Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Toyota 4Runner submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
FRAME RUST EXCEEDS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. FRAME RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. BOLTS RUSTED. THE FRAME ABSOLUTELY DISINTEGRATING. ENTIRE FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES THE ABS INITIATES AT NEARLY EVERY STOP. WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
I TOOK MY 4 RUNNER TO JOSEPH TOYOTA TO THE HAVE THE ROTORS CHECKED AND THE I WAS TOLD THEY FOUND RUST ON MY MAIN FRAME AND WOULD NOT SERVICE THE CAR. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE MINE WAS NOT SAFE. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. I WAS SHOCKED THAT TOYOTA WOULD TURN ME AWAY AFTER PURCHASING 4 CARS FROM THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 4 RUNNER WASN'T COVERED BY THE RECALL FOR MAIN FRAME RUSTING LIKE THE TACOMA. I THINK WHEN TOYOTA KNOWS THIS PROBLEM EXIST THEY SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. NOT EVERYONE CAN JUST GO BUY ANOTHER CAR. *TR
IN AUGUST OF 2009 I PURCHASED A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH APPROXIMATELY 89,000 MILES ON IT. I DRIVE EVERY DAY FOR WORK AS A SALESPERSON SO I HAVE BECOME QUITE ACCUSTOM TO THE VEHICLE AND THE WAY IT HANDLES. FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE VEHICLE I HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. MORE SPECIFICALLY WITH THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE, BUT ALSO WITH A STIFFNESS THAT OCCURS IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED RAPIDLY. THE ISSUES WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ARE BY FAR THE MOST DISCONCERTING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE ABS ENGAGES THE VEHICLE CEASES TO SLOW DOWN. THIS WILL HAPPEN EVEN IN CONDITIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING SLOWLY. FOR INSTANCE, AT 10 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE WILL SLIDE TWO TO THREE METERS WITHOUT SLOWING. THIS DISTANCE INCREASES WITH ADDITIONAL SPEED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS NOT SLIDING. THIS HAPPENS MOST COMMONLY ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE I SLID INTO AN INTERSECTION, OR BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I HIT A BUMP. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STIFFNESS IN THE BRAKE IS ALSO OF CONCERN TO ME. IF I AM TRYING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HILL I FIND THAT THE BREAK BECOMES VERY STIFF. THIS CAN OFTEN LEAD TO THE SITUATION WHERE THE DANGEROUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURS. THE PEDAL BECOMES VERY STIFF AND THEN IF I HIT A BUMP THE VEHICLE GOES OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION. ANY RESEARCH INTO A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SHAKES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHILE BRAKING. IT IS VISIBLY NOTICEABLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT ALL PASSENGERS IN THE CAR CAN FEEL THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION. IT BECOMES ALMOST VIOLENT AND ALARMING AROUND 70MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND NO ONE CAN FIND A SOLUTION. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT RANGES FROM 96-08 MODELS. *TR
ON FEBRUARY OF 2004 I JUST BOUGHT MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ON THE WAY HOME THE BRAKES WERE VIBRATING WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON THE BRAKES. SO I TURNED AROUND AND BROUGHT IT RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALER. (FAMILY TOYOTA) THEY IN TURN FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED THEY VIBRATED. I TOOK IT TO B&D AUTO FRIENDS OF MINE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO GET MY ROTOR REPLACED SO I DID. $310 IN REPAIRS. NOW AFTER BEING TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS 4RUNNER IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. DEC. 2005 I TOOK IT BACK TO B&D AUTO AND SAME PROBLEM NEEDED ROTORS AND THE BRAKES OR WEARING AT DIFFERENT ANGLES. SO I HAD IT REPLACED. ($310) AGAIN. THIS PAST WEEKEND 1/13/2007 I WAS OUT WITH MY FRIENDS CAMPING AND I HAD TO DO SOME DIRT DRIVING UP AND DOWN STEEP HILLS. THE BAKES UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE DIDN'T DO SO WELL. AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE HILL TO THE CAMP IT WAS VERY HARD TO STOP AND SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME AND MY FRIENDS. ON THE WAY HOME THE BRAKES KEEP VIBRATING AND I DON'T WANT TO THROW MORE MONEY INTO THIS ON GOING PROBLEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *NM
CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES. *NM
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE CAR WAS NEW. *JB
IN COLD WEATHER BRAKES DO NOT WORK IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE RESULTING IN CAR BACKING UP OR MOVING FORWARD WHEN PLACED IN GEAR. THIS OCCURS IN SPITE OF PRESSING HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES PEDAL FEELS LIKE YOU ARE SECURE BUT THEY ARE NOT WORKING. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
EXPERIENCE HEAVY VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH 2 SETS OF ROTORS IN 2 YEARS. DEALER IS OF NO HELP. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND DRIVE MY CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS SUV DAILY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, JUST WANTED IT OUT THERE IN CASE ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WAS DELAYED IN BRAKING WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
I HAVE 49,000 MILES ON TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AND AM ON MY 4TH SET OF ROTORS. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS OUR DRIVING HABITS AND NOT THE FAULT OF THE DESIGN. THEY ARE 16" BRAKES ON 16" TIRES; TIRES ARE OEM FROM GOODYEAR. *LA
WARPED ROTORS ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER 2WD SR5 CAUSING VIBRATIONS PROBLEMS AT 37,000 MILES. THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM SHOULD BE FIXED AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION GAS PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, FORCING CONSUMER INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE BRAKES WERE STILL DEPRESSING. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS ANTI LOCK BRAKES WOULD SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP (KERRY TOYOTA - FLORENCE, KY) REPLACED MY FRONT ROTORS AT 18,000 MILES DUE TO WARPING. THEY ARE NOW VIBRATING AGAIN (36,800 MILES) DUE TO WARPING. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS (ONLY 50% WORN). THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW SUGGESTING THAT THE ROTORS BE TURNED ($138)WHICH I FEEL IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THEY SAY ITS 'NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR'. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE. I'M NOT TOWING ANYTHING NOR DO I LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WHERE LONG DOWN-HILL BRAKING COULD BE AN ISSUE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW ON THE PART OF TOYOTA. *JB
I HAVE LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND I AM ON MY 3RD SET OF ROTORS. THE LAST SET LASTED LESS THAN A YEAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THE ROTORS SURE LOOK SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE TRUCK AND THE SIZE OF THE TIRES. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS BEFORE ON ANY OF MY VEHICLES. THE DEALER SAID IT COULD BE MY WIFE'S FAULT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.. PLEASE HELP ME. *JB
ROTORS WARPED FOR THE 3RD TIME. *TT
ROTORS OVERHEAT, WARP. DEALER STATES IT IS BECAUSE I LIVE WHERE FEW ROADS ARE STRAIGHT. *AK
SERVICE DEPT. SAID ROTORS OVERHEAT AND WARP BECAUSE OF WHERE I LIVE. *AK
CONSUMER STATES DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON DRY OR WET SURFACE THE WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY AND VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM *TT
I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AT ABOUT 25 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR SPEED ON A SLIGHTLY WET ROAD. WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT THE DIVIDER WALL ON THE PASSANGER SIDE AND ROLLED OVER.*AK
MY DEALER TOLD ME THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONTIONS, THAT MY ROTORSWILL GET OUT OF TRUE. THEY SAY THIS IS DO TO HEAT, AKA LONG BRAKING, DOWN HILL. I TALKED WITH MY SERVICE MANAGER AT FREMONT TOYOTA ABOUT THIS AND HIS 4RUNNER DOES IT, BUT IS A FEW YEARS OLDER THAN MY TRUCK. IF THE ROTTERS HEAT AND GET OUT OF TRUE AND WHILE BRAKING DOWNHILL THE FRONT END OF THE 4RUNNER HAS A MAGJOR VIBRATION AND THE TRUCK FEELS LIKE ITS YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT AND THEY(OLD TOYOTA WORKS, ETC.) SAY THAT THE 4RUNNER BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT DESIGNED RIGHT. IF THE ROTTERS GET OUT OF TRUE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION THE ROTTERS GET OUT OF TRUE, CAUSED BY HEAT; IT SEEMS THAT THE HEAT DISAPATION FOR THE FRON BRAKES NEEDS TO BE BETTER AND OR A BIGGER/HARDER ROTTER TO HANDLE THE WIGHT OF THE TRUCK AND IT BRAKES AND THE ROTTERS HEAT UP.*AK
VEHICLE WAS MOVING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR INTO A PARKING SPOT WHILE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING PRESSED , ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS AN INSTANT ENGINE SURGE WHICH PROPELLED THE VEHICLE OVER THE PARKING LOT MEDIA AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR. *AK
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED WOULD HAVE VIBRATIONS WHILE GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND HAD ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED DUE TO WARPING.*AK
THE VEHICLE HAS THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR A 15 INCH RIM, HOWEVER VEHICLE CAME STOCKED WITH 16 INCH RIMS WHICH REQUIRES A LARGER 16 INCH ROTOR, THE CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT THE DEALER PROVIDE THE VEHICLE WITH THE APPROPRIATE ROTOR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED POOR BRAKING AND PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKES. NLM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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