2002 Toyota 4Runner SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH through a slight right curve, the vehicle independently shifted from side to side without warning nearly causing the vehicle to flip. The contact had an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle and the mechanic discovered severe corrosion throughout the entire subframe of the vehicle. The mechanic informed him that the entire subframe needed to be replaced to ensure safe driving. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Frame and rear passenger control arm bracket, rotted out .only there, 2 nd time this has happened, same spot but on my previous 2001 4runner
THIS IS YET ANOTHER COSTUMER OF THE 4RUNNER 3RD GENERATION COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRAME RUSTING OUT. THERE NEEDS TO BE RESPONSABILITY FOR THE BAD FRAMES ON THIS YEAR 4RUNNER. MY FRAME HAS HOLES IN THE REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT AREA AND MORE RUST ALL THROUGHOUT ENTIRE FRAME. I'M DOING ALL I CAN TO KEEP MY FRAME FROM GETTING ANY MORE RUST ON IT AND KEEPING IT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. I STRONGLY BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ALSO HAVE A FRAME RECALL FOR THE 4RUNNER LIKE IT DID FOR THE TUNDRA TACOMA AND SEQUOIA FRAMES.
REAR AXEL IS RUSTED OFF THE FRAME, AND ROTTING, MECHANIC SAYS IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE
FRAME RUST ON THE INSIDE PORTION FOR THE FRAME. 33" HOLE RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY ON PASSENGER SIDE. RUST CONTINUES ABOUT 80% OF THE WAY THROUGH THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT. DRIVER'S SIDE HAS A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF SEVERE RUST THAT HAS WEAKENED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. SHOULD THE CO TROLL ARM MOUNT FINISH RUSTING THROUGH, THE AXLE WILL NO LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME ON THAT SIDE. THERE IS NOTICBLE FLEX AND SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRAME ROT. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE CONTROL ARM MOUNT DISCONNECTS COMPLETELY, OR THE FRAME BUCKLES.
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE A RUSTY FRAME THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR SAFETY REASONS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH FRAME CRACKED AND I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF IT TOYOTAS HAVE POOR FRAME THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM ON THE VEHICLE PREMATURELY DETERIORATED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR END HOUSING AND AXLE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 11/20/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRAME OF THE WAS ALSO BADLY RUSTED. UPDATED 2.3.16 *JS *CN
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WHILE REPLACING EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS. FOUND WHAT APPEARED TO BE MINOR RUST ON THE PASSENGER (RIGHT) SIDE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED A LARGER AREA OF RUST ALONG THE 3 WELDS ON THE INNER FRAME RAIL. CUT / GROUND THE METAL BACK TO GOOD METAL AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF PATCHING FOR MY YEARLY MAINE VEHICLE INSPECTION. EITHER TOYOTA HAS BUILT AN INFERIOR FRAME OR THE NEWER CHEMICALS BEING USED TO KEEP THE ROADS CLEAR IN THE WINTER TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS RUST WHICH COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL AT THIS POINT IN THE FRAME AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT.
EXTENSIVE RUST THRU ON DRIVERS SIDE OF FRAME, REAR SUSPENSION LINK RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE COMPLETE FAILURE IN COMING SOON. LAST TWO FEET OF FRAME COMPLETELY GONE. DOUBT IT WILL PASS ANOTHER SAFETY INSPECTION WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT REPAIR. REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED TO THE POINT GEAR OIL LEAKS. THIS IS COMMON ON ALL 4 RUNNERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED JUST LIKE THE TACOMAS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE FRAME TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME AND REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2002 Toyota 4Runner has 10 SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.