2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Complaints

WHILE HAVING AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE PERFORMED BY MIDAS AUTO SERVICE EXPERTS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, THE OWNER OF THE SHOP FOUND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS ROTTED WITH RUST TO THE POINT WHERE THERE ARE HOLES WHERE THE FRAME IS WELDED. HE WAS ABLE TO PUSH HIS FINGER THROUGH THE RUSTED FRAME OF THE CAR. HE STATED THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO STRUCTURAL ROT OF THE FRAME.

2003 4RUNNER FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO ROTTING FRAME. RECALL WAS AVAILABLE ON THE TUNDRA'S TACOMA'S AND SEQUOIA'S. WHY NOT THE 4RUNNERS?

MY 4RUNNER WAS CLASSIFIED UNSAFE TO DRIVE BY A SAFETY INSPECTOR BECAUSE OF ADVANCED DEGRADATION OF THE FRAME DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST. IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED.

TAKATA RECALL. CAR IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE. RUST HAS CONSUMED THE FRAME TO THE POINT THAT MAJOR PARTS ARE AT RISK OF SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME AND FALLING FROM IT.

THE REAR SWAY BAR AND AXLE HAVE ROTTED OUT. THE SWAY BAR DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *TR

VEHICLE HAD FRAME PERFORATIONS FROM CORROSION AND COMPLETELY CORRODED GAS TANK STRAPS (BOTH STRAPS). BOTH OF THESE REPRESENT SAFETY HAZARDS AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE FRAME CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 4RUNNER AND SIMILAR VEHICLES IS WELL KNOWN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. SINCE TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME AND NOT ACTED ON IT THERE NEEDS TO BE INTERVENTION FROM THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AFTER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I LUCKILY NOTICED AND PULLED OVER BEFORE INCURRING MORE DAMAGE AND WARPING THE ENGINE HEAD. I HAVE HEARD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THESE 4.0 V6'S TOYOTA MADE HAVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC ON THANKSGIVING, I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN/LEAKING HEADGASKET. I HAVE NEVER DROVE THIS VEHICLE OVER 3K RPMS AND FIND IT RIDICULOUS IT WOULD FAIL UNDER SUCH GOOD CONDITION. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY) ONGOING A SERVICE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED A HUGE ROT HOLE GOING ALONG THE PASSENGER FRAME AND ANOTHER RUST HOLE ON THE BOTTOM RADIATOR SUPPORT.

I WAS DOING SOME MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE ON MY 2003 4 RUNNER AND NOTICED A HUGE ROT HOLE IN THE FRAMED JUST AHEAD OF THE RIGHT REAR TRACK BAR.

ON 10/03/16 I TOOK MY 4-RUNNER TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR FRONT END BRAKE REPLACEMENT. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER, I CONTACTED THE REPAIR SHOP AN ASKED THEM TO ALSO REPLACE ALL SHOCK ABSORBERS, WHICH THEY AGREED TO DO. LATER, I WENT TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND FRAME WERE SEVERLY CORRODED AND DID NOT INSTALL THE SHOCK ABSORBERS DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION. THE MECHANIC WROTE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON MY INVOICE. "FRAME OF CAR IS ROTTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. DO MINUIUM REPAIRS TO KEEP ON ROAD. SHOULD NOT BE USED ON HIGHWAY!!!