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.

- North Babylon, NY, USA

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 Tacoma (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?

- Honeoye Falls, NY, USA

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.

- Unionville , IN, USA

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.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

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?

- Ludlow, VT, USA

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 and is 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.

- Aurora, IN, USA

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 caused total 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.

- Batavia, OH, USA

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 that dealership 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.

- Lake Hopatcong, NJ, USA

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.

- Tipp City, OH, USA

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 to rusted frame. I never seen something like this before. This is unacceptable. I took the car to a 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

- Mundelein, IL, USA

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 !!.

- Barton, NY, USA

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.

- Walker, MI, USA

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.

- Oxford, MA, USA

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.

- Sussex, NJ, USA

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 other Toyota 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.

- Milford, CT, USA

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.

- Williamsport, PA, USA

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.

- Lexington, KY, USA

Frame is rusting through causing instability concerns.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

2000 Toyota 4runner frame rusted threw at 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.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

Frame rusted in 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.

- Danbury, CT, USA