2006 Toyota 4Runner UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RUSTED EXHAUST SYSTEM TODAY AND ADVISED ME TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO OPERATE IN LESS THAN A YEAR DUE HEAVY AND UNUSUAL FLAKING RUST ON THE FRAME AND OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE PARTS.

SEVERE FRAME RUST.

TOOK MY 4RUNNER IN TO GET A NEW MUFFLER SINCE IT STARTED TO RUST OFF AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND HAS A FEW SMALL RUST HOLES THAT CAR WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR MUCH LONGER.

FRAME TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH, DEALER WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION AND ADVISED TO SCRAP VEHICLE! LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

MY 4-RUNNER IS IN GREAT SHAPE WITHOUT ANY BODY RUST, NICE INTERIOR , MOTOR DOESN'T USE OIL ETC. I TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR PA ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE HOME. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT , THE REAR STABILIZERS ARE UNATTACHED, THE FROM LEFT WHEEL IS READY TO FALL OFF. THE HITCH ON THE BACK FOR PULLING TRAILERS IS READY TO FALL OFF. I NOTICED IN THE PAST WEEK THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT( NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE ) AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY STARTING AT 50 M.P.H. AND BRAKING.

FRAME IS VERY ROTTED

THE FRAME OF MY 4RUNNER IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. IT IS FLAKING OFF IN BIG PIECES FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME AS WELL AS THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. IN A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS, IT HAS CORRODED SO MUCH THAT THERE IS A 1.5" DIAMETER HOLE IN THE FRAME. OTHER AREAS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT STRUCTURALLY AND FOR SUSPENSION, HAS SEVERE RUST AND I'M WORRIED THAT THOSE AREAS WILL CRACK AND CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING.

THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON IN TOWN HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 25-55 MILES PER HOUR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WHILE TOWING A 14 FOOT TRAILER. AS I APPROACHED AN INTERSTATE ON RAMP IN WINCHESTER, KENTUCKY, I SMELLED SMOKE AND PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE/FLAME WAS COMING FROM THE REAR MUFFLER PIPE FIBERGLASS HEAT INSULATOR (TOYOTA PART NUMBER 58155-60100). THE FIBERGLASS HEAT INSULATOR HAD DRY ROTTED AND WAS RESTING ON THE REAR MUFFLER PIPE AS IT BENDS OVER THE REAR AXLE. I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER THE TRUCK AND PULL THE INSULATOR OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK AND EXTINGUISH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER DISCUSSING WITH TOYOTA DEALER, NO PRODUCT RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED BUT THE PART HAS NOW BEEN REMANUFACTURERED OUT OF TIN/ALUMINUM TO REDUCE THIS RISK. DUE TO THE HIGH RISK FOR FIRE / INJURY THAT IS VERY NEAR THE GAS TANK, SHOULD THIS BE ISSUED AS A MANUFACTURER RECALL?

DRIVING TO WORK ON 3-6-17. IT WAS 34 F AT 8:15 AM. TURNED ON THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ABOUT ONE MILE FROM HOME. DROVE ANOTHER 0.5 MILES AND STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. ABOUT 15 SECONDS INTO THE RED LIGHT MY REAR WINDOW IMPLODED AND FELL INTO THE REAR CARGO AREA. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND NO OTHER VEHICLE STRUCK ME. DROVE BACK HOME AND CLEANED UP THE GLASS AND SAW NO EVIDENCE OF A ROCK OR PELLET OR BULLET WITH THE GLASS OR IN THE VEHICLE. ONLINE DISCUSSIONS INDICATE THE REAR DEFROSTER MAY HAVE OVERHEATED AND SHATTERED GLASS. I HAVE 3 PHOTOS ON FILE IN COMPUTER, BUT NOT IN CORRECT FORMAT. TRIED TO UPLOAD, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO.

I AM ASKING FOR YOU TO CANCEL THE SALE OF THE 2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER THAT I PURCHASED ON 3/22/2017 AND RETURN MY CASH DEPOSIT OF $2,000 AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE GAS IT TOOK ME TO DRIVE IT HOME AND THE EXTRA KEY I PURCHASED. I AM ACTUALLY AFRAID TO TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR DEALERSHIP, BUT IF I HAVE TO I WILL. THE FACTS ARE BELOW PURCHASED CAR IN BOULDER 3/22/2017 2006 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER RUST DAMAGE / DEALER STATED RUST WAS BECAUSE CAR WAS FROM NY, BUT WOULD NOT GET WORSE AND WAS JUST SUPERFICIAL RUST. PURCHASED CAR AND SET AN APPT. WITH PUEBLO TOYOTA 3/24/2017 TO MOUNT SPARE TIRE AND DO AND INSPECTION TOYOTA COULD NOT MOUNT SPARE TIRE AND STATED VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION EXCEPT FOR SEVERE RUST DAMAGE AND MAY COST DOUBLE TO DO REPAIRS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF RUST DAMAGE. TOOK CAR TO PRO-MASTERS ON 3/24/2017 AND THEY INFORMED MY SON THAT THE RUST WAS SEVERE AND THEY WOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, BUT ESTIMATED COSTS TO REPAIR THE REAR END TO BE $6,000 TO $7,000 REVIEWED ON INTERNET AND THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUST DAMAGE ON 4-RUNNERS, TUNDRAS, AND TACOMA?S FROM N.E. STATES. COMMENTS WERE ALSO MADE THAT THE VEHICLE WITH SEVERE RUST DAMAGE COULD BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK CAR TO INDIVIDUAL WHO RESTORES CARS AND HE SAID THE RUST WAS SO SEVERE AND CAR WAS NOT WORTH REPAIRING AND UNSAFE AND HE WOULD NOT LET HIS WIFE OR FAMILY DRIVE IT. TOOK CAR TO CUSTOM CARE REPAIR SHOP TO REVIEW RUST AND INSTALL SPARE TIRE AND THEY CONCURRED THAT THE RUST WAS SEVERE AND UNSAFE AND COULD NOT INSTALL SPARE TIRE. I CALLED PRO-MASTERS TO CONFIRM WHAT THEY HAD INSPECTED AND IF I COULD GIVE HIS NAME AND PHONE NUMBER IF ASKED. HE INFORMED ME THAT RUST WAS SO SEVERE THAT IF HE ATTEMPTED TO SECURE SPARE TIRE, THAT THE FRAME HOLDING IT WAS SO THIN HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD NOT FALL OFF & HE INFORMED ME THAT AS THE VEHICLE GETS WET THE FRAME BECOMES WORSE

FRAME ROT EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRAME, COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY AND PUTTING THE PASSENGERS LIVES AT RISK IF THE FRAME SHOULD FAIL. CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY INFORMED ME THAT NO RECALLS OR SERVICE CAMPAIGNS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FRAME ROT ON 4RUNNERS, HOWEVER TACOMAS, SEQUOIAS, AND TUNDRAS HAVE HAD FRAME ROT RECALLS. VERY UNHAPPY AS TO HOW THIS MATTER IS BEING TREATED ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE OTHER FRAME ISSUES FROM TOYOTA VEHICLES.

WHILE DRIVING LAST EVENING, MY REAR WINDOW EXPLODED.

THE FRAME RUST ON MY 2006 4RUNNER IS BECOMING EXTENSIVE AND THE AMOUNT FOR THE YEAR THAT CAN BECOME POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN THE NEAR FUTURE IS INEXCUSABLE QUALITY AT BEST. THERE ARE AREAS ON THE FRAME THAT I AM ABLE TO PUSH IN WITH MY FINGERS BECAUSE OF THE RUST. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER PARTS WHERE OTHER PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN BOLTED ON TO THE FRAME OR WELDED ON HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF. I AM ABLE TO IN SPOTS PEEL THE FRAME APART PIECE BY PIECE LIKE AN ONION ONLY EXPOSING THE RIDICULOUSLY THIN AMOUNT THAT IS LEFT. I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY PICKUP THAT DRIVES IN SAME CONDITIONS AS THE 4RUNNER AND LOOKS YEARS NEWER UNDERNEATH THAN THE 4RUNNER THAT IS ACTUALLY THE NEWER OF THE TWO. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT FRAME RUST FROM OTHER RESEARCH REGARDING THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS MY OWN IS SOMETHING WORTHY OF A TOYOTA RECAL OR BUY BACK PROGRAM SUCH AS WHAT WAS DONE WITH OTHER GENERATION TACOMAS.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE KEPT THIS VEHICLE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I HAVE SPENT LOTS OF MONEY ON ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS MORE INVOLVED TUNE-UPS. I HAVE ALSO WASHED THIS VEHICLE REGULARLY INCLUDING THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS TO CLEAN OFF ROAD SALT. THERE ARE NO EXISTING MECHANICAL OR OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND CAN POTENTIALLY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME. HOWEVER, DURING A ROUTINE VISIT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE EXISTS A LARGE PERFORATION ON THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT THIS FRAME PERFORATION MAKES THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT COULD RESULT IN A DEADLY SITUATION FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE IF THE FRAME BROKE (WHICH I WAS TOLD WILL HAPPEN) WHILE DRIVING. I AM NOW UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. I CALLED TOYOTA HQ TO COMPLAIN, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT HELP ME AND THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

I WAS COMING INTO DEWITT ARKANSAS ON HIGHWAY165 ON 12/13/09 AT ABOUT 12:30PM WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON AT ABOUT 60 MPH. I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO AN EXXON MINI MART. MY 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP NEAR THE FRONT DOOR. AS I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES I HEARD THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES CLICKING AND SUDDENLY THE 4RUNNER LUNGED FORWARD STRIKING A LARGE POLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE REAR WHEELS WERE SPINNING WILDLY AND THE BACK END WAS BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. THE 4RUNNER WAS BOUNCING TO THE SIDE AND I SLAMMED THE SHIFT LEVER INTO PARK. THE POWER TO THE BACK WHEELS STOPPED. I SAT BACK AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEN I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. I REACHED UP AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. I LOOKED AT THE FLOOR MAT AND IT WAS IN ITS NORMAL LOCATION WITH NO CONTACT WITH THE GAS PEDAL. THE TWO HOOKS WERE ATTACHED HOLDING THE FLOOR MAT IN PLACE. THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. TWO EMPLOYEES CAME OUT AND ASKED IF I WAS OKAY. I TOLD THEM I WAS OKAY, BUT SCARED TO DEATH. I TOLD THEM I HAD HEARD ABOUT TOYOTAS HAVING A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE INVOLVED IN ONE. I HAD TO WALK AROUND A WHILE TO CALM DOWN. I GOT THE EMPLOYEES NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS IN CASE I NEEDED THEM. I WENT BACK OUTSIDE AND STARTED THE 4RUNNER UP AGAIN AND IT RAN NORMAL. I DROVE IT TO MY DAD'S AND LEFT IT THERE. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND HAD THEM COME PICK IT UP. THE DEALER HAD A LOCAL TECHNICIAN CHECK IT OUT. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SAID I SHOULD COME AND GET IT. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE. THEY HAD A REGIONAL SPECIALIZED FIELD TECHNICIAN EVALUATE IT. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY HAZARD WITH MY 4RUNNER. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO COME AND GET THE VEHICLE. NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED OR REPAIRED.*TR

NOT UNTIL I READ THE ARTICLE ON YAHOO (INSIDE WASHINGTON MISSED SIGNS IN TOYOTAS RECALLS) DID I REALIZE I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. MY 4RUNNER CONSTANTLY LURCHES FOWARD AS I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN A STOPPED POSTION. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE WAY THE TRUCK WAS MADE SINCE IT WAS MY FIRST TOYOTA. NOW I REALIZE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. BUT HOW DO I GET IT FIXED? I DO NOT SEE THE 4RUNNERS AS HAVING THE RECALL ON THEM. *CN