Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 102 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 102, in the owner's own words
The hole underneath frame is rusted into and there is a bunch of wielding done to it and it's very unsafe to drive and the car lot guy keeps saying he wants it back on the road
The frame is rusted almost in half a mechanic said it's not safe to drive it will kill someone. The car lot that is selling me the car said he can fix it but it's being held together by welds and c foam. He wants me to still pay for it. I've complained about not being able to drive over 45 without swaying badly and they keep doing stuff to it saying it's fixed and it's not. It's to dangerous to drive. I have a video of underneath but it won't let me upload it
We recently looked at this vehicle at Toyota of Ann Arbor car lot. After taking the vehicle to a private Professional Certified Car Inspector we were told that that the passenger side Frame had a catastrophic Crack that ran 7' from front to back and over the forward facing Rear Leaf Spring Shackle Support making the vehicle unsafe for any driving. They showed us the frame damage and showed us how wire mesh and foam spray had been used in an attempt to hide it. We were scared to drive it back to the dealer (we drove very slow). We informed them of the damage and they were very rude and asked us to leave. My only goal here is to insure that this vehicle is not put on the road were it could result in death or injury.
Section of frame broke and fell to the pavement. Vehicle bouncing and went off road causing damage to front driver side bumper, turn signal light housing, headlight. Extensive Back frame rusting has made vehicle dangerous. Frame has many soft spots. Both back shocks rusted and broken. Replace shocks but frame will eventually brake. This is my only vehicle. So, I will continue to drive and pray that this vehicle stays together and doesn't result in death. Front frame and suspension are also rusted and rusting. Please help !
Frame is rotted out. Mechanic lifted it on hoist and frame is rusted terribly and said not drivable.
The frame is rusted thru in many places that hold the rearend in the frame and along the side rails of this 4 Runner Toyota 2000, the suspionsion arm rusted and broke free from the frame.
I REPORTED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH A DEFECTIVE FRAME WELD ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, WHICH CAUSED MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL SUPPORT TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH. THIS CAUSED A SEVERE, UNEXPECTED SWAYING OF THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH AND ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND HEARD A "POP." VEHICLE STARTED SWERVING BADLY -- TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. REAR END WAGGING HORRIFICALLY NEARLY HITTING CARS IN OTHER LANES. MANAGED TO GET TO SHOULDER BUT COULDNT SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. GOT VEHICLE OFF AT EXIT AND TO GARAGE. WAS TOLD FRAME SNAPPED AND REAR END CONTROL ARM NO LONGER ATTACHED REAR END TO FRAME. FRAME ROT EXTENSIVE. SCARY AS HELL. NO OTHER RUST ON VEHICLE. THOUGHT VEHICLE WOULD FLIP!
VEHICLE STARTED HANDLING POORLY. I HAD RECENTLY REPLACED THE REAR SHOCKS AND THOUGHT I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT DONE. BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO POINTED OUT THAT MY REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM BRAKCET ON THE PASSENGER HAD ROTTED AND BROKEN, CAUSING THE SQUIRRELY HANDLING. SHORTLY AFTER, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AT ~70MPH, I HEARD A CLUNK AND THE TAIL END OF THE TRUCK STARTED JUMPING/SWERVING. TOOK BACK ROADS HOME AND ASSESSED THE PROBLEM. LO AND BEHOLD MY DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM BRACKET ENCOUNTERED THE SAME FATE. ROTTED AND BROKEN. MY VEHICLE'S FIRST OWNER WAS IN MINNESOTA BUT SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN TEXAS WHERE THERE IS NO SALT ON THE ROADS. I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN TO SEAL AND PREVENT FURTHER RUST ON THE FRAME AFTER PURCHASE AND YET THIS STILL HAPPENS? MY TRUCK IS NO LONGER DRIVE-ABLE AS IT'S EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO HAVE MY REAR AXLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. SO UNTIL I CAN MANAGE TO 1) FIND SOMEONE WILLING TO WELD MY FRAME 2) PAY FOR SUCH A SERVICE I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE... I PAID $2000 FOR THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WITH ONLY 170K MILES ON IT.
RUST AND HOLES IN THE FRAME. *TR
DUE TO THE DREADED ' TOYOTA ROT ' FRAME FAILURE THE SPARE TIRE MECHANISM HAD RUSTED OFF GOING DOWN US HIGHWAY 25 IN KENTUCKY AND PUT A POOR MAN AND HIS CHILDREN IN HARMS WAY. TOYOTA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY !!! I FEEL THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES KNOWING THE FRAME ISSUES HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE MID 90S!!!! WHEN I LOOK UP MY VEHICLE IT HAS ZERO RECALLS SHAME ON YOU TOYOTA THERE SHOULD BE A REMEDY EVEN IF IT'S SPLITTING THE COST WITH YOUR CUSTOMER. VERY UNSATISFIED
THE UNDER FRAME ROTTED OUT AND BROKE WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED WEAVING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE BEFORE SLOWING DOWN.PULLED OVER BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE HAD A FLAT. WAS NOT THE CASE. GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND ANY TIME WE WENT OVER 45MPH IT STARTED TO VIOLENTLY WEAVE BACK AND FORTH. LUCKILY WE DID NOT ROLL OVER OR CRASH WITH AN AUTISTIC CHILD IN THE BACK OF THE 4RUNNER OR MY VERY ILL HUSBAND ON OXYGEN. IF NOT ADDRESSED OR RECALLED SOON, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. MY 4RUNNER ONLY HAS 168,000 MILES ON IT. *BF CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED WITH HOLES. THE CONTACT ALSO FOUND THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONCTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000. *JB
MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 180,000 MILES ON THE CAR, HAS ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF RUST. BEING A DAILY DRIVER IT IS NEAR THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED. DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER. AS A SOLID RUNNING CAR, IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF MONEY TO JUNK THE CAR.
"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.
"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.
"RUSTED FRAME" MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHILE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTILL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.
FRAME RUST CAUSING SUSPENSION ARM TO DROP WHILE DRIVING. IT DUG INTO ROAD SURFACE WHICH LIFTED ENTIRE REAR INTO THE AIR. KIND OF A POLE-VAULT EFFECT. VERY DANGEROUS. CHECKING FOR FRAME RUST IS NOT SOMETHING LISTED IN TOYOTAS MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE NOR SHOULD IT HAVE TO BE BY OWNERS
WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND MY FRAME BROKE AND CAUSE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO SHIFT CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO TOW MY VEHICLE.
TAMARA RECALL.. MY FRAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS ROTTING OUT WHERE THE BACK FRONT SPRING HANGERS SUSPENSION MOUNTS TO THE FRAME. ALSO THE FRAME RAILS ARE ROTTED OUT ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME AND IS SOON TO BE TOO DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. NOTICED WHEN LOOKING THIS PROBLEM UP ONLINE IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I REALLY LIKE MY 4RUNNER BUT I HAVE CHILDREN THAT I WOULD BE AFRAID TO LET BE RIDING IN IT IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO WORSEN!! SO IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE PARKED
I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I HEARD A CLANKING SOUND FROM THE REAR, THE CAR STARTED TO SWAY TERRIBLY AND SHAKE AND I LOST CONTROL. I CROSSED OVER THE HIGHWAY LANES, ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ENDED UP IN THE DITCH WITH THE CAR UPSIDE DOWN. A WITNESS DRIVING BEHIND ME SAID THE WHEEL OF THE CAR FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, WE SAW THE TIRE'S TREAD HAD BEEN RIPPED OFF, THERE WERE GASHES IN THE TIRE, AND THE REAR LEFT CONTROL ARM HAD FALLEN OFF. THE CAR HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION, AND THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH ONLY 15,000 MILES ON THEM. THE CAR HAD 118,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM TOYOTA HAS BEEN HAVING WITH OTHER 4RUNNERS OF THIS MILEAGE AND OF OTHER TOYOTA MODELS WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION OF THE SUSPENSION.THE IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR AT THAT MILEAGE AND I'M LUCKY I SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT FAILS WITHOUT WARNING.
FRAME ON BOTH MY 2000 4RUNNERS IS ROTTING OUT BOTH BODIES ARE IN PERFECT SHAPE CANT WAIT TO SUE TOYOTA WHEN THEY FAIL .
FRAME RUSTED AND TIRE CAME DETACHED FROM CAR WHILE DRIVING. FELT LIKE DRIVING ON ICE
THE FRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MEETS IS RUSTING OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. IT IS GOING TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE RIPPED OFF FROM THE FRAME RAIL. THERE IS ALMOST NO RUST ON THE BODY OF THE TRUCK AND IT SPEND MOST OF ITS LIFE IN ARIZONA OUT OF THE SALT BELT. IN ONLY 5 YEARS THE FRAME HAS STARTED TO DESEGREGATE AND IT HAS BEEN CLEANED REQULARLY. I'VE STARTED UNDERCOATING IT WITH PETROLEUM BASED PRODUCTS AND RUST CONVERTERS/ INHIBITORS AND IT IS STILL JUST METING AWAY. THE RUST HOLE HAS GROWN TO OVER 2 TIMES THE SIZE IT WAS 2 MONTHS AGO. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE FRAMES ARE THIS BAD, I HAD GM VEHICLES OLDER AND LESS MAINTAINED DO BETTER THAN THIS.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2000 4RUNNER, IT STARTED TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY, IT WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THANK GOD THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY, I HAD TIME TO GET IT BACK IN MY LANE. IF NOT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A CASUALTY. I GOT IT HOME AND CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE WHOLE FRAME WAS RUSTED, HOLES EVERYWHERE YOU LOOKED. I JUST SPENT $2,000 ON NEW TIRES AND OTHER REPAIRS THREE MONTHS AGO. NOW THE 4RUNNER IS USELESS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY RECALL. WITH ALL THE 4RUNNERS ON THE ROAD THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE KILLED. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO FAIL UNTIL IT THROWS YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND KILLING EVERYONE IN YOU CAR AND OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE OTHER CARS THAT YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH. THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL AND HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE FRAMES. THIS 2000 4RUNNER IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, NO RUST ON EXTERIOR AND RUNS GREAT. DOES NOT BURN OR USE ANY OIL. BAD DEFECTIVE RUSTY FRAME WHICH WAS A POOR DESIGN OR LACK OF PREP IN MANUFACTURING.
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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