1999 Toyota 4Runner Body & structure Problems

The component that is failing is the frame. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and others is at risk due to the frame falling apart due to the lack of integrity. The lack of integrity and strength is from oxidation or major rust. The vehicle has not been inspection by a 3rd party. The rust is a common issue in this year/model from other owners and has appeared to be a manufacturing error.

NHTSA ID

11437192

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

MY FRAME IS RUSTED ALMOST TO PIECES. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 4RUNNER OF THE SAME YEAR MODELS. AND I HOPE TO GET A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S PUTTING ME AND OTHERS AT RISK OF WRECKING THE CAR AND POSSIBLE INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

11396194

Incident

Feb 14, 2021

Mileage

262,000 mi

I HEARD RUBBING NOISES FROM MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL.I THOUGHT BRAKES BUT WHEN I INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE RUBBING WAS COMING FROM A RUSTED AND BROKEN OFF BRAKE SHIELD.I AM OLDER WITH BACK ISSUES SO GETTING UNDER THE CAR FOR A GOOD LOOK M IS TOUGH AT BEST.WHAT I COULD SEE USING A RIGID SEESNAKE BOROSCOPE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST .RUST ALL OVER KEY STRUCTURAL FRAME COMPONENTS FROM MOTOR MOUNTS TO STEERING LINKAGE THE CHASSIS IN SOME AREAS HAS COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED.LOOKING AT THE BODY YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR WAS IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE BUT NOT UNDERNEATH.TOYOTA DIDN'T HAVE 4RUNNERS AS PART OF THEIR RECALL BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE AS THE 4RUNNER USES THE SAME TRUCK CHASSIS AS THE TACOMAS .I NEED THIS TRUCK AND I NEED IT TO BE SAFE.THANKS FOR LISTENING

NHTSA ID

11342840

Incident

Aug 2, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

FRAME ROTTED OUT PREMATURELY

NHTSA ID

11321579

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

OUR 4RUNNER WENT IN FOR SHOCKS AND WE WERE TOLD WE HAVE A RUSTED FRAME. WE ONLY HAVE 89,000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE. THIS VEHICLE STILL HAS LOTS OF LIFE LEFT IN IT AND DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE FRAME. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 4RUNNERS.

NHTSA ID

11318803

Incident

Jan 6, 2020

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY 1999 4-RUNNER WITH ONLY 89,000 MILES HAS A RUSTED FRAME. IT NEEDS REPAIR OR IT WILL NOT BE DRIVEABLE. I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. WENT IN FOR SHOCKS, AND WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED.

NHTSA ID

11300522

Incident

Dec 6, 2019

FRAME RUSTED FALLING APART. SO SOFT I CAN STICK MY FINGERS THROUGH IT.

NHTSA ID

11299174

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

215,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 4 RUNNER AND IT STARTED TO LIKE IT WAS 'FLOATING' AND 'SWAYING' FRONT TO BACK. I WASN'T FAR FROM HOME SO I PARKED HER. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL AND IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR DIPPED DOWN. WE WERE MAYBE 20 YDS FROM THE HOUSE SO I PARKED IT. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND HE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND ALMOST ROLLED THE TRUCK. I CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND HE CALLED A ROLL BACK TO PICK IT UP. THE OWNER DROVE IT AND HE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CRASHED. HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAW THE FRAME HAS RUSTED IN HALF.

NHTSA ID

11298906

Incident

Nov 11, 2019

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER (TARBOX TOYOTA LOCATED AT 3671 QUAKER LANE, NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02852). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11292135

Incident

Aug 19, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1999 4RUNNER FOR A NEW ALTERNATOR AND POWER STEERING BELTS. THE MECHANIC NOTED SEVERE FRAME RUST, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE. THERE ARE ACTUALLY HOLES IN THE FRAME. THE FRAME IS WORST NEAR WHERE THE CROSS MEMBERS CONNECT. THERE IS NO BODY RUST. I WILL NOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW MY SON OR ANYBODY ELSE TO DRIVE IT, AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DESPITE THE NARRATIVE TO THE CONTRARY, THE MECHANIC DID NOT ACTUALLY POINT THE RUST OUT TO ME. I NOTICED IT ON THE BILL WHEN SUBMITTING TO INSURANCE FOR TOWING. I THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE MYSELF.

NHTSA ID

11289198

Incident

Dec 9, 2019

REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT SEPARATED FROM FRAME AT WELD, VEHICLE WAS RUSTPROOFED WHEN NEW.

NHTSA ID

11231978

Incident

Jul 6, 2019

Mileage

347,000 mi

THE MOUNT FOR THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS RUSTED OFF. THIS IS CAUSING THE CAR TO VIOLENTLY ROCK BACK AND FOURTH AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE AND CONTINUE FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER. IT IS VERY UNNERVING AND OBVIOUSLY A MATER SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES SUCH AS T4R.ORG. PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11207111

Incident

Mar 14, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS CRACKED AND ROTTED. THE STABILITY OF THE FRAME WAS TARNISHING AND WEAKENED THE SUPPORT FOR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A WELDING SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 281,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11173585

Incident

Feb 11, 2015

Mileage

281,000 mi

THE FRAME ON DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE AREA HAS COMPLETED ROTTED FROM RUST, THE REAR SUSPENSION AND SWAY BAR BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ALMOST IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THERE WAS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE REAR END AND WE ENDED UP IN A DITCH WITH LOSS OF CONTROL.WE WERE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT THE TIME. WE COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ROLL OVER ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. VERY SCARY INCIDENT. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND PHOTOS OF THIS ISSUE IF YOU WANT TO CALL E-MAIL ME AT (XXXXXX). THE EXTERIOR BODY ENGINE AND INTERIOR OF THIS VEHICLE ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND IT SEEMS THE FRAME SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING MY COMPLAINT. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11152477

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

215,000 mi

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH SEVERE RUST DAMAGE TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THERE ARE OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. MINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME SHOULD RUST. I WOULD EXPECT OVER TIME TO SOME SMALL PATCHES OF RUST BUT NOT THE ENTIRE FRAME. THERE IS SO MUCH RUST THAT I COULD NEVER FIX IT COMPLETELY MYSELF. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR POOR PLATING PROCESS IN THE LATE 90'S TO EARLY 00'S.

NHTSA ID

11131961

Incident

Sep 27, 2018

Mileage

236,000 mi

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND LOST CONTROL TEMPORARILY BECAUSE A REAR TRAILING ARM MOUNT BECAME DETACHED FROM FRAME AND BROKE BOTH SHOCKS. UPON INSPECTION REAR SECTION OF FRAME SEVERELY RUSTED CAUSING MOUNT TO DETACH. FRONT SECTION OF FRAME DOES NOT HAVE SAME LEVEL OF RUST. A MANUFACTURES DEFECT ALMOST COST ME AND MY CHILDREN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS. I'VE BEEN IN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. IF THEY RECALLED THE FRAMES FOR THE TACOMA AND TUNDRAS, WHY WEREN'T 4RUNNERS INCLUDED?

NHTSA ID

11129709

Incident

Sep 15, 2018

Mileage

195,000 mi

BAD FRAME ROT. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE.

NHTSA ID

11129247

Incident

Jun 25, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL FRAME WAS INFERIOR AND CONTAINED PREMATURE RUST, HOLES, AND CORROSION. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FRAME COULD FRACTURE AT ANY POINT IN TIME. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK FRACTURED INTO THE FRAME DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME HAD EXTENSIVE PREMATURE RUST, COULD FRACTURE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11079562

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

RUSTY FRAME MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE

NHTSA ID

11076085

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

152,095 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME RUSTED OUT AND FRACTURED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, OPENED A CASE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11072518

Incident

Feb 5, 2018

FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE RUST INSIDE AND OUT . SUSPENSION AND ROCKER PANELS ARE AFFECTED ALSO. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT A FRAME RECALL SINCE THEY HAVE DONE SO WITH OTHER TOYOTA FRAMES

NHTSA ID

11056377

Incident

Sep 30, 2017

Mileage

200,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 150,000 MILES AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE TRUCK RUNS GREAT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FRAME I CAN NO LONGER DIVE THIS ON THE ROADS.

NHTSA ID

11020476

Incident

Aug 11, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH WITH LARGE HOLES MECHANIC SAID THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S SO BAD!

NHTSA ID

11004971

Incident

Jul 12, 2017

Mileage

182,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A NEIGHBOR WHO BOUGHT IT NEW. HE TOOK IMPECCABLE CARE OF HIS VEHICLES SO I WAS VERY CONFIDENT IN THE PURCHASE. LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT FROM HIM, ONE OF THE REAR STABILIZERS TORE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME RAIL. AFTER GOING UNDERNEATH TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE, THERE WAS A LOT OF HOLES AND MAJOR CORROSION THAT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THAT WITH THIS SOLID BOX STYLE FRAME, WHY IS THERE NO MEANS FOR ANY WATER OR CONDENSATION THAT BUILDS UP INSIDE THE FRAME TO GET OUT. I WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED UNTIL I INSPECTED IT FURTHER AND WHACKED A FEW PLACES WITH A HAMMER AND SENT IT RIGHT THROUGH THE FRAME! IT WAS A SHAME BECAUSE IT RAN EXCELLENT AND I'M CONFIDENT IT WOULD HAVE WENT ANOTHER 100,000 MILES. INSTEAD I WAS FORCED TO SELL IT FOR A PARTS VEHICLE AND LOST OVER $3000 ON THE DEAL. IF THIS CAN HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF LIKE A COLLECTOR CAR, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW FAST THEY CAN FALL APART IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY NEGLECTED. IT'S TOO BAD THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THEY ARE A FANTASTIC VEHICLE OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11002706

Incident

May 28, 2015

Mileage

148,000 mi

FRAME RUSTED

NHTSA ID

10966591

Incident

Mar 17, 2017

Mileage

56,659 mi