1998 Toyota 4Runner Owner Complaints

The rear end suspension is sagging on my vehicle. When I look up the VIN number on the nhtsa website it says that there is not a recall, but when I look up my vehicle by year it says that all vehicles of this year should be recalled for rear suspension repair/check. I called usa toyota and they said that they could not send the ticket to my local toyota dealership to for repair because my vehicle was imported from japan to canada. I have tried calling canada toyota but they have not picked up their phone. Reaching out to determine if the nhtsa can help with getting my vehicle suspension checked/repaired. Below is the message/link I receieved from NHTSA when I looked up my car's production year. ----- [XXX] January 18, 2002 NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V021000 TOYOTA/REAR SUSPENSION THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V021000 Manufacturer TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Components SUSPENSION Potential Number of Units Affected 273,743 Summary ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING (SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY. Remedy DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331. Notes TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 20A. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11548183

Incident

Oct 4, 2023

The frame is rusting out and broke while driving. The frame is almost totally destroyed from rust . The rear started swinging violently but luckily got it stop without crashing. The entire frame is a joke. I can't believe it hasn't been recalled STILL. The body is in perfect shape but a frame that can snap at any moment....I thought Toyota put safety first?

NHTSA ID

11493158

Incident

Oct 6, 2020

The drivers side front lower ball joint completely sheared off at around 15 miles an hour. The wheel and tire separated from the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11488617

Incident

Oct 8, 2022

CRITICAL FRAME RUST CAUSING TRAILING ARMS TO DETACH UNDER NORMAL USE.

NHTSA ID

11377826

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

305,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AND COMPLETELY FRACTURED OFF OF THE FRAME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT ON A CITY STREET AT NORMAL SPEEDS. I FELT AND HEARD A LOUD POP, THEN HAD SEVERE REAR END INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING ME TO "LIMP HOME" TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11373711

Incident

Nov 8, 2020

Mileage

101,185 mi

RUSTED FRAME. HOLE RIGHT THROUGH IT. CAN'T SELL, REGISTER OR DO ANYTHING WITH IT. CAR HAS 188K MILES, DRIVES LIKE A TANK, AND HAS YEARS LEFT IN IT, BUT NOT WITH A RUSTED OUT FRAME. NO ONE SHOWED IT TO ME BEFORE I TRIED TO SELL IT. I HAVE OWNED FOR 7 YEARS, 2ND OWNER.

NHTSA ID

11338847

Incident

Jun 25, 2020

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT AND THE SWAYBAR HAS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323412

Incident

Mar 22, 2017

Mileage

245,000 mi

1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER STARTING TO SWAY SIDE TO SIDE. THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT FRAME IS RUSTED THRU THE BOX TUBE. CALLED TOYOTA TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND DID NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE IS SERIOUS. NO RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN.

NHTSA ID

11296815

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE IS RUSTING OUT TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 68K MILES. THE REAR TRAILING ARM BRACKET HAS A HOLE INSIDE

NHTSA ID

11286337

Incident

Nov 2, 2019

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT NUMBER: G8J014000216 WAS ISSUED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND HAD TO SPEND 6 DAYS IN TWO DIFFERENT HOSPITALS WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURES AND INTERNAL ORGANS INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND LATER LABELED AS DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

11242314

Incident

Aug 2, 2018

Mileage

109,000 mi

WHEN BRAKING FROM 20 MPH, THE SEAT ROCKS FORWARD, AND THEN IN COMING TO A HALT, ROCKS BACKWARD. VERY UNSAFE. FEELS LIKE THE SEAT MOUNT IS ABOUT TO BREAK OFF FROM FLOOR PAN. 07/24/2019

NHTSA ID

11234857

Incident

Jul 24, 2019

Mileage

252,649 mi

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST CAUSED REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM MOUNT TO RUST RIGHT OFF THE FRAME WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT. AT THE TIME HER SPEED WAS SLOW AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO GROCERY STORE PLAZA.

NHTSA ID

11228538

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

187,000 mi

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SWAY BAR ATTACHMENT RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED FROM FRAME. AND ON OTHER SIDE SWAY BAR LINK SNAPPED. IN ADDITION THE FRAME NEAR IT IS ROTTING AWAY. NOTICED IT WHILE DRIVING IT WAS SWAYING BADLY. IN ADDITION THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL UNLATCH OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11220136

Incident

Jun 13, 2019

Mileage

280,000 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE STORE WITH MY WIFE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK STARTED TO SWAY WILDLY , GOOD THING THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THE TIME SINCE THE TRUCK SWERVED INTO THE OPPOSING LANE , I PULLED OVER AND THOUGHT AT FIRST THE LUG NUTS CAME LOSE BUT WHEN I CRAWLED UNDER THE TRUCK I HAD FOUND THAT THE FRAME IS ROTTED AWAY, APPARENTLY TOYOTA HAS AN ISSUES WITH THERE FRAMES AND I WAS ASKED BY PEOPLE ONLINE IF I GOT A RECALL NOTICE WHICH I DID NOT , I HAD BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED FROM A USED CAR DEALER SO IM NOT SURE IF IT WAS IN THE SYSTEM , IN ANY EVENT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS ON THIS , THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND RUNS FINE , I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ENSUE A FINANCIAL LOSE IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE , THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11217410

Incident

Jun 2, 2019

Mileage

227,912 mi

CAN NOT GET INSPECTION BECAUSE OF FRAME RUSTED

NHTSA ID

11210412

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

230,950 mi

THE TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IS UNSTABLE AND HAS THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE MAKING NOISE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU IN SEVERAL AREAS.

NHTSA ID

11207341

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE ON A CITY STREET WITH A 45MPH SPEED LIMIT, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THE BACK END OF THE CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL TO THE SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED AND BROKE WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED BY THE ONLY OWNER AND THE BODY IS IN NEAR EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

11191774

Incident

Mar 19, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE FRAME IS RUSTING TERRIBLY DESPITE ALL EFFORTS TO CURB IT.

NHTSA ID

11156631

Incident

Dec 6, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME IS COMPRISED AND DEEMED UNSAFE AND UNDRIVABLE DUE TO SEVERE FRAME RUST. I HAD TO REMOVE IT FROM THE ROAD SINCE THE BODY ROCKS ON THE FRAME AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11156503

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

240,000 mi

SENT MY VEHICLE FOR SAFETY INSPECTION AND IT WAS FAILED. BADLY RUSTED FRAME WAS SITED AS ONE REASON.

NHTSA ID

11155392

Incident

Nov 28, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TAKEN MY 4RUNNER FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AND MY MECHANIC FOUND EXTREME RUST DAMAGE ON LEFT REAR FRAME SUPPORT. ADVISE ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A 2 1/2 FOOT LONG RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME. PICTURES ATTACHED. CHECKING TO SEE IF TOYOTA HAS IMPLEMENTED RECALL ON YOUR DEFECTIVE FRAME MATERIAL. IT LOOKS LIKE THE RUST ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR MANY YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11120077

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

156,000 mi

LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING AFTER IT WAS SERVICED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEN THEY TOLD ME MY FRAME WAS RUSTED AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON RUSTED FRAMES.

NHTSA ID

11114286

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

190,000 mi

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST OPEN HOLES AND CRACKS OVER TIME.

NHTSA ID

11109497

Incident

Nov 13, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I WAS PULLING INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH. THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE INITIAL NOISE I HEARD SOUNDED LIKE I HAD DRIVEN OVER A METAL TRASH CAN WHICH MADE ME SUDDENLY STOP MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS WHAT I SAW. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY!

NHTSA ID

11089158

Incident

Jan 8, 2018

Mileage

343,500 mi

WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER, WHO HAS SERVICED THIS TRUCK SINCE PURCHASED, IN MARCH 2018, THAT THE FRAME HAD RUST THROUGH AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM WITH OUR TACOMA. THE DEALER HAD NEVER PRESENTED US WITH THE OPTION OF REPLACING OR BEING BOUGHT OUT OR BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRAME. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OLD TRUCK, BUT GIVEN THE LOCAL DEALER NEVER TOLD US OF ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEM, WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. IN FACT, JUST A YEAR EARLIER THE WE HAD THE TRUCK IN FOR BASIC SERVICE (OIL CHANGE), AND TOLD THE SERVICE REP THAT MY WIFE WAS PLANNING A 1,000 TRIP AND ASKED IF THE TRUCK WAS OKAY FOR THE TRIP, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE - HOW IT BEEN FINE A YEAR AGO, WHEN THIS YEAR THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. IPLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *JS

NHTSA ID

11088918

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

217,000 mi