1997 Toyota 4Runner Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL #02V021000. FOR TWO MONTHS THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO HONOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED, AND WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 119,000. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 02V021000 FOR THE SUSPENSION ON THE 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR 1/26/07. THE CUSTOMER STATED WHEN HE ARRIVED HE WAS TOLD THE PART HAD NOT ARRIVED. THE CUSTOMER WAS UPSET THAT HE WAS NOT CALLED AND TOLD THE PART HAD NOT ARRIVED BEFORE HE GOT THERE. *AK

I HAVE BEEN SENT MANY NOTICES FROM TOYOTA INDICATING A RECALL ON MY 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE RECALL SINCE IT INVOLVED REMOVING AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT IN THE AREA OF THE DEFECT. I WROTE TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEY REPLIED BY PHONE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE EQUIPMENT FIRST. I CONTINUE TO GET THESE RECALL NOTICES AND AM FINALLY COMPLAINING TO THE NHTSA TO ASSIST IN CONVINCING TOYOTA THAT IT IS THEIR LIABILITY, NOT MINE. THE AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT IN QUESTION IS JUST TWO SMALL AIRBAGS INSERTED IN THE REAR SPRINGS TO ASSIST IN LEVELING THE TRUCK WHEN CARRYING HEAVY LOADS. THE AIRBAGS WILL MOST PROBABLY NOT HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO AFFECT THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALERS WON'T TOUCH THE TRUCK, SINCE IT ADDS TIME AND THEY WILL LOSE MONEY ON THE FLAT RATE PAID BY TOYOTA. IF THE TRUCK SUSPENSION FAILS, AS IT MIGHT AT THIS LATE STAGE, THE LIABILITY WILL BE SOLELY ON TOYOTA AS I HAVE COMPLIED WITH THEIR REQUESTS TO THE LETTER, WHICH STATES SIMPLY TO BRING THE TRUCK IN FOR THE RETROFIT/INSTALLATION OF NEW PARTS, AND NO WHERE IN THE RECALL LETTER IS THERE ANY LANGUAGE STATING THAT A CUSTOMER WILL BE REFUSED IF ADDITIONAL HOURS OF LABOR WILL BE INVOLVED. IF TOYOTA IS WORRIED ABOUT LIABILITY ISSUES THAT MIGHT ARISE FROM THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS, I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD PALE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY IF THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING THIS TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE WRITTEN THEM LETTERS, SPOKEN TO THEM ON THE PHONE AND THEY CONTINUE TO SEND ME LETTERS RE: THE RECALL AND NOTING THAT THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE. AGAIN, TOYOTA SHOULD AFFECT THIS REPAIR NO MATTER WHAT ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. IF ANYTHING, THE ADDITION OF THE AIRBAGS HAVE MADE THIS TRUCK MORE STABLE AND SAFER THAN IT WAS WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CONTACT ME WITH THE NAME OF A DEALER WHO WILL INSTITUTE THE RECALL REPAIRS WITH THE TRUCK IN THE CURRENT CONDITION. *JB

ON DECEMBER 27, I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION ON MY 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAD BEEN RECALLED. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ROSEVILLE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR THE "ONE HOUR SERVICE" TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER TAKING FRIDAY, JANURAY 5 OFF WORK, I MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE REPAIRS. I CHECKED IN AND WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS WOULD TAKE CLOSER TO 4 HOURS TO COMPLETE. UPON REGISTERING MY CAR FOR SERVICE, THE DEALERSHIP REALIZED THEY DID NOT HAVE PROPER PARTS IN STOCK (SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED UPON MAKING THE APPOINTMENT). THEY WERE VERY SURPRISED THAT THE SERVICE HAD NEVER BEEN PERFORMED ON MY CAR, SINCE THE RECALL IS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR THREE YEARS, AND I AM VERY SHOCKED THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED SOONER. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION, AND NOW I KNOW WHY. THE ROSEVILLE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO ORDERED THE PARTS, BUT I INFORMED THEM THAT I LIVE 3 HOURS AWAY AND HAD NO WAY OF BRINGING MY CAR IN. THE SERVICE MAN LOCATED THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA (APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES AWAY) AND CALLED TO FIND OUT SERVICE HOURS. THE HOURS ARE MON-FRI, 8-5. I AM NOW UNABLE TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE UNLESS I TAKE ANOTHER DAY OFF WORK AND ARRANGE FOR TRANSPORTATION. I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF ROUGH TERRAIN AND SNOW PLAYS A BIG FACTOR IN THE ROAD CONDITIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THESE ISSUES ARE TO BE RESOLVED. I AM OPERATING A FAULTY PRODUCT, NO FAULT OF WHICH IS MINE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 02V021000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL AUGUST 6, 2007. HE FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 97 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 4WD THAT APPEARED TO HAVE A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER- INCIDENT: 061011-000352. OUR VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 133,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY OFF ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON BACK STREETS AT LESS THAN 30 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DISLODGED AND TUCKED UP UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. ONLY THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS ATTACHED. THESE JOINTS ARE A NON SERVICEABLE PART AND THERE ARE NO WARNINGS OF POSSIBLE FAILURE OR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES. I CAN'T IMAGINE UNDER ANY NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THIS COULD BE OR SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THIS DESIGN IS EITHER FAULTY BY DESIGN OR AN IMPROPER INSTALLATION FROM THE FACTORY. AFTER EVENTUALLY RECEIVING THE DAMAGED PARTS, I EXAMINED THE LOWER BALL JOINT CLOSELY AND IT WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT THE LUBRICATION IN THE JOINT BECAME HARD AND CLUMPY. I COULD HARDLY MOVE THE JOINT IN ANY RANGE OF MOTION. I WOULD FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS COULD CAUSE UNDUE STRESS ON THE UPPER BALL JOINT, CONSEQUENTLY CAUSING UPPER JOINT SEPARATION. UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATING I HAVE FOUND RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON LOWER BALL JOINTS ON CERTAIN YEARS AND MODELS. HOWEVER THIS BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY SPANS FROM 4RUNNERS, TUNDRAS, TACOMAS, AND SEQUOIAS, FROM '95 TO '04. AT CONCORD TOYOTA (WERE MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED (CA)), I BECAME SUSPICIOUS WITH A FEW INCIDENCES I EXPERIENCED OF A COVERUP OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT PROBLEMS WHICH I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DETAIL IF REQUESTED. I AM AWARE OF TOYOTA??S Q.C. PROBLEMS LIKELY BECAUSE OF THEIR QUEST TO TAKE THE TOP SPOT IN MANUFACTURING AND THEIR SHARED PARTS IN DIFFERENT MODELS. TOYOTAS RESPONSE TO OUR SPECIFIC PROBLEM WAS THAT OUR WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. MINE IS THAT THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WARRANTY. IT IS ABOUT SAFETY AND IS A POTENTIALLY HUGE LIABILITY FOR THEM. I SHARE AN OTHER CONCERN ABOUT THE OLD DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT NOW. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE LOOP AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. AT THE TOP OF THE LOOP, AS I STRAIGHTENED THE WHEEL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. THE ROCKING TURNED INTO FISHTAILING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FORCEFULLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HIT A GUARDRAIL, ENDING UP FACING ONCOMING FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I WAS 4 MONTHS PREGNANT AND TRAVELLING WITH MY 10 MONTH OLD SON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO SAFETY IN THE MEDIAN. THIS ACCIDENT WAS A TOTAL MYSTERY TO ME SINCE I WAS NOT TRAVELLING AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED. THE GROUND WAS SLIGHTLY WET FROM A BRIEF SPRINKLE.

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP POSITION AT 10 MPH RIGHT, THE SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLER DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE BALL JOINT SNAPPED, CAUSING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAULTY PART AND REPAIRS. *SC *JB

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 02V021000 REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. WHEN VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FLOOR MANAGER WON'T HONOR THE RECALL ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL DRIVE AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING , SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING, AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2-WHEEL DRIVE TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. *AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA 13 TIMES BUT THEY FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSED EXCESS TIRE WEAR. *NM

REAR SPRING COIL ON THE 4 RUNNER COLLAPSED.*AK

MY 97 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING REAR AXEL SEALS AND BENT REAR AXELS. THIS CAUSES THE REAR BRAKES TO BE SOAKED WITH LUBRICANT AND USELESS OR PULL TO ONE SIDE. MY DEALER HAS REPLACED 2 AXELS ON THE LEFT REAR AND 1 AXEL ON THE RIGHT REAR. NUMEROUS SEALS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. BESIDES AN ANNOYANCE, BESIDES A $1,000 REPAIR BILL, THIS PROBLEM IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

NAR 3-11-03. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMERS 4RUNNER SLIPPED OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DAMAGES COST APPROX $2000. SOON AFTER A RECALL WAS RELEASED BY TOYOTA ABOUT A FAULTY SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR MADE AFTER THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FAULTY SUSPENSION THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. *CB *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE AXLE BROKE.DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE DEALER STATED TOO MANY PEOPLE DROPPED THEIR VEHICLE'S OFF ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY, EVEN THOUGH CONSUMER HAD A 9:30 AM APPOINTMENT. *TS *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE SUSPENSION, HOWEVER WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*JB

SAFETY ISSUE, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR 6 YEARS WITH DEFECTIVE REAR-END SUSPENSIONS PARTS. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS HAVE NOT EFFECTED THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE AND ULTIMATELY CAUSED EXTRA WEAR AND TEAR ON OTHER VEHICLE PARTS. ON TOP OF IT ALL I AM GETTING NO COOPERATION FROM MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OR TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE REQUESTED A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST BE PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT ANY AND ALL PROBLEMS BE FIXED, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FUTURE PROBLEMS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCOMPETENCE OF A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION SUCH AS TOYOTA.*JB

NAR 02/13/2003. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO A TURN, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN SWINGING IN AN ANTI-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION PUTTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER NOW OWNS ANOTHER TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND HAS SINCE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CURRENT VEHICLE. THE COSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHICH HAD DAMAGED POSSIBLY DUE TO THE SUSPENSION WHICH IS NOW ON RECALL. RECALL# 02V021000 *JB

REAR SUSPENSION WAS RETROFITTED PER RECALL NOTICE WITH A NEW REAR SUSPENSION PARTS, THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REPAIRS AND BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS SWAYING AND BOTTOMS OUT WHEN IT HAD NOT DONE SO BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING TO HAVE THE PARTS REMOVED AND THE ORIGINAL PARTS RE-INSTALLED, DEALER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO UNDERINFLATED TIRES AND WORN SHOCK ABSORBERS. NLM

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WANDERING ACROSS THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR POTENTIAL ROLLOVER PROBLEM CORRECTION. FACTORY RECOMMENDED SPRINGS AND STOPS INSTALLED. CAR NOW RIDES LESS STABLY THAN IT DID. TOP TIPS MORE AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMP SPRINGS AND SHOCKS BOTTOM OUT. FACTORY REP RECOMMENDED TIRE AND SHOCK REPLACEMENT TO CORRECT PROBLEM AFTER $850 IN REPAIRS VEHICLE RIDES THE SAME. TOYOTA AND DEALER SAY THIS IS A NHTSB DESIGNED MODIFICATION WHICH THEY CAN'T REVERSE. THEY HAVE REVIEWED INTERNALLY WITH THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. I CONTEND THEIR DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE (DIMINSHED RIDE QUALITY AND LESS TOP STABILITY). CAN YOU HELP?*AK

RECALL 02V021000/ REAR SUSPENSION. PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

WE RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL FOR OUR 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT A WEEK BEFORE 11/25/02 AS THE NOTICE REQUESTED. WE WERE INFORMED THAT GIVING PROPER NOTICE WOULD ENSURE THAT THE PROPER PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT TIME OF SERVICE. WE WORKED OUR WHOLE DAY AROUND THIS APPOINTMENT AND BROUGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE SO THAT WE COULD DROP THE 4RUNNER OFF. WE LIVE 30 MINUTES FROM THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ESCONDIDO. WHEN WE ARRIVED, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RESCHEDULE FOR ANOTHER DAY. WE WERE OBVIOUSLY VERY UPSET AND LEFT WITHOUT GETTING THE SAFETY WORK DONE.THIS IS AN INEXCUSABLE SITUATION. WE SPECIFICALLY FOLLOWED ALL INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NOTICE AND MADE THE APPOINTMENT A WEEK BEFORE ACTUALLY BRINGING IN THE 4RUNNER. THIS WAS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. IF THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE APPOINTMENT FOR THAT DAY. AND, AT LEAST, SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE CALLED US BEFORE WE CAME IN TO TELL US THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE.THIS WOULD BE INEXCUSABLE IF THIS WAS A ROUTINE TUNE-UP. WE WOULD SIMPLY GO ELSEWHERE. BUT, THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL, AND THIS IS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. THE PERSON WE SPOKE TO AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS FRIENDLY, BUT HE TRIED TO JUSTIFY AND RATIONALIZE THE SITUATION, STATING THAT THEY CAN NEVER BE SURE OF EVERYTHING THEY NEED UNTIL WE ACTUALLY BRING IN THE VEHICLE. THIS MADE NO SENSE. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN ASKED OVER THE PHONE WHEN THE APPT. WAS MADE. THERE WAS AN IMPLICATION THAT OUR PARTS HAD BEEN GIVEN TO A WALK-IN CUSTOMER WITH THE SAME SAFETY RECALL NEEDS.WE STILL DON'T HAVE OUR 4RUNNER FIXED, SINCE OUR SCHEDULES ARE VERY DIFFICULT, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD A DAY WHERE WE CAN MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT.THE RECALL NUMBER IS SSC 20A - 1996-1998 REAR SUSPENSION SAFETY RECALL.MY WIFE HAS BEEN CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS 4RUNNER TO GET TO WORK, AND THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE DUE TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF TOYOTA OF ESCONDIDO.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER RAN OVER A SMALL OBJECT ON ROAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MFR'S# SSC & NHTSA# 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: CONSUMER STATES DEALER (ANDY DODGE TOYOTA; SAINT ALBANS, VT; PHONE# 802/527-7512) WANTS TO CHARGE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR RECALL WITHOUT CHARGE. NLM IN ORDER FOR RECALL REPAIRS TO TAKE PLACE, THE DEALER HAS TO TAKE APART THE SWAY BARS. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLES SWAY BARS ARE RUSTED AND FROZEN AND THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO CUT THEM OFF. SINCE THE SWAY BARS AREN'T A PART OF THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER IS EXPECTED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. *JG