1999 Toyota 4Runner Structure

MY FRAME IS RUSTED ALMOST TO PIECES. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 4RUNNER OF THE SAME YEAR MODELS. AND I HOPE TO GET A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S PUTTING ME AND OTHERS AT RISK OF WRECKING THE CAR AND POSSIBLE INJURIES.

I WAS DRIVING MY 4 RUNNER AND IT STARTED TO LIKE IT WAS 'FLOATING' AND 'SWAYING' FRONT TO BACK. I WASN'T FAR FROM HOME SO I PARKED HER. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL AND IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR DIPPED DOWN. WE WERE MAYBE 20 YDS FROM THE HOUSE SO I PARKED IT. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND HE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND ALMOST ROLLED THE TRUCK. I CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND HE CALLED A ROLL BACK TO PICK IT UP. THE OWNER DROVE IT AND HE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CRASHED. HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAW THE FRAME HAS RUSTED IN HALF.

OUR 4RUNNER WENT IN FOR SHOCKS AND WE WERE TOLD WE HAVE A RUSTED FRAME. WE ONLY HAVE 89,000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE. THIS VEHICLE STILL HAS LOTS OF LIFE LEFT IN IT AND DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE FRAME. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 4RUNNERS.

MY 1999 4-RUNNER WITH ONLY 89,000 MILES HAS A RUSTED FRAME. IT NEEDS REPAIR OR IT WILL NOT BE DRIVEABLE. I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. WENT IN FOR SHOCKS, AND WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER (TARBOX TOYOTA LOCATED AT 3671 QUAKER LANE, NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02852). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *DT*JB

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1999 4RUNNER FOR A NEW ALTERNATOR AND POWER STEERING BELTS. THE MECHANIC NOTED SEVERE FRAME RUST, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE. THERE ARE ACTUALLY HOLES IN THE FRAME. THE FRAME IS WORST NEAR WHERE THE CROSS MEMBERS CONNECT. THERE IS NO BODY RUST. I WILL NOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW MY SON OR ANYBODY ELSE TO DRIVE IT, AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DESPITE THE NARRATIVE TO THE CONTRARY, THE MECHANIC DID NOT ACTUALLY POINT THE RUST OUT TO ME. I NOTICED IT ON THE BILL WHEN SUBMITTING TO INSURANCE FOR TOWING. I THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE MYSELF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS CRACKED AND ROTTED. THE STABILITY OF THE FRAME WAS TARNISHING AND WEAKENED THE SUPPORT FOR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A WELDING SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 281,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH SEVERE RUST DAMAGE TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THERE ARE OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. MINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME SHOULD RUST. I WOULD EXPECT OVER TIME TO SOME SMALL PATCHES OF RUST BUT NOT THE ENTIRE FRAME. THERE IS SO MUCH RUST THAT I COULD NEVER FIX IT COMPLETELY MYSELF. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR POOR PLATING PROCESS IN THE LATE 90'S TO EARLY 00'S.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND LOST CONTROL TEMPORARILY BECAUSE A REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNT BECAME DETACHED FROM FRAME AND BROKE BOTH SHOCKS. UPON INSPECTION REAR SECTION OF FRAME SEVERELY RUSTED CAUSING MOUNT TO DETACH. FRONT SECTION OF FRAME DOES NOT HAVE SAME LEVEL OF RUST. A MANUFACTURES DEFECT ALMOST COST ME AND MY CHILDREN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS. I'VE BEEN IN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. IF THEY RECALLED THE FRAMES FOR THE TACOMA AND TUNDRAS, WHY WEREN'T 4RUNNERS INCLUDED?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL FRAME WAS INFERIOR AND CONTAINED PREMATURE RUST, HOLES, AND CORROSION. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FRAME COULD FRACTURE AT ANY POINT IN TIME. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK FRACTURED INTO THE FRAME DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME HAD EXTENSIVE PREMATURE RUST, COULD FRACTURE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

RUSTY FRAME MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME RUSTED OUT AND FRACTURED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, OPENED A CASE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH WITH LARGE HOLES MECHANIC SAID THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S SO BAD!

VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 150,000 MILES AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE TRUCK RUNS GREAT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FRAME I CAN NO LONGER DIVE THIS ON THE ROADS.

FRAME RUSTED

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A NEIGHBOR WHO BOUGHT IT NEW. HE TOOK IMPECCABLE CARE OF HIS VEHICLES SO I WAS VERY CONFIDENT IN THE PURCHASE. LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT FROM HIM, ONE OF THE REAR STABILIZERS TORE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME RAIL. AFTER GOING UNDERNEATH TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE, THERE WAS A LOT OF HOLES AND MAJOR CORROSION THAT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THAT WITH THIS SOLID BOX STYLE FRAME, WHY IS THERE NO MEANS FOR ANY WATER OR CONDENSATION THAT BUILDS UP INSIDE THE FRAME TO GET OUT. I WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED UNTIL I INSPECTED IT FURTHER AND WHACKED A FEW PLACES WITH A HAMMER AND SENT IT RIGHT THROUGH THE FRAME! IT WAS A SHAME BECAUSE IT RAN EXCELLENT AND I'M CONFIDENT IT WOULD HAVE WENT ANOTHER 100,000 MILES. INSTEAD I WAS FORCED TO SELL IT FOR A PARTS VEHICLE AND LOST OVER $3000 ON THE DEAL. IF THIS CAN HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF LIKE A COLLECTOR CAR, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW FAST THEY CAN FALL APART IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY NEGLECTED. IT'S TOO BAD THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THEY ARE A FANTASTIC VEHICLE OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE.

FRAME RUSTING OUT INSIDE RAILS NEAR REAR SPRING PERCH 12 INCHES LONG

UNDER BODY HAS RUSTED AND REPAIR COST IS $10000

THE FRAMES ON THESE TOYOTA 4RUNNERS (1996-2002) ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND ROT FROM THE INSIDE OUT EVEN IN STATES WITH LITTLE SALT, THEY USE THIN CHEAP STEEL, THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSINGS ALSO LEAK DUE TO PROOUS THIN CHEAPLY MADE 'STEEL'. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON THIS ONE. MY VEHICLES FRAME IS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT ASWELL AS THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. THEY DID A FRAME RECALL ON THE TACOMAS, SEQUOIAS, ETC, THIS IS NO DIFFERENT!

AUTO REPAIR SHOP TELLS ME I HAVE SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST/ROT. IT'S ACTUALLY BEGUN TO FAIL IN PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THIS WAS DISCOVERED DURING UNRELATED SERVICE. FEELS ACTION REQUIRED TO MAKE SAFE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROISION NEAR THE CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,000.

FRAME IS RUSTING DESPITE ONLY 72,680 MILES.

FRAME SEVERELY RUSTED DEEMED UNSAFE.

FRAME RUSTING THOUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE ON SECTION NEXT TO MUFFLER AND CONTROL ARM. MECHANIC INSPECTED AND INSTRUCTED FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. MILEAGE OF VEHICLE WAS 133,000.

FRAME HAS RUSTED WHERE ENGINE SUPPORT IS COMPROMISED,