2001 Toyota 4Runner Structure

Frame has rotted out along with a lot more rust problems

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that he noticed a swaying while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who stated that the sub frame was severely rusted between the sway bar and the differential. The certified mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The dealer was concerned that the job was too extensive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

THE FRAME OF MY 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN BREAK SOME OF IT OFF IN OUR HAND. RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THIS REQUIRED WELDING TO SOME SECTIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP DRIVING. THE WELDING WILL ONLY KEEP ME ON THE ROAD FOR NOW BUT THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THE FRAME IS VERY DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 205,000 MILES ON IT BUT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND MAINTAINED TO ALL OTHER STANDARDS. THE AUTO SHOP SAID THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT RUST THIS MUCH. I CALLED TOYOTA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID THAT THE YEAR AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. I NEED THIS CAR SO I HAD THE GARAGE REPAIR THE IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERN. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY THE TECHNICIAN CONDUCTING THE OIL CHANGE. THE IMAGES ATTACHED WERE AFTER THE WORK AS THEY HAD TO GRIND OUT THE RUSTED SECTIONS AND REPLACE WITH WELDED STEEL. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE TOOK FOR MASS INSPECTION AND FAILED DUE TO ROTTED FRAME WAS TOLD NOT ROAD WORTHY AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE CALLED TOYOTA THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ON REPAIR VEHICLE HAS 145K MILES ON NOW VEHICLE DOTS ON MY DRIVEWAY OLDER GENTLEMAN I PURCHASED FROM WILL NOT ASSIST EITHER SPENT $4K NEED ASSISTANCE IF POSSIBLE PLEASE AND THANKS

EXTREME FRAME RUST. HUSBAND SAYS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. EVEN THOUGH THE BODY LOOKS GREAT, THE FRAME, WHERE WE CAN SEE IT, IS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION, WITH HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE METAL. NO ACCIDENTS YET, BUT IT'S OMINOUS TO KNOW IN A COLLISION THIS VEHICLE WOULD CRUMPLE LIKE PAPER. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SERIOUS FRAME RUST FOR OTHER YEARS OF TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. PLEASE ADD MY VEHICLE AND SAFETY CONCERN TO THE GROWING LIST OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS FACING THE SAME FRAME DISINTEGRATION.

DEALER DECLINE TO DO A TRANSFER CASE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE TRAILING ARM MOUNT IS ALMOST GONE. DEALER ADVISED ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND THE FRAME WILL BREAK THROUGH. I WILL NEED TO BUY A NEW VEHICLE

I NOTICED A PRETTY DISTINCT WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 $RUNNER ON THE HIGHWAY RECENTLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMAED MY THE FRAME HAS A 1 INCH WIDE 18 INCH LONG HOLE FROM RUST. THE MECHANIC SAYS THEY CAN WELD IT TO POSSIBLY GIVE IT SOME MORE TIME TO LIVE BUT THAT IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB. THERE VERY WELL COULD BE RUST ON THE FRAME HIDDEN BEHIND THE GAS TANK, BUT I AM UNABLE TO LOOK BEHIND IT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKE WHEN NOT PROPERLY COATING THESE FRAMES. THEY RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE BUT FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH THE 4RUNNER.

FRAME RUST ON MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. SUSPENSION SHOT RIGHT THROUGH ROTTED FRAME. FRAME HAS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF RUST. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE SUSPENSION PENETRATED RIGHT THROUGH THE ROTTED RUSTED FRAME.

VEHICLE FRAME CORROSION/ROT.. BAD FRAME (JUST LIKE THE TACOMA I HAD RECALLED DUE TO BAD FRAME)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHWAY TOYOTA (727 NEW LOUDON RD, LATHAM, NY 12110, (888) 885-1583) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL TO COVER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ECHOED THE DEALER'S STATEMENT AND ISSUED CASE NUMBER: 1809211044. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

FRAME OF VEHICLE HAS SEVERE RUST DAMAGE THROUGHOUT, TOLD BY STATE SAFETY INSPECTOR THAT IT IS BEYOND REPAIR. APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED SLOWLY OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS.

WENT FOR INSPECTION FOR 2001 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. FRAME IS RUSTED AND TOO BAD. MECHANIC SAID UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. WHAT A SHAME EVERYTHING RUNS GOOD. NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THE TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED JUST LIKE THE TACOMA'S AND SEQUOIAS.

I WAS AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAVING MY BRAKELINE ON THE FRONT LEFTSIDE REPAIRED, AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE; AND I WAS TOLD BY PHONE, MY FRAME IS BADLY RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SPOTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRAME FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE IT WAS PIECED BACK TOGETHER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 11/13/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME RUSTED. UPDATED 11/16/2017*JS

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

MY FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. I HAVE KEPT IT VERY CLEAN AND PROTECTED BUT STILL IS RUSTING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED SEVERE RUST UNDER THE VEHICLE AND PIECES OF METAL FALLING OUT BY CHUNKS, INCLUDING THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME DISPLAYED EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,063.

THE CHASIS RUSTS AND IS DAMAGED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT 18 INCHES.

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME RAILS IN MULTIPLE AREAS. ISSUE WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 01/13/2015, YET I FOUND A REPAIR ORDER FROM 09/24/2014 THAT STATED THERE WERE RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. DEALER IS CURRENTLY INSPECTING THE EXTENT OF THE FRAME DAMAGE AND WILL RECOMMEND A RESOLUTION. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS, BUT CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE THEM HANDY.

THE FRAME IS ROTTING AND THE 4RUNNER IS UNSAFE.

THE ISSUE WITH MY TOYOTA IS A RUSTED FRAME...RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I WAS ADVISED TO PARK IT AND NEVER DRIVE IT AGAIN WITHOUT A NEW FRAME. ALTHOUGH IT IS A 2001 WITH 193,000 MILES, IT MECHANICALLY IS IN GREAT CONDITION. EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR IN GOOD CONDITION, AS WELL. I FIRST NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD A FLOATING SENSATION ON THE HIGHWAY, AT TIMES FEELING LIKE I HAD NO CONTROL WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER ANOTHER 1-2 HRS OF DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK WOULD ROCK SLIGHTLY SIDE TO SIDE. IT WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT ITEMS IN MY BACK SEAT ROCKED, AS WELL. AFTER SEVERAL MORE DAYS AND HOURS OF DRIVE-TIME THEREAFTER, THE ROCK ADVANCED TO THE POINT WHERE MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ROCKING SO VIOLENTLY WHEN CROSSING A BRIDGE @40MPH, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. EVEN BRAKING DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP THE ROCKING. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I HAD IT SCHEDULED TO TAKE IN TO THE MECHANIC. THE PROBLEM WITH THE RUSTED FRAME WAS IDENTIFIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HOLES AND RUST WERE SO EXTENSIVE, THAT IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE FRAME WOULD NOT ONLY BREAK APART, BUT BREAK INTO SEVERAL PIECES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS A FRAME REPLACEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON THEIR TAUCOMA FRAMES FOR THAT SAME YEAR, BUT WILL NOT CORRECT THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAME. I HAVE AN OTHERWISE WONDERFUL VEHICLE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S KNOWN, FAULTY, UNSAFE FRAME.

MASSIVE RUST CORROSION AND PIECES BREAKING AWAY LOCATED UNDERNEATH ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE RUST WITH BREAKAGE HAS INTENSIFIED GREATLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND REQUIRED WELDING THIS YEAR TO PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. THE WELDING CONSISTED OF WELDING THE FRAME RAIL WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS AND A NEW BRACKET HAD TO BE WELDED ON THE AXLE HOUSING THAT HOLDS AN UPPER REAR STRUT ROD BECAUSE IT RUSTED OFF. BOTH WERE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 101,000 MILES AND IS WASHED AND WAXED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

FRAME RUSTING OUT. EXTERIOR OF TRUCK HAS NO RUST 170K MILES ON 4RUNNER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE REPLACING THE SHOCKS ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME AND A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 3 AND 1/2 INCHES WIDE UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.