2002 Toyota 4RUNNER

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2014· STRUCTURE

  I WAS HAVING SERVICE WORK DONE AT TOYOTA ON MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTING THROUGH, NEAR THE MUFFLER AND THE FRAME WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. HE SAID WAS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE TOYOTA TACOMA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TACOMA. THE RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD SEEN OTHER 4RUNNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND EVEN SUGGESTED TO THOSE OWNERS THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *JS

• 12/30/2012· STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  I HAVE ALREADY FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT REGARDING MY SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO. I NOTICED THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA 4RUNNERS GOING BACK TO 2003. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002. BASICALLY, I'M WRITING TO URGE NHTSA TO ASKTOYOTA WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY FROM 2003 TO 2002 BECAUSE THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE WAS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION WITH MY CAR AND IF THE ASSEMBLE & PARTS MANUFACTURES IS THE SAME FROM 03 TO 02 THEN THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED. ALSO, THE OTHER MAIN REASON I'M WRITING YOU IS SO THAT THERE IS A RECORD OF ME REQUESTING MY VEHICLE BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO THAT WAY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AGAIN WE WILL HAVE A RECORD OF IT. *TR

• 12/27/2015· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  RUST THROUGH ON THE FRAME.

• 12/26/2003· TIRES

  PURCHASED TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER IN AUGUST OF 2002. CAR NOW HAS 18,300 MILES AND BOTH FRONT TIRES (YOKOHAMA ADVAN A043 185/50R15) ARE WORN BEYOND RECOMMENDED TREAD DEPTH AND BLISTERED ON INSIDE(BECAUSE OF FRONT-END MISALIGNMENT ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP). *AK

• 12/23/2014· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

  VSC, TRAC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. HIGH PITCHED BUZZER/ALARM STARTED AND REMAINED CONSTANT. BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO DEPRESS AND I LOST MOST BRAKING POWER. *TR

• 12/21/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  2002 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER ENGINE PROBLEM. LIKE OTHER TOYOTA ENGINES, THIS ONE AT 48,000 MILES, HAS A SEVERE SLUDGE BUILD UP PROBLEM DESPITE MAINTENANCE THAT HAS FOLLOWED RECOMMENED PRESECIPTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR ITS POWER TRAIN WARRANTEE IN REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE ENGINE DESPITE THE MALFUNCTION. MUSSON PATOUT HAS ACTED IN A DISHONARABLE AND DISREPUTABLE MANNER IN REPAIRING THIS AUTOMOBILE ACCORDING TO WARRANTEES PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

• 12/21/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA BRAKES VIBRATE SEVERELY. VSC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT FREQUENTLY COMES ON. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE CAR HAD 10,000 MILES, NOW HAS 36,000 AND DEALER AND TOYOTA CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT CAR HAS NO BRAKE PROBLEMS, NO SAFETY PROBLEMS AT ALL, AND THAT ORIGINAL BRAKES ARE NOT DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN. I AM INFORMED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, ALTHOUGH TOYOTA DENIED THIS THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT IT EXISTED, BUT I HAD TO SPECIFICALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BRAKE PROBLEM, OR THEY WOULD NOT AND DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THE REMEDY. THESE BRAKE ISSUES ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK

• 12/20/2017· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT. SENSOR WAS DAMAGED, YET DID NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG TOYOTA COMPANY WOULD NOT GIVE THE MAKE AND NAME OF THE AIRBAG

• 12/19/2013· POWER TRAIN

  REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY ROT! NOW LEAKING ON REAR NON REPLACEABLE YOKE COVER. 1800-2000 DOLLAR FIX. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE AXLE ASSEMBLY HAS NO TAGS!!!! TOLD BY DEALER DOOR TAGS ARE OFTEN WRONG SO ORDERING RECYCLED (IF YOU CAN FIND ONE IN BETTER SHAPE) IS A GAMBLE!!!! HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE TRUCK OTHER WISE BUT NOW IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY ARE PROFITING FROM THERE DESIGN FLAWS. *TR

• 12/17/2014· POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

  FRAME AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTING OUT. *TR

• 12/15/2021· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  Frame and rear passenger control arm bracket, rotted out .only there, 2 nd time this has happened, same spot but on my previous 2001 4runner

• 12/14/2004· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES ON TOYOTA SEQUOIAS EASILY BREAK OFF, VERY FLIMSY. THIS COULD LEAD TO SOMEONE GETTING TRAPPED IN THEIR CAR, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR QUICKLY OR AGGRESSIVELY. MY NEIGHBOR HAPPENS TO HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE EVEN THE SAME COLOR AND I ASKED HIM HOW HE LIKES IT AND HE SAID FANTASTIC, EXCEPT WE HAVE BROKEN OFF 2 DOOR HANDLES. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE SERVICE WRITER CASUALLY MENTIONED, "OH, WE GET THESE IN ALL THE TIME". I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE TOYOTA ZONE OFFICE AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE $175 REPAIR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD AND A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.*AK

• 12/11/2014· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILING ARM WAS CORRODED AND THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 12/10/2002· VISIBILITY

  REAR VIEW MIRROR IS POSITIONED TO LOW FROM ROOF OF VEHICLE WHICH CREATES A SERIOUS BLIND SPOT. DRIVER IS OF AVERAGE HEIGHT ( 5'11" ) WHENEVER DRIVING AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR A SHARP CURVE TO THE RIGHT DRIVER HAS TO TILT HEAD OVER TO LOOK UNDER MIRROR TO LOOK FOR ON COMING TRAFFIC. DT

• 12/07/2004· EQUIPMENT

  I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA SAQUOIA IN THE YEAR OF 2002,IN THE YEAR 2003 MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WENT OUT IN MY NEW VEHICAL UPON TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLETE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,I HAVE WENT A COMPLETE YEAR WITH OUT AN AIR CONDITION SYSTEM MIND YOU I LIVE IN AUGUSTA GEORGIA,THIS CAUSES SEVERAL THINGS TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY SUCH AS GAS GAGE NOT PROPERLT WORKING,WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR 60 MPH OR OVER THE TRUCK BEGAN TO BURN,THE AIR COMES ON AUTOMATICLLY AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO JUMP VERY BADLY LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO BLOW UP,THE HEAT ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU SET IT AT 80 DEGREES OR HIGHER SO YOU CAN ONLY LEAVE IT ON FOR SO LONG THEN YOU MUST TURN IT OFF AND WHEN IT GETS COLD AGAIN YOU HALF TO TURN IT ON AGAIN THIS GOES ON ALL DAY LONG.I CAN'T SEM TO GET ANY ONE FROM TOYOTA TO HELP ME WITH THERE DEFAULT, MY WIFE WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR.SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO A NOTHER DEALER TO SEE IF THIS WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM HE TOLD ME THAT THE SYSTEM WAS REALLY BLOWEN.SIRS I WORK VERY HARD FOR MY MONEY AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF IT TO GIVE AWAY,IREALLY DON'T APPRICIATE A PRESTEGIOUS COMPANY SUCH AS TOYOTA TO PRAY ON ON IT'S CONSUMER. WHEN THE VEHICAL WAS CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AT MY REQUEST THERE WAS WHAT YOU CALL A BULLITEN ON THIS PROBLEM,I THEN ASKED IF YOU KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM ENOUGH WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL I REALLY DON THINK THAT I THE CONSUMER SHOULD HALF TO FOOT A $2000 BILLL ON SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT I AM VERY SORRY THAT I PICKED A TOYOTA SEQUOIA THIS IS NOT A CHEAP VEHICAL IF YOU CAN HELP ME AND MY FAMILY PLEASE DO SO.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *AK

• 12/03/2013· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,500.

• 12/02/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD THE PISTON CONNECTING ROD POP WHEN HE SWITCHED LANES. AS A RESULT, OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 127,000.

• 12/02/2004· TIRES

  THE SIDE OF A DUNLOP AT20 TIRE BLEW OUT. ALMOST HALF OF THE SIDE WALL CAME AWAY FROM THE TREAD. REPLACED THE TIRE. LUCKLY I WAS PULLING UP TO A LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE.

• 11/30/2016· STRUCTURE

  FRAME RUST. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE "FRAME IS ROTTED-SAFETY ISSUE-WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION". THIS 4RUNNER HAS ONLY BEEN EXPOSED TO AREAS OF MILD SOUTH EAST PENNSYLVANIA WINTERS AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS WASHED REGULARLY AFTER EVERY SNOW AND ROAD-SALTING EVENT. 4RUNNER IS TRASH AFTER ONLY 12 WINTERS. 4RUNNER WAS IN STORAGE FOR 04/05 WINTER AND THERE WAS NO SNOW IN 15/16.

• 11/28/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE AT IDLE, LOUD NOISE, WON'T START. AFTER TAKEN APART FOUND 4 CONNECTING RODS AT THE BOTTOM OF OIL PAN. *KB

• 11/27/2018· STRUCTURE

  EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRAME. RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, ON PASSENGER SIDE NEAR MUFFLER, BY REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS. RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. LIKELY RUSTED IN OTHER PARTS THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE.

• 11/26/2014· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS RUSTED, LEAKED FLUID INTERMITTENTLY AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE HOLES TO THE POINT THAT THE COMPONENT MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 11/23/2014· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  EXTENSIVE RUST THRU ON DRIVERS SIDE OF FRAME, REAR SUSPENSION LINK RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE COMPLETE FAILURE IN COMING SOON. LAST TWO FEET OF FRAME COMPLETELY GONE. DOUBT IT WILL PASS ANOTHER SAFETY INSPECTION WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT REPAIR. REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED TO THE POINT GEAR OIL LEAKS. THIS IS COMMON ON ALL 4 RUNNERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED JUST LIKE THE TACOMAS. *TR

• 11/20/2010· STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  2002 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN. WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR, I CAN HEAR IT UNLATCH BUT REMAINS SHUT. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE REAR PART OF THE DOOR BACK IN UNTIL YOU HEAR A CLICK, THEN YOU HAVE TO VIOLENTLY PULL THE HANDLE AND THE DOOR WILL OPEN. *TR

• 11/19/2018· STRUCTURE

  MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME TO THE POINT THAT IT HAS BEEN DEEMED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE." IT ONLY HAS 180,000 MILES ON IT, THE RUST SHOULD NOT BE THIS EXTENSIVE.

• 11/19/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

• 11/18/2016· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SEVERE CORROSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

• 11/16/2007· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH 62,000 MI. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERS TO FIGURE OUT MY PROBLEM. THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON. FINALLY AFTER @$700 OF MY MONEY, THEY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM TO BE THE ECU. THIS WILL NOW COST ME @1800 FOR PARTS, AND WHO KNOWS YET FOR LABOR. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE SITUATION, UNLESS YOU HAVE THE EXT. WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, MAYBE RECALL THIS AND FIX THESE CARS BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I LIVE IN NEW YORK WHERE THERE IS ALOT OF SNOW. MY VSC WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE TO RELAY ON STANDARD BRAKES IN THE SNOW UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR REPUTABLE NAME AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS ASAP..... *TR

• 11/15/2015· SUSPENSION

  I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER THAT WAS TAKEN IN FOR YEARLY STATE INSPECTION AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A REJECTION STICKER HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW. THE VEHICLE STILL LOOKS AND RUNS VERY WELL, BUT UNABLE TO DRIVE.

• 11/13/2020· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  HAD THE 4RUNNER WV STATE INSPECTED. NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER. NOTICED THE FRAME CRACKED ON FRAME RAIL NEAR MUFFLER LOCATION.

• 11/10/2014· POWER TRAIN

  REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH, THE WHOLE THING HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE IS NO SEPARATE COVER THE REPAIR COST MAY BE HIGH. *TR

• 11/07/2017· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MAIN FRAME WAS RUSTING ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.

• 11/05/2017· SEAT BELTSCrash

  I WAS AT A FULL STOP, BEHIND A LINE OF CARS, AT A RED LIGHT, ON A CITY STREET. A JEEP LIBERTY SUV REAR-ENDED ME AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, PUSHING ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND TOTALING MY VEHICLE. MY SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE, CAUSING ME TO HIT, AND CRACK, THE WINDSHIELD, WITH THE LEFT FRONTAL ASPECT OF MY SKULL, RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT RAN INTO ME, WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. WHILE MY CAR WAS AT THE COLLISION REPAIR CENTER, BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO SALVAGE, I WENT TO GATHER MY BELONGINGS THAT WERE INSIDE MY 4RUNNER. AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, I REPEATEDLY TESTED BOTH THE DRIVER, AND FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER BELTS, BY ABRUPTLY AND RAPIDLY PULLING ON THEM. THE DRIVER SIDE BELT ONLY LOCKED IN PLACE ONCE, DURING APPROXIMATELY 10 TRIALS. THE PASSENGER SHOULDER BELT LOCKED IN PLACE EVERY TIME.

• 11/04/2014· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE FRAME TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME AND REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

• 11/03/2017· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A NOTICE REGARDING THIS RECALL BUT WHEN I CHECK IT SAYS MY VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT. IF MY VEHICLES COME HAS THESE AIRBAGS IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS WELL SO I CAN GET IT FIXED. I HAVE CHILDREN THAT NEED PROTECTED

• 11/03/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THIS SITUATION COULD BE FATAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAULTY RHEOSTAT IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE RHEOSTATE FAILURE CAUSES THE BUTTERFLY VALVE TO CLOSE, THUS NOT LETTING ENOUGH AIR INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. DUE TO THE LACK OF AIR, THE ENGINE "STALLS OUT", CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE VERY QUICKLY. REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, WITH NO FURTHER INCICENTS OCCURING.

• 11/02/2005· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRONT END MAKES LOUD NOISES, WHEN GOING OVER HIGH BUMPS AND SOME STIFFNESS IN STEERING. *TS THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACE DUE TO LITTLE OR NO FLUIDS, NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, THE SHOCK WERE LEAKING, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION/LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE LEAKING SHOCKS AT NO COST. *SC

• 11/01/2006· SUSPENSION

  I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA CONCERNING A DEFECT WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT IN 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS (REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V225000). I CONTACTED TOYOTA ON 9 MAY 2006 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY SITUATION IS UNIQUE. I'M IN THE MILITARY AND CURRENTLY STATIONED IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THERE ARE NO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN SOUTH KOREA, HOWEVER, LEXUS (OWNED BY THE SAME PARENT COMPANY) IS LOCATED IN SEOUL. IT TOOK THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE FOLKS TIL AUG TO NOTIFY ME THAT MY ISSUE HAD BEEN FORWARDED TO TOYOTA HQ IN JAPAN FOR RESOLUTION. IN SEPTEMBER I FOLLOWED UP SINCE NO ONE HAD CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT TOYOTA HQ HAD UP TO 4 MONTHS TO WORK THE ISSUE. TOYOTA WOULD ALSO NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OFFICE IN JAPAN HANDLING THE ISSUE AND ALSO WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE VENDOR THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE RECALL WORK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS I'M DRIVING MY WIFE AND ONE YEAR OLD CHILD IN THIS VEHICLE WITH AN IDENTIFIED DEFECT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE TO HAVE TOYOTA QUICKLY RESOLVE THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *NM

• 11/01/2006· AIR BAGSCrash

  2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THAT BENT THE FRAME & TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *NM

• 11/01/2004· POWER TRAIN

  THE REAR DRIVER AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STICK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

• 10/31/2018· STRUCTURE

  MY 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER FAILED MASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT ENGAGING. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR. I WAS THEN NOTIFIED BY THE SHOP THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED & UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIR TO THE E-BRAKE UNTIL THE FRAME WAS REPAIRED. I'M DEVASTATED THAT MY WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE , WITH ONLY 130,000 MILES IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO FRAME ROT.

• 10/29/2018· SUSPENSION

  REAR SWAYBAR RUSTED FROM FRAME CAUSING 4RUNNER TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVLY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK. THAT SIDE OF FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY.

• 10/28/2021· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Had vehicle inspected on Oct. 1 ,2021 for road trip to North Carolina from Washington, DC. Was informed that my vehicle is unsafe by the automotive shop (name withheld) due to [rusting] frame front suspension components' threads rusted off on bolts that hold suspension, control arms, and shocks on both front and rear areas + body of vehicle located where shocks bolt to the body. I also had two other shops (names withheld) assess the state of the frame and suspension + and was told that the vehicle has maybe 1 year or so until the frame falls apart. Given I am the original owner, have gargage-kept my vehicle, have very low-mileage - 74,000 miles, and have maintained the vehicle immaculately and am aware of rusting problems with other Toyota [truck] frames, etc. this seems to be a defect in the manufacturing process. I know there have been recalls on Toyota's other trucks due to Toyota's failure to add [enough?] rust inhibitor/preventative to the molten steel when forming the frame for many models of their trucks.

• 10/28/2002· TIRES

  PER-INVOICE, THE TIRES ARE WEARING FROM THE OUTSIDE EDGE, AND OUT OF ALIGNMENT-REPLACED. *SCC

• 10/26/2015· STRUCTURE

  FRAME RUSTED THROUGH. THERE IS A HOLE IN FRAME BECAUSE OF RUST.

• 10/25/2017· STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  FRAME IS PERFORATED BY RUST WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT MEETS THE FRAME RAIL.

• 10/23/2017· POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

  "TAKATA RECALL" FRAME RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. LOOKING AT ON FRAME IT WAS AT LEAST 1.5 INCHES OF DIRT AND SMALL ROCK FROM MAINE ROADS AND THAN WHEN RAINED IT WAS JUST MUD THE BAD SPOT IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE D BY TORSION BAR NO WAY TO DRAIN. ALSO REAR END DIFFERENTIAL GEAR COVER RUSTED OUT ON OTHER VEHICLES YOU REPLACED JUST THE COVER ON THE 4RUNNER I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE REAR END PRICE JUST FOR THE REAR END WAS $2500 THAN LABOR.

• 10/23/2011· STRUCTURE

  MY 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER THAT IS IN EXCELLENT BODY AND RUNNING CONDITION WAS IN FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE AND THE DEALER TOLD US THE FRAME HAD A HOLE IN IT AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, IT WAS INSPECTED BY TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF TOYOTA WHO SAID THAT IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND THERE ARE NO "PROGRAMS' AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOU THERE IS A HISTORY OF FRAME FAILURES WITH TOYOTA'S. *TR

• 10/22/2020· SUSPENSION

  FRAME IS RUSTED. DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE

• 10/21/2012· POWER TRAIN

  MY 4RUNNER HAS 72000 MILES ON IT, AND I JUST REALIZED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE METAL IS SO THIN THAT THE FLUID IS LEAKING OUT THROUGH THE POURS OF THE METAL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST 3000$+ TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR END. THERE IS NO OTHER RUST UNDER THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE PUMPKIN HOUSING. AFTER LOOKING AROUND ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, OF THE HOUSING NOT ONLY BEING TOO THIN OF METAL FOR THE APPLICATION, BUT LOW QUALITY STEEL THAT'S PRONE TO CORROSION. *TR