 disconnectedfromframe no outwardsigns showing on the truck .....there are norust spots or rot showing on the body at all .... Small rust stainsshowing on the rear bumper only .... I have digital picturesofproblem and have filed a complaint with toyotatheir response was "it's out of warranty"
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 rotti 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
Frame is rotting from the inside out. Very little visible corrosion,and all of the sudden larhe sections of missing steel. This vehicle only has 157,600 miles, and should have lasted to 300,000, as it is mechanically solid. I think the tundra, tacoma, and sequoia recall, should have added the 4runner.but toyota would not have been able to blame the dana corporation.toyota was of no help, when they werenotified, as i expected.i guess they have to wait for fatalities to begin. This is the last part of the vehicle that should fail!.
Both frame rails are rusting away, most serious is on the passenger side of vehicle.these frame rails are the key structural support elements tying the upper body and drivetrain/suspension together.this is a known design flaw to toyota motors and they have recalled the same year models of tacoma pickups, however, they fail to address this problem with the 4runner.this is a serious safety issue and i cannot in good faith resell this vehicle or trade it in as-is.i believe toyota should make fair compensation to owners of these affected vehicles to either fix the problem or get these vehicles off the road to prevent potential bodily injury or fatality.
Frame is rust out
My 2000 4runner has extensive frame rust.it has failed pa state inspections two different years.the first failure was in 2011 and was welded to pass.the second failure was 2013 and was again welded to pass.i fear the frame will beyond welding very soon.the rear differential has also began leaking to due excessive rust.
The frame rusted and the sway bar mount broke away from the frame on the driver side of the car.
Frame is rusted out and toyota wont do nothing about it.
Frame is rusting to beyond repair and no longer safe to drive
Due to the dreaded ' toyota rot ' frame failure the spare tire mechanism had rusted off going down ushighway 25 in kentucky and put a poor man and his children in harms way. Toyota doesn't care about their customers they just want your money !!! i feel this problem could have been avoided toyota should have recalled these vehicles knowing the frame issues have existed since the mid 90s!!!!when i look up my vehicle it has zero recalls shame on you toyota there should be a remedy even if it's splitting the cost with your customer. Very unsatisfied
Took vehicle to shop for maintenance. Shop mechanic called me back and told there was extensive rust on the inside and bottom of the passenger side frame rail where the rear control arm attaches to the frame. The vehicle is in otherwise fantastic condition and has always been well maintained. He informed me that frame issues in the early 2000s plagues many toyota vehicles including the 4runner. He said the car was not safe to drive at all in its current state. I want toyota to issue a recall for this issue. It appears to affect most 3rd generation 4runners and is a severe safety issue since the only warning sign is catastrophic failure.
The check engine light came on and we noticed that the vehicle was leaking fluid onto the garage floor. Took it to the toyota dealership, where they informed us that the frame of the vehicle was extremely rusty with a possible hole in the frame and unsafe to drive. The leak was from the transmission fluid. The component that houses the fluid was also rusting. The check engine light had no codes at this time. We took it to an auto repair shop in our town and looked at it up on the lift. The frame on the passenger side is so rusted it is cracked and there is a hole in the frame clear as day (dealership stated possible). They also replaced the oxygen sensor, due to the check engine light being on.we now have an unsafe vehicle on our hands that we can not drive, sell or even trade in!
Frame rusting away. Unsafe to drive
Toyata service department reporting severe rusting of the frame on the 2000 toyota 4runner, rendering vehicle unsafe.
I have a 2000 4runner that the frame rusted out making it unsafe.trucks of this year were recalled for same thing. Seem a lot of people have this problem. Can we get some help? frame broke when forced to stop hard when car pulled out in front of me. Never dreamed the frame was this bad.
Frame has rotted through and caused the bar from axle to frame to break at the frame.this happened while i was driving causing the car to sway seriously. I was able to pull off the road preventing a possible accident.
Mechanic found frame rail rot no other rust or corrosion i took to several places in town suurprised not a recall was every response
Driving home from school the other day and i hear a loud thud and next thing i know my exhaust starts getting louder and my rear end starts to shake back and forth like my car was fishtailing but without spinning the tires. It got hard to stear and i almost lost control of the car. I figured i would stop by to see what a mechanic would say. He put my 4runner up on a lift and showed me the multiple rust holes that ate apart my frame. Also the part that connects the rear axle to the frame rusted out and disconnected from the frame leaving my axle to shake around and fall out if i keep driving it. Being 17 years old i spent all my money on this toyota because i figured they are supposed to be the best cars and i would be able to get back and forth from place to place. Only having 129,000 miles this 4runner should not be falling apart and undrivable. I don't have the insane amount of money to replace the frame so now i'm without a car. Thanks toyota. I think i'm going to give my business to honda next time.
Rust in all parts of the framefront/rear
2000 toyota 4runner was havingsway bar link replaced and mechanic noticed extensive rust in rear section of frameon both sides,particularly around suspension,inside of rear frame rails,massive sections of frame rail affected,and holes/cracks in frame. After contacting toyota about this problem,my local dealership,love lexus of st albans,west virginia,they scheduled me an apptmnt to examine the vehicle.when i arrived,they did not even bother to rack the vehicle,i was told they would be happy to fix it for $7000.00,and giggled at by the service manager. I will never deal with a dealership again.he told me if it was a tacoma they would repair it or buy it back,but since it was a 4runner, iwas out of luck.with a decent amount of money tied up in this vehicle,and no options to replace it, i now have taken it from my son and i am driving this death trap myself,andcannot believe that the most trusted brand i ever knew,one i have been shamelessly promoting and driving for over 20 years is turning their back on loyal customers.i have a friend whose 1999 tacoma,older than my 4runner,was boughtback by them the year before last(they gave him $14,000 for his truck,which wasrusted in half). If you(nhtsa) are going to do nothing, i hope that a class action lawsuit is filed soon so i can join. There is noreason for such brazen disregard for safety.i have seen so many cases of this problem it is outrageous.after the reciept of my taxes i will park the vehicle,and replace it for safety concerns.but i will not get rid of it,not yet i want toyota to know how i feel,and if that means i park it in the middle of their showroom in the middle of the night and walk away,so be it.but i will wait a while,and hope they do the right thing.i own a 1993 4runner,and its frame is perfect.why are they allowed to get away with this?i have lost over $5000 and now own a heap of junk.
Frame rusting through in front of vehicle....toyota recalled their tacoma truck, which uses the same frame and running gear, but no recall on the 3rd generation 4runners which have the same problem with frame rust as the tacoma pickup truck.i was driving the truck and something "snapped" under the front passenger side of the 4 runner.auto repair business said the frame is rusted through.
I was driving down the street on my way home, i had to make a right hand turn so i did, when i gave it some gas as i completed my turn i noticed that if felt like my 4 runner was pulling to the right. Every time i gave itsome gas you could feel and even see it jerk to the right. The more i drove the i noticed that it wasn't stopping, if anything it had gotten even worse. So, when i woke up today i went to get it looked at and what we found was crazy. The frame literately rusted in half. It was in two peaces. My mechanic didn't know why or how i even made it there. It was very scary to see, knowing i was driving in it.
There was no incident, the frame is rusted through on both sides. I brought my 4runner in for a routine oil change, not to the rudy luther toyota dealership in golden valley, mn, where i normally bring for regular service, but to minnetonka auto. They noticed the frame was rusted through on both sides, very visibly... I could stick my hand in the rusted holes. The mechanic said this is very dangerous and should be replaced immediately and recommended i contact toyota directly. There is no rust on the body of my truck, just the frame. The dealership sent me to toyota corporate. Toyota corporate said they had no programs for the 4runner, and couldnt offer me any other options or solutions, other than contact your dealership. I called rudy luther toyota dealership in golden valley, mn again, they said they have other cases, but corporate wasnt doing anything about it. I guess they are waiting for a few people to die first, before spending any $$ to fix their defective frames.
I brought the vehicle in for routine work and was told that the frame is rusted and is unsafe.i looked into this and found that toyota has had many recalls on this issue.the 4-runner that i own does not have the recall.i have seen many complaints on this so i wanted to file one as well.it is very clear that the issue is prevalent in these vehicles.many 4-runner owners are experiencing the issue.
It has been a very big problem for all toyota truck an suv frames they are junk an all rust out in the same exact place if not seen in time this could lead to a very fatal error an many lawsuits if they can call back all tacomas that had the same problem why not the 4 runners most that are still on the road have many patches on the frame to keep it drivable an sum what safe
Frame has completely rotted out
Frame on both my 2000 4runners is rotting out both bodies are in perfect shape cant wait to sue toyota when they fail .
The entire frame of my toyota has rusted and is becoming unsafe. There are giant holes in the frame where rust has eaten it away. The rest of the 4runner is perfectly brand new and fine. I am worried that the frame will break at any moment causing catastrophic failure. I called toyota and they would not replace frame or help in anyway. The frame needs to be recalled and replaced by toyota. It is a known issue on most of their trucks from the 2000s. They just haven't been forced to recall this model/year. Please help!
Multiple holes rusted through passenger side of frame on the inside next to the exhaust.hole rusted through on the driver side of frame on outside by tow hitch mount.
The rear frame broke and the shock tower broke off due to rust. I was driving down the highway and a loud bang when it let go tearing off the exhaust l.
Excessive frame rust beyond normal aging.
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!
4runner frame is rusting along with suspension components the body is in perfect shape i have 2 vehicles that fit this description
The rear frame on my vehicle has completely rusted through and has broken in half. This happened while driving on the interstate causing me to nearly loose controle of the vehicle. I have read where a great many of the 3rd generation 4runners have had faulty frames .
The frame on my 2000 model toyota 4runner is rusted so bad that it has broken. I contacted toyota asking about a recall. They informed me that there was no recall on this and they have had several complaints on the same subject affecting all 3rd generation toyota 4runners. The receptionist provided me with this website and told me to file a complaint. She also informed me that there would not be any thing done about this situation unless the government issued a recall. It's really upsetting to know that i've only got 138,000 miles on this vehicle and it's not drivable anymore. A replacment frame cost well over $4,000 not including the labor fees.
The vehicle has been determined to be 'catastrophic' by the dealer mechanic as the frame of the vehicle is nearly completely rotted. It has been stored mostly in a garage over the last 8 years!!! our teenage daughter could have been killed driving this car!
On a sunday afternoon during last summer, i was driving my 2000 toyota 4runner with my wife and 9-yr old daughter at the back seat. I had the car on cruise control at about 65/70 mph.before moving over to my destination off ramp, i tried to cancel the cruise control but to my horror it was not canceling. The harder i pressed the brake, the faster the car tried to move forward/accelerating.i had to take and somehow managed a immediate left on a t junction with traffic light control. I was almost going to hit the car in front running at a speed appropriate for a busy city street. We all started praying to god. I was on a bridge/overpass. There was no way to drive off the roadway. I almost passed out in horror, but barely managed to move over to the lanes in the opposite direction (luckily there was no median and the oncoming traffic light was red). When nothing was working, i somehow managed to turn the engine switch off. And stop the car with the help of the break within a few hundred feet just barely avoiding head on collision with the oncoming traffic. After stopping, i triedto start the car. As soon as i turned the key on the rpm jumped to 6000/7000. As ipush the brake hard to stop the car from moving, the car was jumping violently. We were scared, got out off the car and the road. I called the police. Before a policeofficer came, a kind driver stopped and helped mepush the car to the shoulder. The officer left without even taking a report.i took and left the car to the nearby toyota dealer. Next day, theytoldme the problem was due to the throttle valve getting stuck open. I had to pay to clean the valve. Updated 04/22/10the water pump was leaking and had to be replaced. Updated 10/05/10
I have a toyota 4runner 2000 the accelerator stuck many time when you stop under the light. Two years ago i took it to gemain toyota in sarasota they told me nothing wrong ,after what i saw and it just happen to three time this week the accelerator stuck i believe you need to check on cars started at lower year too.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-30 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 40 mph while the contact's foot was on the brake pedal. The vehicle continued to accelerate until the contact shifted into neutral and then park. The rpms also increased. The contact turned the engine off. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the failure was located at the throttle cable. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who took a complaint; the manufacturer also stated that an engineer would inspect the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 113,000.
The contact owns a 2000 toyota 4runner. While engaging the accelerator pedal at a low speed of approximately 5 mph in a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a vehicle. The vehicle also accelerated into an intersection and crashed into a second vehicle and shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated thatallof the brake components were replaced on her vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 101,482.
I was driving the truck to a body shop to fix the frame and body of the truck, as directed from toyota.which i was told from toyota in portsmouth nh, to take it to a body shop to get it fixed.when driving the vehicle they car began to accelerate out of control, i had to pass several vehicles, the car was shaking as i had the breaks on the whole time.it was upwards of 80 miles an hour with out any control.my sister was following me, i also have proof from the body shop, as i barely made it there, i had to put on the emergency break to stop the car.toyota customer service told me, probably driver error, not the case.when i left the truck with the body shop, they told me the frame and body of the truck were not repairable.i paid toyota for tire rotation, oil change, and filters, to hear that i have to scrap the car.i still feel unsafe driving due to the truck accelerating out of control, and got no support from toyota.
The vehicle was severely damage in the front left and middle of the truck. The truck airbags did not deploy causing injury.
Takata recall. I was driving approx. 55 miles per hour on highway 138. I hit black ice and drovestraight into a tree on the side of the road. The air bags did not deploy. I sustained injuries to my face and head, from smashing into the steering wheel.
While driving today the steering became unstable, erratic, and the car lurched out of my lane into oncoming traffic. A new noise appeared to be coming from rear left tire. When i safely pulled over and inspected vehicle i noted the frame was severely rusted and that the forward welded mount for the lower suspension arm had fractured along the factory weld and was dangling down. This car has never been wrecked. It has been inspected and passed pa state inspections yearly since 2002.
While driving on the nys thruway in the vicinity of harriman, ny, the steering began to wander, and the vehicle felt unsafe to drive.i was able to drive a short distance to an auto repair shop, which inspected the 4runner and found extreme rust damage to the undercarriage frame such that it should not be driven again, and could only be scrapped.they observed that the right rear wheel was close to breaking off, which would have resulted in a serious accident where we could possibly have been killed.we were shocked that such a dangerous rust condition could develop in a toyota 4runner that was only 12 years old, was built and intended for heavy duty use, and had been maintained in strict accordance with the owner's manual.this vehicle had never been driven off-road.we notified toyota by telephone and letter of this occurrence, and were informed that there had been no recall of this model, and that there was nothing that they would do.a search of the internet showed many reports of similar occurrences for this year and model.we strongly believe that a safety recall needs to be considered.
2000 toyota 4runner has major frame issues that could break at anytime and cause an accident! these frames rust out without the owners knowing. These are family vehicles that are driven for many years and toyota has had issues with other frames on different models but same year vehicles. Toyota has had numerous complaints on these frames and has never recalled these models. For the safety of my family and others please look into this matter!
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 rotti 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
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