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
There is a rust issue on the frame.
- Paonia, CO, USA
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.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Takata recall. I was driving approx. 55 miles per hour on highway 138. I hit black ice and drove straight 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.
- Eureka, CA, USA
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!!!!
- Albrightsville, PA, USA
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.
- Fairview Heights, IL, USA
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.
- Hohokus, NJ, USA
Driving home from work my tortion bar snapped off my chassis, come to realize a huge section of my chassis rotted away.
- Manchester, NJ, USA
Rust has consumed my frame, suspension and lower body panels.
- Waterford, NY, USA
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
- Holbrook, NY, USA
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.
- Golden Valley, MN, USA
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.
- Cambridge, MA, USA
Extensive frame rust-through and failure. Left and right rear halves of frame cracked. Rear control arm brackets cracked at welds.
- Blauvelt, NY, USA
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.
- Roselle, NJ, USA
I was driving my 4runner and notice the back brakes were 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, possibly even 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 Tacoma. 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.
- Westerville , OH, USA
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.
- Wauconda, IL, USA
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.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
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
- Cornwall On Hudson, NY, USA
The vehicle was severely damage in the front left and middle of the truck. The truck airbags did not deploy causing injury.
- Morgan City , LA, USA
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.
- Southington, CT, USA
- Paonia, CO, USA