10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 118,663 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
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.
- Redford, MI, USA
The frame has rusted through in several spots.
- Mt Pleasant, SC, USA
Significant rust on the frame affecting the structural integrity of the vehicle
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
Fail safety inspection doe to a very bad rost frame complete unsafe to useless
- Woodbridge, VA, USA
"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.
- Butler, NJ, USA
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.
- Chicago, IL, USA
Frame rusted out date is when I was informed of the issue
- Appleton, WI, USA
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.
- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
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.
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA
The frame on the car is rusted beyond what is normal.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
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 Tacoma 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!
- Greenville, IN, USA
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.
- Roseville, MI, USA
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.
- York, PA, USA
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.
- Herndon, VA, USA
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..
- Pickerington, OH, USA
Frame rails rusting thru. I hope I don't die in this thing or kiil another else.
- Va Beach, VA, USA
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!!!!!!
- North Brunswick, NJ, USA
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 Toyota 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.
- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA
The frame in this particular model gen 3 4 runner has severe rust due to a 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.
- Edgewood, MD, USA
- Passaic, NJ, USA