1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Complaints

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS SERIOUS SIGNS OF FRAME DECAY THAT SHOULD NOT BE PRESENT ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND USE. THERE ARE THREE AREAS OF FRAME PERFORATION THAT SUGGEST A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL AND/OR DESIGN OF THE FRAME. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT ON 1998 MODELS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE WITHIN THE NHTSA SITE AS WELL AS OTHER SITES AROUND THE INTERNET. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND WAS MET WITH AN UNWILLINGNESS TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH PHOTOS OF THE FRAME PERFORATION TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE DETERIORATION.

I WAS IN REVERSE AND A JOLT AND POP OCCURRED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WHERE MY SON WAS SEATED. HE FELT IT AT HIS FEET AND ALL OTHER PASSENGERS HEARD AND FELT A JOLT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED RUST AND STRESS CRACKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR PASSENGER TORSION BAR.WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE WITH MY TWO FINGERS I PUSHED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. MY BRAKING PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN I HAVE TO STOP SUDDENLY IN SNOW OR EXTREME WET ROAD SURFACES THERE IS A METAL GRINDING AN NO BRAKES. WHEN THIS OCCURS IN SNOW I WAS IN 4WHEEL HIGH. I HAD NO BRAKES SO I PUT THE VEHICLE IN 2 WHEEL AND HAD BRAKES. IN RAIN I PUMPED THE BRAKES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET BRAKES. ALL DRIVING BRAKES OCCURRED AT 35 MPH IN CITY DRIVING WITH NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME.

LIKE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TOYOTA COMPLAINTS, FRAME RUST. TOOK THE 1998 4RUNNER FOR NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE OF MASSIVE EROSION DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME CONNECTING REAR CONTROL ARMS. 4RUNNER ESSENTIALLY UNDRIVEABLE AT THIS AT THIS POINT. CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND, AS EVERYONE ELSE ON THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS SITE SAYS, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ALTHOUGH THEY DID TAKE CARE OF THE TACOMA PROBLEM.

RUSTED FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR, HOLES IN FRAME, WHICH HOLDS THE SWAY BAR. MECHANIC NOTICED DURING OIL CHANGE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DO. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE OIL AND FUEL FILTER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE CORROSION TO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 198,000.

FRAME IS ROTTING OUT BY CONTROL BRACKETS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WILL NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER. ITS NOT SAFE AND WILL CRUMPLE ON IMPACT.

THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNT (LEFT FRONT) FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME LOOSE AND ROCK. THE SEAT MOUNT BENEATH THE CARPET HAD FAILED, ALLOWING THE MOUNTING BOLT TO FALL OFF. THE METAL BRACKET HAD TO BE WELDED WITH NEW, STRONGER METAL AND THE BOLT REATTACHED WITH SPOT WELDS. THIS FAILURE IS WIDE SPREAD AMONG ALL TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS FROM 1995-2002; TOYOTA IS AWARE AND HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT; ALL SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED.

REAR FRAME RUSTED OUT WHERE SWAY BARS ATTACH, FRAME MOUNTS BROKE WHILE TOWING A TRAILER ON SR 22 IN SOUTHERN OHIO. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE GAINING CONTROL AND STOPPING THE 4RUNNER.

WHILE HAVING REPAIRS MADE TO DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING FOR A RUST HOLE, MECHANIC POINTED OUT RUST HOLES THOUGH FRAME ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE ABOUT MID VEHICLE. MECHANIC CAUTIONED THAT VEHICLE WILL SOON BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED.

1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRAME RUST ISSUES. *SMD