37 complaints reported

2004 Toyota 4Runner Suspension

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
37
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2018

WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 121,510 AND WE'RE INFORMED THAT THE WHOLE FRAME IS RUSTED. WE LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH FRAMES IN OTHER VEHICLES FOR THE SAME REASON AND IT WAS RECALLED FOR THOSE VEHICLES BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER. MY VEHICLE RUNS WELL AND HAS NO ISSUES OTHER THAN THE FRAME WHICH WE WERE TOLD MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE. WE'VE HAD TOYOTA'S IN THE PAST WITH WELL OVER 300,000 MILES SO THIS WAS A SHOCK THAT WE CANNOT USE IT ANYMORE. WE WERE INFORMED THE FRAMES WERE OUTSOURCED AND THE COMPANY USED DID NOT PUT THE PROPER AMOUNT OF ZINC ON FRAMES WHICH CAUSED THEM TO RUST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2018
Feb 2018

I'VE HAD THIS 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SINCE 2004 I BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. THE BODY STILL LOOKS GREAT, NO RUST ON BODY JUST HAS 94000 MILES ON IT. BUT THE UNDER SIDE IS AWFUL THE FRAME HAS HOLES RUSTED THROUGH AT HIGH PRESSURE POINTS LIKE SUSPENSION POINTS, CROSS MEMBERS FOR TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE RUSTED THROUGH, ITS TO POINT THAT ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA SERVICE REP THAT THE FRAME HAS A FIFTEEN YEAR WARRANTY ON THEM BUT TOGETHER ARE SAYING THEY CAN'T FIX OR PLACE IT AND IT LOOKS LIKE I'M NOT ALONE ON THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP AND BACK THEIR PRODUCT ESPECIALLY IN SAFETY ISSUES. THEY WERE FORCED TO REPLACE FRAMES ON THE TACOMA'S. WHAT'S FUNNY I'VE BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA REPS ALSO THAT THE 4RUNNER HAS THE VERY SAME FRAME AS THE TACOMA'S. SO IF THAT'S SO WHY CAN'T THEY REPLACE THESE ALSO? I THINK THIS IS REALLY BAD, YOU PAY A LOT FOR A VEHICLE AND IT STILL LOOKS LIKE NEW BUT HAVE TO CONSIDER PARKING IT BECAUSE YOU FEAR FOR YOUR FAMILIES LIVES. IT'S GETTING TO POINT YOU CAN'T TRUST IT ON THE ROAD. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2018
Jan 2018

MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME/CHASIS IS RUSTED THROUGHOUT. EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT PLASTIC OR RUBBER ON THE CHASIS IS RUSTED OUT. THE SKID PLATE IS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES AND NEEDS TO BE REMOVED OR REPLACED BEFORE IT FALLS OFF. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED VEHICLES IN THE PAST AS WELL AS REPLACED CHASIS ON ALL BUT THE 2004. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THE 2004'S. THE BODY IS IN GOOD SHAPE WITH NO RUST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2018
Jul 2017

SEVERE CHASSIS RUST, POSSIBLY AFFECTING VEHICLE AND PERSONAL SAFETY

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2010
May 2017

FRAME AND REAR AXLE HOUSING RUST - CAUSED THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS, WHICH PREVENT ROTATION OF THE REAR AXEL, TO DISCONNECT FROM THE HOUSING/FRAME. ALSO, STEERING HAS BECOME STIFF AND BUMPY AS YOU TURN THE WHEEL. THIS MAY BE DUE TO FRONT CROSSMEMBER RUST OR RUST ON THE STEERING UNIVERSAL JOINT. I LIVE ON LONG ISLAND AND HAVE THE CAR BOTTOM WASHED WHENEVER IT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO SNOW MELTING SALTS/COMPOUNDS. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2017
Jul 2016

WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE FAILED NH STATE SAFETY INSPECTION BASED ON SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST. RUST POINTS AROUND RADIATOR SUPPORT MOUNTS, AND PASSENGER SIDE RAIL, NEAR MUFFLER MOUNT, AND REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT POINT. WITH DAMAGE, CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA STATES NO RESOLUTION OPTION EXISTS. SIMILAR YEAR TACOMAS FRAMES ARE BEING REPLACED WITH IDENTICAL DAMAGE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2016
Apr 2016

LOOKS LIKE THE FRAN AROUND AND IN FRONT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS RUSTING IN TWO

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2016
Dec 2015

VEHICLE HAS 129,881 MILES. SEVERE RUST THROUGH OF FRAME UNDERSIDE. HAD PLATED & WELDED. NEW RUST THROUGH HOLES APPEARED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PREVIOUS WELD ON SAME FRAME STRUCTURE BUT IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS POSING IMMINENT RUST THROUGH FAILURE IN CENTER OF VEHICLE. CANNOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2015
Nov 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FRACTURED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2006
Aug 2004

I HAVE FRONT END PROBLEMS WHICH IS MAKING THE TIRES WEAR ( FEATHERING) ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRES WITH A NEW SET OF TIRES, BUT THE NEW TIRES ARE WEARING THE SAME WAY. TOYOTA STATES THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM, THAT THIS TIRE WEAR IS NORMAL. THIS WAS NOT NORMAL ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THIS WILL BE MY LAST NEW TOYOTA VEHICLE PURCHASE, AFTER 5 NEW TOYOTA PURCHASES I AM DONE!!!!! *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2004
Aug 2004

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH A VERY NOTICEABLE SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT 59-65 MPH.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2004
Mar 2004

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SINCE DAY ONE. THE TIRES ARE WEARING ON THE FRONT END ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE EXTREMELY FAST. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT THE NEW TIRES ARE WEARING VERY QUICKLY ( IT IS BEING DESCRIBED AS FEATHERING). TOYOTA OF RICHARDSON HAS ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A FRONT END PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE HOW TO REPAIR THE FRONT END. I ONLY HAVE 7500 MILES AND SO FAR AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA DIRECTLY. THE FRONT END FEELS UNSAFE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Toyota 4Runner has 37 Suspension complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.