1998 Toyota 4Runner Suspension

The rear end suspension is sagging on my vehicle. When I look up the VIN number on the nhtsa website it says that there is not a recall, but when I look up my vehicle by year it says that all vehicles of this year should be recalled for rear suspension repair/check. I called usa toyota and they said that they could not send the ticket to my local toyota dealership to for repair because my vehicle was imported from japan to canada. I have tried calling canada toyota but they have not picked up their phone. Reaching out to determine if the nhtsa can help with getting my vehicle suspension checked/repaired. Below is the message/link I receieved from NHTSA when I looked up my car's production year. ----- [XXX] January 18, 2002 NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V021000 TOYOTA/REAR SUSPENSION THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V021000 Manufacturer TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Components SUSPENSION Potential Number of Units Affected 273,743 Summary ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER 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 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. Remedy DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331. Notes TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 20A. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER STARTING TO SWAY SIDE TO SIDE. THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT FRAME IS RUSTED THRU THE BOX TUBE. CALLED TOYOTA TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND DID NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE IS SERIOUS. NO RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN.

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST CAUSED REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM MOUNT TO RUST RIGHT OFF THE FRAME WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT. AT THE TIME HER SPEED WAS SLOW AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO GROCERY STORE PLAZA.

THE TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IS UNSTABLE AND HAS THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE MAKING NOISE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU IN SEVERAL AREAS.

THE RIGHT REAR STABILIZER BAR CONNECTED TO THE FRAME FAILED. THE FRAME CONNECTION RUSTED THRU AND SEPARATED. LOTS OF FRAME RUST. I HEARD A LOUD CLINKING NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED CONSIDERABLE SIDE SWAY WHILE DRIVING.

PASSENGER FRAME RUSTED OUT BAD WHERE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES

THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE FROM FRAME DUE TO RUSTED FRAME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND I WENT OVER AN OVERPASS WITH A BUMP AT THE BEGINNING OF IT, I HEARD A CLUNK THEN MY CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH VERY BADLY,I MANAGED TO PULL OVER ON THE EMERGENCY PULL OFF, I THOUGHT A WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE,I FOUND NO LOOSE WHEEL SO I STARTED LOOKING UNDERNEATH AND WOW!!!!!..THE TORSION BARS HAD BOTH RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND BOTH SWAY BARS WERE BROKE OFF,THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE BACK AXAL ON WAS THE BACK OF THE TORSION BARS,,,NEEDLES TO SAY MY FAVORITE CAR IS OUT FOR THE COUNT.

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO MOVE VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. I ALMOST WENT UNDER A COMMERCIAL TRUCK AS I COULD NOT CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF MY TRUCK.. I MANAGED TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AND CHECKED UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK FOR DAMAGE , BUT COULD SEE NOTHING. I DROVE SLOWLY TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND MY CAR STILL KEPT MOVING TO THE RIGHT AT 20MPH. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE REAR TRAILING ARM HAD BROKE DUE TO RUST, AND I WAS VERY LUCK TO BE ALIVE. (IT HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY MORNING WITH LITTLE COMMUTER TRAFFIC OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED) HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 4 RUNNERS 1998 AND LATER YEARS.I CALLED TOYOTA BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT OBLIGED TO ISSUE A RECALL FROM NHTSA?? OR WHATEVER IT IS CALLED. MY MECHANIC DID A WELDING JOB TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WHICH COST ME $750.00 TO FIX. I HAD NO RECOURSE DUE TO TOYOTAS RELUCTANCE TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE FORCE TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR A FATALITY BEFORE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS I INCURRED BUT TOYOTA DO NOT WANT TO KNOW!! I BEG YOU TO INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY. MY CAR IS IN PERFECT MECHANICAL ORDER EXCEPT FOR RUST AND ROTTING UNDERNEATH, BECAUSE TOYOTA DID NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHEN MANUFACTURING THIS MODEL. I AM STILL SCARED DRIVING THIS CAR BUT AM FORCED TO DO SO AND PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS GOING FORWARD. (PROBLEM : REAR CONTROL ARM BOTH SIDES BROKE DUE TO RUST IN CHASSIS) *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HIT A BUMP DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL I WENT ON THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR END STARTED JUMPING AS THE CAR INCREASED SPEED. I STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL SO I SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY PULLED OVER. I EXITED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO INSPECT THE CAR'S UNDER BODY, I DIDM;T SEE ANYTHING SO I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME DOING UNDER 20MILES PER HOUR AS TO NOT MAKE THE REAR END JUMP. WHEN I ARRIVED AT HOME I LIFTED THE CAR UP AND FURTHER INSPECTED THE UNDER SIDE,I THEN NOTICE THAT THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS COMPLETELY DISLOCATED FROM THE FRAME UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THE FACTORY WIELD DISENGAGED FROM THE FRAME. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET RUSTED AND BROKE FREE FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED DURING AM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE NEAREST EXIT RAMP APROX. 1/4 MILE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A FRAME REPAIR SHOP. THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BAD THEY COULD NOT EVEN GIVE ME A ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO CHECK ON RECALLS AND REGISTER A COMPLAINT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN MY GARAGE SOON TO BE JUNKED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED EIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE ALSO DESTROYED THE INNER AND OUTER BOOT OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED GREASE TO LEAK ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 159,158. UPDATED 7/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO LODGE IN THE FENDER, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGED TO THE RUNNING BOARD AS WELL. UPDATED 07/23/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED DRIVING VERY ERRATICALLY. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 186,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE ROD WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,641.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CV JOINT BOOT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CV JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 223000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED OIL DRIPPING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 80000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 15 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SHEARED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,870. *AK

REAR BEARINGS HAVE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA #02V021, WHICH SITED THE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON ALL 1996-1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. THE PROBLEM WAS FOR 2WD BUT WAS ISSUED FOR 4WD VEHICLES ALSO TO AVOID CONFUSION. (MINE IS A 4WD) MY QUESTION IS, IF THE SPRINGS WERE UNDER-SIZED, WILL THIS CAUSE DAMAGE OR UNDUE STRAIN TO THE REAR BEARINGS? ALSO, TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL STATEMENT FROM THE NHTSA THAT STATES THAT "TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS." *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED RECALL 02V021000 ON JAN. 2 2007 FOR THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE WENT TO BERKELEY TOYOTA IN BERKELEY CALIFORNIA AND HAS YET TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION FIXED.THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS TAKING TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68550 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD A FAILURE TO DATE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY HE MADE A TURN AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SEPARATED, BROKE, AND THE TIRES CAME OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 16,000. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #02V021000. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER SINCE 2003. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS AND WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN THEY ARRIVED. *AK

TL *- THE VEHICLE IS 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 02V021000 IN DECEMBER. THE CONTACT STATED HAD APPROXIMATELY 4 APPOINTMENTS, AND EACH TIME THE PART DID NOT COME IN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY WILL CALL HIM WHEN THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A NOISE WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. *AK

RE: CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V021000 COMPONENT: SUSPENSION I WAS TOLD BY JAY AT TOYOTA (800 3314331 EXT 5)THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. PLEASE RESEARCH & REPORT. I WAS GIVEN THIS CAMPAIGN NUMBER BY EFI AUTO SERVICE. MECHANIC STATED THAT HIS WIFE TOOK HER 1998 4 RUNNER SR5 INTO THE DEALER & REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHAT DETERMINES WHICH AUTO WILL BE SERVICED BY THIS RECALL. *NM

1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BECOME DISENGAGED, BREAKING THE TIE RODS AND THE FRONT HALF AXLE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR *JB THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM

MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF A HIGHWAY THAT HAD RUMBLE STRIPS. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE STRIPS AND THE CAR TIPPED AND THEN FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. IT WAS THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY SO THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. I READ AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY RECENTLY THAT WITHOUT THE ANTI-STABILITY SYSTEM THE TOYOTA 4-RUNNER COULD ACUTALLY FLIP AT SPEEDS OF 35 PMH. *AK