2000 Toyota 4Runner SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

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. *TR

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 !!. *TR

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. *TR

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? *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

FRAME IS RUSTING THROUGH CAUSING INSTABILITY CONCERNS. *TR

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. *TR

FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST THAT HAS CAUSED THE FRAME TO BECOME WEAK AND UNSAFE. MULTIPLE HOLES IN FRAME HAVE DEVELOPED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WASHED REGULARLY AND STORED INDOORS FOR YEARS BUT HAS SEVERE FRAME ROT. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROBLEM WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES JUST THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA HAD ISSUES. THE FRAME ON THE 96-02 4RUNNERS ARE THE SAME AS THE TACOMA, ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE REAR SUSPENSION SETUP. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME RUST ISSUES. *TR

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I TOOK MY CAR FOR STATE INSPECTION. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AN IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. THE 2000 $RUNNER HAS THE SAME FRAME AS THE 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA IN WHICH TOYOTA BOUGHT BACK THE TACOMAS FROM THE OWNERS FOR 150% OF THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE. IF TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ONE MODEL (TACOMA) AND FIXES THEN THEY SHOULD ALSO FIX THE 4RUNNER. *TR

FRAME IS RUSTING. PERFORATION. I WAS HAVING REAR SHOCKS REPLACED AND WHEN MECHANIC PULLED HIMSELF UNDER THE VEHICLE ON HIS ROLLER CART HIS FINGERS WENT THRU THE FRAME. *TR

THE REAR AXLE HOUSING HAS RUSTED THROUGH, WHILE THE VEHICLES BODY HAS NO RUST. TOYOTA FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLES YEAR AND MILEAGE. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE NUMBER 1109161548. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SUPPORTS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL OCCUR ON THE 4 RUNNER WITH MUCH LESS MILEAGE. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ALL OF THE REAR AXLE FLUID COULD LEAK OUT, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO FREEZE, CREATING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. TOYOTA HAS A RUST PROBLEM WITH THE TACOMA PICKUP, WHERE THEY REPURCHASED VEHICLES AS A RESULT OF FRAME RUST OUT. WE ARE OF THE OPINION TOYOTA HAS USED INFERIOR METALS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THEIR VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN I CALLED THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN TORRANCE CA. THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN MANAGEMENT SINCE I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE DECISION OF THE PERSON I DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS RUSTED AND CAUSED AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE RUST AND CORROSION THAT CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I HAVE NOTICED MY FRAME NEAR THE REAR SUSPENSION IS SO SEVERELY ROTTED THAT THE FRAME WILL NEED TO BE CUT AND RE-WELDED OR REPLACED ALL TOGETHER.THERE ARE MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE BOX FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME. WATER SEEPS IN THROUGH THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE RECENTLY AND THEY INFORMED ME AS WELL OF THE EXTENSIVE RUSTING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AND WILL BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO TWO REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF FRAME. THE REST OF THE 4RUNNER IS IN PERFECT CONDITION WITH NO SURFACE RUST, ROT OR OTHER BLEMISHES. HOWEVER, BELOW THE VEHICLE THE FRAME IS RUSTED EXTENSIVELY. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL IS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE INSIDE OF THE RAIL. *TR