1999 Toyota 4Runner SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

THE MOUNT FOR THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS RUSTED OFF. THIS IS CAUSING THE CAR TO VIOLENTLY ROCK BACK AND FOURTH AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE AND CONTINUE FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER. IT IS VERY UNNERVING AND OBVIOUSLY A MATER SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES SUCH AS T4R.ORG. PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT SEPARATED FROM FRAME AT WELD, VEHICLE WAS RUSTPROOFED WHEN NEW.

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEEP AND WELL MAINTAINED SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55MPH ON 10/18/16, WITHOUT WARNING - THE 4RUNNER BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE... I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE 4RUNNER AND COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE REASON I LOST CONTROL OF THE 4RUNNER IS BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS RUSTING ISSUE IN THE FRAME (THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE NHTSA, AND ALSO MANY OTHER WEBSITES). THE REASON THIS RUSTING ISSUE IS SO DANGEROUS IS WHERE THE RUSTING HAS OCCURRED. THE FRAME IS RUSTING RIGHT AT THE SECTION THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE LINK/BAR THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IN PLACE. THE RUST ON MY 4RUNNER FRAME CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS). I CHECK THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND IT ALSO SHOWS THE SAME SEVERE RUSTING AT THE FRAME WHERE THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS ATTACHED. THERE ARE STILL MANY 3RD GENERATION 4RUNNERS ON THE ROAD, AND I FEEL THIS RUSTING SITUATION IS PUTTING MANY LIVES IN DANGER. THERE IS NO WARNING, YOU JUST LOSE CONTROL. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY 4RUNNER IS 17 YEARS OLD... BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. A FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST THIS BADLY, ESPECIALLY IN A CRITICAL SECTION. PLEASE HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR A VEHICLE DEFECT THAT IS PUTTING LIVE IN DANGER. THANK YOU. *TR

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

FRAME RUSTED ON INSIDE SURFACE AND AT BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. DRIVERS SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND ALLOWED AXLE TO MOVE AND TIRE TO CONTACT INNER FENDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE ENTIRE CENTER SECTION OF BOTH INNER FRAME RAILS HAD NEW PLATE STEEL WELDED IN PLACE TO REPAIR THE ORIGINAL RUSTED STEEL. REINFORCEMENTS WERE WELDED ON THE INNER AND OUTER FRAME FOR BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT THESE REPAIRS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY ON A 14 YEAR OLD (AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT) VEHICLE. *TR

THE FRAME HAS SERIOUS INTERNAL RUST ROT. THE EXTERIOR OF THE FRAME APPEARS RELATIVELY RUST FREE, BUT THE INTERIOR IS FILLED WITH RUST AND CRUMBLES WHEN PUSHED WITH A FINGER. *TR

FRAME RUST IS MORE SEVERE THAN IT SHOULD BE FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE. *TR

THE VEHICLES FRAME, IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET IS WELDED TO THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT. THIS POINT ON THE FRAME SECURES THE LOWER LINK OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. IF THIS BRACKET SEPARATES, AN ACCIDENT WOULD LIKELY OCCUR. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS RUST FREE AND THE FRAME IS NOT EXPECTED TO ROT WITHIN THE VEHICLES LIFESPAN. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST WI REPAIRS. *TR

WENT TO DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND NOTICED MY FRAME IS RUSTED TROUGH ON PASSENGER REAR CLOSE TO AXLE. THERE IS A HOLE ABOUT 10-12 INCHES LONG. VERY VERY UNSAFE AND PROBABLY WON'T PASS INSPECTION. MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. WHY WON'T TOYOTA FIX THIS ISSUE. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IT'S COMMON ON THIS YEAR OF 4RUNNER. *TR

I OWN A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, THE INSIDE FRAME RAIL IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH NEAR THE REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET . UPON INVESTIGATION I'VE CAME ACROSS MULTIPLE IMAGES, WEBSITES, AND FORUMS THAT SHOW THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! HOW IS IT THAT A MANUFACTURER CAN HAVE THIS MUCH OF A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND NOTHING BE DONE ABOUT IT! THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM ON THEIR TRUCKS AROUND THE SAME YEAR AND REPLACED THE FRAMES OR BOUGHT BACK THE VEHICLES, I UNDERSTAND THE FRAMES WHERE MADE IN DIFFERENT PLACES BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY STILL A PROBLEM! TOYOTA CANNOT EXPECT PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT THESE FRAMES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE WHEN THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS PREVAILING IN A MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES! HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER LIKE TOYOTA FIX SUCH SMALL ISSUES SUCH AS BLINKERS, INTERIOR LIGHTING, REFLECTORS ETC AND TOTALLY IGNORE SUCH A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS! I GUESS IT'S GOING TO TAKE A 4RUNNER WITH A FAMILY OF 4 TO CRASH INJURING OR KILLING ALL OF THEM TO MAKE SOMEONE STEP UP AND SAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! *TR

WELL MAINTAINED 99 4RUNNER...ORIGINAL-EXCELLENT CONDITION PAINT AND NO RUST ON BODY PANELS. NOTICED AFTER EXAMINING THE UNDERSIDE THAT FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SECTIONS. SOME SECTIONS NEAR REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS. IF MOUNTS BREAK LOOSE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDES HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY AWAY. AFTER INVESTIGATION THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THE VEHICLE CLEAN AND THE BODY HAS ZERO RUST ON IT. *TR

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND CAR STARTED SWAYING BADLY EVEN WHEN SHIFTING GEARS HEARD A NOISE WHEN GOT HOME I HAD VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE REAR WAS BROKE IT IS RUSTED RIGHT FROM FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE AND FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWS SEVERE FRAME RUST JUST LIKE THE TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED STATED THE SAME ISSUE IS TAKING PLACE AND THESE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE. PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

RECENTLY HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON CAR. I THEN HAD A MUFFLE REPAIRED, WAS NOT HAPPY AND TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE DONE PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR LOOKS GREAT AND THERE IS LITTLE ISSUES WITH THE BODY AND ENGINE. I WAS PLANNING ON GETTING ANOTHER 100,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THAT YOU COULD PUSH YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE FRAME. I NOW HAVE A PRETTY GOOD LOOKING CAR PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY WHICH IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARNING ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE! I VOLUNTEER FOR A DOG RESCUE AND DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY TO PICK UP AND DROP OFF THESE BEAUTIFUL DOGS NEVER KNOWING THAT I COULD HAVE ENDED THEIR LIFE AS WELL AS MINE AND OTHERS! UNBELIEVABLE! TOYOTA DID HAVE A FRAME RECALL ON THE TACOMA, WHY ARE THEY RISKING INNOCENT LIVES WITH NO WARNING!! *TR

THE FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. MOST NOTABLY ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TOWARDS THE REAR AXLE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES AND THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

FRAME RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BROKE. WHEN IT HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. LEFT THE VEHICLE IN A CONDITION THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HIGH MILES BUT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. NO RUST ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I'VE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER 4RUNNERS. *TR

MARCH 6, 2011: 99 TOYOTA 4RUNNER: I NOTICED MY 4RUNNER PITCHING ON HIGHWAY EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. AFTER I BROUGHT INTO TOYOTA THEY INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE - REAR END DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM FRAME ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE - RIGHT REAR AXLE CLOSE TO COMPLETE FAILURE - TOYOTA STATED IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SEVERE RUST ON THE STRUCTURAL AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IS EXCESSIVE. ALSO LARGE HOLES IN DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. TOYOTA STATED THEY COULD FIND USED PARTS, INCLUDING SUSPENSION BRACKET & ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING & SWAY BAR COMPONENTS - WOULD COST UP TO $3000 TO REPAIR AT MY COST. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO FIND A MECHANIC TO WELD & REPAIR SUSPENSION BRACKETS. THE REAR TRANSFER CASE IS SO THIN THAT OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH RUST HOLES. FRAME RAILS & ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED & DETERIORATED, INCLUDING ENTIRE DISINTEGRATION OF THE REAR BUMPER WITH THE FRONT BUMPER HAVING MASSIVE RUST HOLES. *TR