Excessive rust on the frame and under structure of the vehicle for a 2003 4runner limited. Noticed during inspection 10/19/17 and prior years.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

My 2003 4runner SR5 looks great and its V8 engine hums like it is new but the frame rails are totally rotten and I have been advised not to drive it at all as it is too dangerous to drive. So its value should be about 5-,6000 and now it is totally junk and has only scrap value. Toyota usa recalled the sequoia, the Tundra and the Tacoma from the time period, approximately 2003-2007 maybe more year models, but did not recall the 4runner because there were too many sold and it would have cost too much money. The frame and frame rail rot on the 4runner from that time period is well documented and many complaints have been filed with the nhta yet Toyota has seen fit not to recall the 4runner!!. what a disgrace!! the most important fact is the 4runners, past and present, sit on the exact same frame as the Tacoma. The Tacoma was recalled for the frame rot but the 4runner were not. Could you please provide the reasoning for not recalling the 4runner for frame rot while the Tacoma with the exact same frame from the exact same factory was not/has not been recalled?

- Waldwick, NJ, USA

The rear differential housing and third meander are extremely rusted I contacted Toyota and was told that they know there is a issue with rust on some 4runners but they are not recalling them

- Georgetown, KY, USA

Frame rusting underneath the rear of vehicle. Happened within the last year because when the auto was inspected in 5/2016 the rust was not there.

- Fairless Hills, PA, USA

2003 4runner failed inspection due to rotting frame. Recall was available on the Tundra's Tacoma's and sequoia's. why not the 4runners?

- West Haverstraw, NY, USA

Frame and under parts are rusted

- Ridgway, PA, USA

The rear sway bar and axle have rotted out. The sway bar dropped to the ground while driving and caused the vehicle to lose control.

- Brookfield, MA, USA

On 10/03/16 I took my 4-runner to an auto repair shop for front end brake replacement. A couple of hours later, I contacted the repair shop an asked them to also replace all shock absorbers, which they agreed to do. Later, I went to the shop and the mechanic informed me that the undercarriage and frame were severly corroded and did not install the shock absorbers due to the severity of the corrosion. The mechanic wrote the following statement on my invoice. "frame of car is rotted in several places. Do minuium repairs to keep on road. Should not be used on highway!!!

- Leominster, MA, USA

Frame and suspension attached to the frame corroded early. The attachments for the rear shocks are almost corroded through.

- Marshall, NC, USA

This 2003 Toyota 4runner has 135,000 miles on the odometer and the frame and exhaust system including catalytic converter are completely rusted out and the vehicle is now unsafe to drive. Some frame components have completely rusted and broken off from the frame I.e. tow hooks, exhaust and engine mounts. The frame is only held on to the body by the shock absorbers. The vehicle can no longer be driven safely. The cost to repair this damage would be prohibitive and I believe that this issue needs to be addressed by Toyota. I purchased this vehicle in good faith and trusted that Toyota quality would last. Please advise any possible recourse. Thank you

- Plympton, MA, USA

My 2003 Toyota 4 runner has massive frame rot. I fixed what I could, but still fighting with the problem. I know Toyota recalled their pick up trucks because of frame issues, they should do the same for their 4 runners.

- Southington, CT, USA

Noticed the right front wheel making awful sound. I had my mechanic to take a look. It is the wheel bearings going out, but then proceeded to tell me that the rust is so bad underneath that all the hose lines will have to be replaced. Brake lines leaking, transmission line leaking. All will have to be replaced. The rust is eating away underneath the car like cancer. No stopping it. The sway bars are rusting into as well. Our mechanic will let us know how much it will cost to repair the lines...but is it worth spending the money on"?" this is our 7th Toyota that we have owned, always taken excellent care of vehicle, and I have never experience such a rusty mess. Love my 4runner but really don't know what to do with it!

- Bryson City, NC, USA

The frame on my 2003 4runner has rusted to the point of breaking. Toyota had a recall on the Tacoma of the same year for this issue and that vehicle has the same frame. As an owner of a 4runner I am upset because my vehicle costs more, but Toyota will not fix this.

- Clifton Park, NY, USA

While driving on the highway the passenger rear side of my Toyota 4runner began to move up and down and wobble making the car wander all over the road. We immediately went to the local Toyota dealer, carver Toyota of columbus in taylorsville, in. Inspecting the car on the passenger rear side we found that the rear suspension had pulled away from the frame where the frame had completely rusted leaving a big hunk out of the frame. There was extensive rusting of the frame in multiple places. The car was inspected and photographed by matt Warren, service manager at carver Toyota and was determined to be undriveable. This is a well maintained vehicle which is in tip-top condition in every other respect than the rusted frame. We are very upset to lose a good car which still had a lot of value still left in it to us. We also feel that this is a very important safety issue. We were incredibly lucky that neither we nor anybody else on the highway that day were injured by this dangerous situation. And we are very concerned that this has been reported in other 4runners as well and there hasn't been a recall and these dangerous vehicles are still on the road. We are holding on to the vehicle hoping that there will be some remedy for this situation. Thank you so much for your attention.

- Nashville, IN, USA

The frame is rotting out.

- Hawley, PA, USA

2003 Toyota 4 runner was brought into dealership on Saturday August 29, 2015 to inspect the frame rust. The rust was verified by the dealer, and was sent on my way, with no warning that it was unsafe. Monday August 31, 2015, the vehicle experienced a frame failure that could have been catastrophic. The driver side rear control arm mount broke free from the frame at approximately 30 mph. The rearend started to shake, wobble and vibrate and was immediately pulled off the road. Talked to dealer, no recalls on said vehicle. Talked to Toyota corporate, they said there is nothing they can do. Tacoma's and Tundra's have a recall, but not the 4runner. A complaint was filed here on July 5, 2015.

- East Haddam, CT, USA

2003 Toyota 4runner with excessive frame rot on rear of frame. Rear control arm mount is compromised with extreme rust perforation. Bump stop over axle is missing because of 2"-4" hole in outer frame rail. Car is deemed unsafe to drive.

- East Haddam, CT, USA

The dealer discovered severe rusting and a hole in the vehicle frame. The vehicle has been properly maintained and should not be rusting and creating a safety issue at these miles and vehicle age. Toyota was notified and said that there is nothing that can be done. Since these vehicles share the same frame manufacturer issues as the previous frame recalls for Tundra and Tacoma vehicles, Toyota should do a recall and replacement of the defective frames on the 4runners as well.

- Concord, MA, USA

The frame on my 2003 4runner has "perforations" in it's frame rails and the front cross-member is totally rotted away...this has been and issue with these SUVS for years..the Toyota Tacoma shares the same frame/platform as the 4runner and has had similar issues, with 1 difference Toyota has repaired many of them free of charge, but has not extended these repairs to the 4runner...a $30,000 dollar 12 year old SUV shouldn't have a rotted frame. I brought the truck to a Toyota dealership and they said "front crossmember is rotted off. Only be held by frotn skid plate. Found a hole in frame rail drivers side by fuel tank." I was then told I would be informed when a Toyota usa engineer would be able to look at it to see if they would do anything about it. I was called about a week later and told the engineer refused to look at it and would not be helping me with this matter..I then called Toyota usa and explained what was going on (I have a case # they gave me), they told me to expect a call from the dealership (where the SUV was purchased & where the frame was inspected) in 2 days..that call never came....

- Intervale , NH, USA

My private mechanic informed me that my vehicle's frame was rusting and was a safety concern. He notified Toyota customer care who stated that Toyota was not responsible. Toyota has taken responsibility in the past for other vehicles with the same problem. My case # with Toyota is [xxx]. please investigate and advise. Thank you! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Katonah, NY, USA