2005 Toyota 4Runner SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for servicing, and he was informed that the sub frame was severely corroded. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.

My frame has rotted through, causing the rear bump stops to fall off, putting excessive wear on both frame and suspension components. In parts of the frame, it has rotted all the way around and caused a loss in structural integrity. Worst of all, there is a hole near the rear most strap holding the gas tank to the chassis, which is a risk to not only me and my pregnant wife but others driving on the road around me if it where to fall off. Looking at the body, there is no rust or corrosion. The same goes for the engine bay, the rust is entirely located on the frame. Mechanically, the vehicle is in excellent shape. It has now got to the point it will no longer pass a NYS inspection.

Frame and rear differential rust- extreme

Brought the car in for an alignment and I was told they couldn’t do it because of all the damage to the frame from rust, parts of the frame are not even there anymore, the front row hooks are gone, they said that all this damage ca impact the handle of the car and that it can’t be properly aligned and possibly won’t pass inspection.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A-1 TOYOTA (50 AMITY RD, NEW HAVEN, CT 06515) SIGNIFICANT RUST WAS DISCOVERED ON THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC FOUND A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR SUPPORT AND ANOTHER HOLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOWEVER, THE PROLONGED RUST BUILD UP COULD LEAD TO A SEVERE MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

FRAME IS RUSTED THRU ON BOTH FRONT SIDES WHERE THE CONTROL ARMS ATTACH

EXCESS FRAME RUST. MECHANIC STATES FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST ALL OVER THE ENTIRE FRAME AND IS IN EMINENT DANGER OF COMPLETELY RUSTING THROUGH. MAJOR FRAME REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND TPMS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING METAL NOISE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER FRAME RUSTED OUT AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND DETACHED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS HEAVILY CORRODED, BUT WAS OK FOR THE TIME BEING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

MY VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A HOLE IN THE FRAME. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FRAME AS THE TACOMA TRUCKS THAT HAVE FRAME ROT AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED.

I TOOK MY 4-RUNNER TO MY MECHANIC ON APRIL 1, 2019 TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND A CV BOOT REPAIRED. MY MECHANIC CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND INFORMED ME THAT THE MAIN SUPPORT BEAM OF THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUSTED OUT AND VIRTUALLY MISSING ON 3 OF THE 4 SIDES OF THE BEAM. HE TOLD ME THE VEHICLE COULD BREAK IN HALF IF I HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD.

THE FRAM IS RUSTED AND NO TIME KNOWN WILL IT GIVE OUT N CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

MY REAR FRAME ROTTED OUT CAUSING MY CONTROL ARM TO BREAK OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL CAUSING A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT.

UNDER BODY RUST TOOK TO COSTCO TO REPLACE TIRES - THEY SAY SIGNIFICANT RUST ON LEFT SIDE. TOOL TO JIFFY LUBE FOR OIL CHANGE ONE WEEK LATER - THEY SAY SIGNIFICANT RUST AND CANNOT REMOVE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO REPLACE FLUID DUE TO RUSTED BOLT.

2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER STRUCTURAL FRAME RAPID OXIDATION TO STRUCTURE CAUSING LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM TO FRAME (AS WELL AS FRAME ITSELF) TO BREAK WHILE IN MOTION AT SLOW SPEED LEAVING DRIVEWAY. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CASE# 1712112893 TO ASK WHY THERE IS NO BUYBACK PROGRAM ON FRAMES THAT THEY PRODUCED IN 2004 THAT WERE FOUND DEFECTIVE IN TACOMA'S/4RUNNERS THAT WERE ALSO USED FOR THEIR 2005 MODEL PRODUCTION 4RUNNERS. TOYOTA REP TOLD MYSELF THAT NO CAMPAIGNS WOULD EXIST UNLESS OTHERWISE TOLD SO (OR PERHAPS INVESTIGATED FOR THEIR PRIOR ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECTIVE FRAMES USED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS). THOUGH I AM LUCKY THAT THIS OCCURRED AT SLOW SPEED I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER AMERICANS MAY FACE MY SITUATION WHILE AT 60-70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHOM TRUST TOYOTA FOR THEIR SAFETY AND PRODUCT RELIABILITY THAT END IN ULTIMATE TRAGEDY. I'VE INCLUDED PHOTOS AS WELL AS A CLEAN CARFAX REPORT TO SHOW NO PRIOR INCIDENTS. THANK YOU.

FRAME HAS RUSTED SIMILAR TO TACOMA AND SEQOUIYA RECALLS AND DO NOT SEE WHY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED.

HELLO, I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 57,000 AND THE FRAME IS BADLY RUSTED WITH A HOLE IN THE SUBFRAME AND TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE 4RUNNER FRAMES BUT DOES ADMIT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TACOMA FRAMES AND THE TRUCKS SHARE THE SAME PLATFORMS. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR AN OWNER OF A TRUCK THAT HAS A FRAME THAT IS FALLING APART BUT NO RUST ON THE BODY? THE FRAMES ARE POORLY MADE AND CAN GIVE OUT. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HAS BECOME SO RUSTED ALONG THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE USED THE VEHICLE FOR HIGHWAY AND NORMAL ROAD USE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING. MY TUNDRA WAS PURCHASED AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. IT HAS NO RUST PROBLEMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE UNDERCOATING OF SOME OF TOYOTA'S VEHICLES. ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR