2006 Toyota 4Runner 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
OUR FRAME IS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT IT WOULD HAVE FAILED THE SAFETY INSPECTION IF WE DID NOT FIX THE HUGE HOLES IN IT AT THE REAR BUMPER. WE ARE WERE TOLD BY OUR SAFETY INSPECTOR THAT OUR ENTIRE FRAME IS VERY RUSTY AND WE MUST DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW. IT WILL NOT PASS THE SAFETY INSPECTION FOR NEXT YEAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA AS PART OF THEIR FRAME RECALL!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION LINE FAILURE. UPDATED 11/26/18*JB
FRAME RUSTED AND GONE. TERMINAL. CAUSE US TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY.
CAR HAS 99,400 MILES, WOULD NOT PASS PA STATE INSP DUE TO RUST HOLES ON FRAME
EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND UNDERBODY COMPONENTS OF MY VEHICLE. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS RUST WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO FAILURE OF KEY FRAME STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS.
THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN A COUPLE OF PLACES ON MY 4RUNNER. MY LOCAL DEALER DID AN INSPECTION AND THERE ARE HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME. I'M AFRAID IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THE FRAME WILL NOT HOLD UP AND CAUSE INJURY TO MY OCCUPANTS AND MYSELF. PLEASE INFORM TOYOTA OF THESE RUSTED FRAMES. THANK YOU!
MY SUB FRAME IS ROTTING AND RUSTING AWAY
SEVERE FRAME RUST. THIS ISSUE HAS NOW A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS SAME YEAR. BUT YET NOTHING ON THE 4 RUNNER. BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA IS IGNORING IT. THIS TIME FOR A CLASS ACTION SUIT..
THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY COVERED IN RUST CAUSING CONSTANT REPAIRS TO BE MADE. MULTIPLE MECHANICS THINK I SHOULD GET RID OF IT AND BELIEVE PROBLEMS WILL KEEP COMING UP. UNSURE IF VEHICLE WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE FOR MUCH LONGER.
DURING RECENT MAINTENANCE OF MY 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 115K MILES, A MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER IN FRONT WHICH ATTACHES TO THE CONTROL ARMS WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO ASSESS CONDITION OF THE FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THE FRAME WAS IRREPARABLE AND WAS NOT COVERED BY A RECENT TOYOTA FRAME RECALL FOR TACOMAS, TUNDRAS, AND SEQUOIAS. THE PREMATURE CORROSION OF THE FRAME POSES SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO DRIVERS AND COULD RESULT IN DANGEROUS FAILURES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,584.
SERIOUS FRAME RUSTING AND/OR ROT NOTED ON MY 2006 4RUNNER SPORT EDITION. IN MY OPINION THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AS FRAME CAN BECOME UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
THE FRAME, HEAT SHIELDS, SKID PLATE AND REAR AXEL ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. WE'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2008 AND IT HAS BEEN GARAGED AND KEPT CLEAN. THE RUST IS REACHING A POINT WHERE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. WE'VE NOTICED IT COMING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR - NOW IT'S GROWING EXPONENTIALLY. APPARENTLY THE TOYOTA TACOMAS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THE 4RUNNERS. WHY!?
FRAME RUST- STRUCTURAL ISSUE
I,ALONG WITH 48 OTHER PEOPLE, HAVE POSTED TO THIS FORUM THAT THE FRAME ON THEIR 4RUNNER HAD RUSTED AND/OR CRACKED. ADD MINE TO THE LIST. MY MECHANIC USED THE WORD "TERMINAL" IN RESPONSE TO THE CONDITION OF MY FRAME. IT'S NOT FULLY ON ITS DEATH BED, BUT IT LIKELY WON'T BE DRIVEABLE AFTER 6 MONTHS.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY DREAM CAR A 2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN COLORADO BUT IT WAS ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK. THE VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILES AND RUST DAMAGE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP AT NO SURPRISE WAS NOT LOOKING OUT FOR MY BEST INTEREST AND DID NOT INFORM ME HOW BAD THE RUST DAMAGE IS AND IT MAY COST MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD TO FIX IT AT ALL. CURRENTLY I AM NOT ABLE TO ATTACH THE SPARE TIRE BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I DON'T KNOW HOW SEVERE THE RUST DAMAGE IS. PUEBLO COLORADO REPAIR SHOPS ARE NOT EXPERTS IN THIS AREA BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SEE THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE VERY OFTEN.,I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HELP PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I DO BUT IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY WAY SINCE YOU ARE ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR DREAM CARS I THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT HURT TO ASK IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY WAY TO FIX OR ADVISE ME ON WHAT I SHOULD DO. A RESPONSE EITHER WAY WOULD BE APPRECIATED
REAR AXLE DETACHED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO SEVERE RUST. SEVERE FRAME RUST - DEALER DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE FRAME WAS RUSTING HEAVILY IN ONE SPOT ONLY, IN FRONT OF THE REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNT ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE TRAILING ARM MOUNT IS READY TO BREAK OFF FROM THE FRAME.. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CLEANED WEEKLY IT'S ENTIRE LIFE, AND IS STORED IN A GARAGE EVERY NIGHT. THE FRAME ON THIS TRUCK IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE FRAME ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2006 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A TOYOTA RECALL FOR EXCESSIVE RUST. MY VEHICLE IS AT A TOYOTA DEALER, A CLAIM WITH TOYOTA HAS BEEN FILED, AND PICTURES OF DAMAGE ARE BEING TAKEN PER MY CLAIM. I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM TOYOTA CORPORATE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT TELLING ME THAT MY TOYOTA IS NOT UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE EXCESSIVE ROT (NOT RUST) THAT HAS EATEN THROUGH MY VEHICLES REAR CROSSMEMBER. CURRENTLY MY VEHICLE IS UN DRIVABLE DUE TO THIS ISSUE, MY REAR AXLE IS ONLY HELD ONTO THE VEHICLE BY TWO OUT OF THE FOUR ANCHOR POINTS THIS POSING A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THE REAR AXLE BECOMES SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE FRAME. THE FRONT TWO MOUNTS (THAT ARE WELDED TO THE REAR CROSSMEMBER) ARE TORN COMPLETELY FROM THE REAR CROSSMEMBER, TOYOTA SAYS THE BODY OF THE TRUCK WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CHASSIS IN ORDER TO SLIDE THE NEW CROSSMEMBER IN BUT THEY REFUSE TO COVER THIS REPAIR. AS I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE BUT THE 2004-2010 TOYOTA TACOMA ARE CURRENTLY UNDER RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE AND THE FOUR RUNNER SHARES THIS TYPE OF FRAME, AND MANY OTHER PARTS BECAUSE IT IS ASSEMBLED ON A TACOMA FRAME, BUT BUILT IN JAPAN NOT IN THE US. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERS US MADE VEHICLES AND JAPANESE BUILT UNITS LIKE THE FOUR RUNNER, ARE NOT COVERED. PLEASE ADVISE AS I CURRENTLY OWN A VERY EXPENSIVE LAWN ORNAMENT AT THIS TIME AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE UNITS INTEGRATED INTO THE TACOMA RECALL PROCESS. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
ON MY 2006 4RUNNER, I HAVE BEEN NOTICING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST BUILD-UP ON THE FRAME AND MANY OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE PARTS. THIS 4RUNNER HAS SPENT IT'S WHOLE LIFE IN COLORADO, WE DON'T SEE RUST PROBLEMS HERE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE HAVE THIS KIND OF RUST. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF IT!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,762.
THE FRAME BROKE ON MY 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS BACKING UP AND FRONT TIRE FELL INWARD. THE TRUCK HAD JUST UNDER 100,000 MILES. I SPENT APPROXIMATELY $7,000 FOR A BODY SHOP TO REPLACE THE BROKEN FRAME WITH A USED FRAME. TOYOTA MUST NOT HAVE USED A SUFFIENTLY HARD ENOUGH METAL OR DID NOT TREAT THE METAL WITH THE PROPER FINISH FOR FRAME TO BREAK AT SUCH AN EARLY MILEAGE. I HAVE THE RECEIPT AND DETAIL FOR THE WORK DONE BY THE BODY SHOP.
NOTICED RUST ON GARAGE FLOOR,HAD DEALER INSPECT THE FRAME WAS TOLD THAT , ONLY FOUND SURFACE RUST NO HOLES. AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS TURN INTO A SAFETY PROBLEM, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED ! THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WAS ALWAYS PARKED IN A INSULATED ATTACHED GARAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 45,000 MILES, THE BODY IS IN GOOD SHAPE.TOYOTA HAD PREVIOUS FRAME RUST ISSUES,WE WOULD HOPE TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME OR BUY THIS VEHICLE FROM US ,IF WE TRADED IT IN WHO WOULD WANT TO BUY IT WITH THIS RUSTY FRAME AND ,WHAT WOULD WE GET FOR IT?
THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE MAIN FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE BROKE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. AS FAR AS I KNOW TOYOTA HAS A LARGE RECALL NOW ON RAV 4S AND LEXUS VEHICLES DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST BUT THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL ON 4 RUNNERS. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY CONCERN IN HOPES OF LEADING TO A RECALL ON 4 RUNNERS BUILT DURING SIMILAR TIME PERIOD. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA THEY SAY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THEY ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS. BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO RECALL THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE DANGEROUS. WHEN THE FRAME BREAKS, THIS IS A DEADLY SITUATION WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA OFFERED ME NO FORM OF REIMBURSEMENT WHEN I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE(TOYOTA CASE #[XXX]) FILED WITH TOYOTA OVER PHONE ON 9-25-14. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA WITH 94000 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT IN FOR A RECENT RECALL AND TOLD THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED AND BACK OF VEHICLE COULD JUST FALL APART WHILE DRIVING. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT TOYOTA HAS SEVERAL ISSUES WITH FRAMES RUSTING ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ONLY RECALLED A FEW OF THEIR MODELS. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT FOR SERVICE AND NO ONE HAS EVER MENTIONED ANY RUST PROBLEM UNTIL NOW WHEN IT IS APPARENTLY TO LATE AND THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE OR DRIVABLE. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE FRAME GAVE OUT. TOYOTA REALLY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I AM TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY TO ASSIST US. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2006 Toyota 4Runner has 106 Structure complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.