2004 Toyota 4Runner Driver assistance Problems

Unknown: we were on [XXX] when the car went out of control. It first spun one way and then the other way and then we hit the concrete abutment where the guardrail connects to it. We hit it head on. It was as if we were on ice or oil, unable to gain control or brake. We checked the road and it was dry. Other cars were going by with no problem. The airbags didn’t deploy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11559940

Incident

Dec 11, 2023

TAKATA RECALL, THE RADIATOR MOUNT AND FRAME SUPPORTS ARE RUSTED OUT, ALSO THE REAR SHOCK AND AIR SUSPENSION MOUNTS ARE RUSTED OUT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN SHOCK MOUNT BROKE.

NHTSA ID

11222590

Incident

Jun 12, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

THE VSC AND TRAC OFF WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON AL THE TIME THE ENGINE IS ON. THE VSC BUTTON DOES NOTHING.

NHTSA ID

11220296

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE FRAME HAS SO MUCH RUST ON IT AND OTHER AREAS OF THE UNDERCARGO THAT IT HAS CAUSED MY SPEED AND ABS SENSORS TO WORK IMPROPERLY. SPEEDOMETER WILL JUST QUIT WORKING AND ABS LIGHTS WILL COME ON WITH THE VCS TRAC, VCS OFF, AND ABS LIGHTS ALL COMING ON, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME. THERE IS ALREADY A HOLE RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME AND MECHANIC SAID IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE.

NHTSA ID

11160695

Incident

Nov 18, 2018

Mileage

137,000 mi

ON FEBRUARY 10, 2018, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 4RUNNER IN A SNOWSTORM IN 4WD HIGH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THE STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO START SLIDING AND PUTTING ME ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA DESIGNED ITS VEHICLES TO SHUT OFF THESE CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I SUGGEST THAT TOYOTA BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES TO INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE SOFTWARE FIX. I WROTE TO TOYOTA ON FEBRUARY 13, 2018 (SEE ATTACHMENT) EXPRESSING MY CONCERN. THREE AND A HALF MONTHS LATER, I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE EVEN A CURSORY RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. THEREFORE, I FEEL I MUST NOW NOTIFY NHTSA OF MY CONCERNS.

NHTSA ID

11098609

Incident

Feb 10, 2018

Mileage

179,500 mi

ABS, VSB TRAC ON/OFF, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON SUDDENLY ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS HIGH-PITCHED ALERT. BRAKES EVENTUALLY BECOME DIFFICULT TO WORK. HAD TOWED TO DEALER, BY THE TIME DEALER LOOKED AT, IT WASN'T HAPPENING AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. PICKED UP CAR, HAPPENED AGAIN ON WAY HOME (BOTH TIMES MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS). I AM TOLD THIS MAY BE AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM BUT REGARDLESS, TO FIX IT, IT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ($4500 FIRST QUOTE) AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF A NUMBER OF PARTS/AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY: BRAKE BOOSTER/ACCUMULATOR/MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. BESIDES THE DANGEROUS CONDITION, DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IS BUILT SUCH THAT SO MUCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND COST SO MUCH. PRIOR TO THIS, SEEMED TO HAVE HAD MORE THAN USUAL PROBLEM WITH BRAKES, WITH MULTIPLE FROZEN CALIPERS FOR EXAMPLE.

NHTSA ID

11035217

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

Mileage

158,000 mi

LOSS OF COOLANT WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKING. REPLACED SO MANY THINGS AND KEEP GETTING MISFIRES AND VSC LIGHTS ON CONSTANTLY. ROUGH START UP FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS EVERY TIME STARTED. SLIGHT OVER HEATING IF IDLING ... ALL POINTS NOW LEAD TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET IN WHICH I READ MORE AND MORE AND COMMON WITH 04 V6S.

NHTSA ID

10845999

Incident

Nov 26, 2015

I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUR 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. IT STARTED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WHEN THE MARYLAND STATE EMMISSION TEST FACILITY PLUGGED INTO MY ODBI2 PORT. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WERE ON AND I WENT IN TO THE OFFICE AND COMPLAINED. I FILED A FORM WITH EMISSIONS. I WORK OUT OF TOWN, MY WIFE IS A TEACHER AND WE HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS. GOING TO THE DEALER WAS NOT AN OPTION UNTIL SCHOOL WAS OUR. IN THE MEAN TIME THE TRUCK DROVE FINE OTHER THAN NO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE TIRES SPINNING IF YOU HIT THE PEDDLE TO HARD (NO TRACTION CONTROL OR STABILITY CONTROL. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER OVER THE SUMMER AND THEY HAD TO RESET THE VALUES FOR $110.00 THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID ALL THE VALUES BEING ERASED WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR AND MVA CHEEP SCANNERS. MARYLAND SAID THEY CALLED TOYOTA AND NO ONE HAD EVER HAD THAT PROBLEM. HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN LAST EMISSION TEST. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THE ACTUATOR DOESN'T ENGAGE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THIS WAS APPARENT WHEN MY WIFE LOST CONTROL AND NEARLY FLIPPED THE TRICK OVER AFTER PICKING UP THE KIDS IN A SNOW STORM. I CLIMBED UNDER THE TRUCK IN THE SNOW AND PULLED THE COVER OFF THE ACTUATOR, PULLED OUT THE PLASTIC GEARS AND MANUALLY SHIFTED IT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO GET IT HOME. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WAS ALWAYS USED AT LEAST EVERY MONTH UNTIL THE EMISSION TEST PROBLEMS JUST TO KEEP IT LUBERICATED. THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR LACK THERE OF, COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO MY WIFE AND KIDS. THIS ACTUATOR IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, IF THEY CAN'T DESIGN A ACTUATOR THAT OPERATES WHEN YOU NEED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY THAN GO BACK TO THE OLD STICK AND LINKAGE. 55 PEOPLE DIED IN THE BLIZZARD OF 2016 AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN 3 MORE JUST BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW! P.S. MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT IT NEW, NEVER OFF ROAD!

NHTSA ID

10837656

Incident

Jan 22, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT AROUND 50 MPH AND HAD TO BRAKE AND SUDDENLY THE VSC/ABS BRAKE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND A LOUD ALARM STARTED TO SOUND. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, I JUST PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHOLE SYSTEM WENT OFF. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXIT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER, A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY, SO I DROVE VERY CAREFULLY TO IT AND PARKED THE CAR. WHEN THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, THE VSC, ABS, BRAKE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITH THE AUDIBLE ALARM ONCE AGAIN. SHE ALSO SAID THE BRAKES WERE HARD AND THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT ANYWHERE. REPLACEMENT OF THE SYSTEM COST ME AROUND $3700, OUT OF POCKET. SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR COLLISION, MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY DON'T COVER MAINTENANCE REPAIRS. AFTER CHECKING IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, WHICH THERE WASN'T AND READING ABOUT OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE VSC/ABS BRAKE DASH ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, I TRULY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TOYOTA VEHICLES USING THIS VSC/ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MY CAR HAS ONLY AROUND 60K MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS TOYOTA 4RUNNER.

NHTSA ID

10734030

Incident

Jul 7, 2015

Mileage

60,285 mi

2004 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE HE HAD INTERIOR PACKAGE, INCLUDING A SPORT ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL COULD NOT BE MODIFIED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SILVER WOULD HAVE TO BE STRIPPED OFF THE PEDAL AND THEN MODIFIED, BUT THE SILVER PART OF THE PEDAL WOULD NOT BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD THEN HAVE THE SILVER SPORT PACKAGE ON ALL THE OTHER PEDAL INTERIOR PEDAL, BUT WOULD HAVE A THINNER, BLACK, ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER CHOSE NOT TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10681240

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN NORTH CAROLINA VSC LIGHT TURNED ON, TSC LIGHT TURNED ON, ABS LIGHT TURNED ON, BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON. CAR WAS DRIVABLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THEN BRAKING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. LIMPED HOME WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD IN HER CAR SEAT AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT INCIDENT AS GIVEN TIME OF DAY AND LOCATION FROM HOME, VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC MADE TRAVEL POSSIBLE. SEVERAL TIMES THOUGH I CONTEMPLATED STOPPING AND CALLING A TOW SERVICE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, IT'S A $3000 PART THE ABS MODULE AND $700 INSTALLATION PRICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622083

Incident

Aug 9, 2014

Mileage

187,529 mi

8/6/14-STARTED MY 2004 4-RUNNER TO LEAVE WORK AND A HIGH-PITCHED ALARM SOUND STARTED AND THE VSC, ABS, AND OTHER DASH LIGHT SYMBOLS CAME ON. I REVERSED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT, AND BRAKE, AND NOTHING OTHER THAN THOSE THINGS WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I PULLED FORWARD AND PULLED INTO ANOTHER SPOT AND CALLED MY HUSBAND TO LET HIM HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON TO SEE IF HE KNEW WHAT IT MAY BE. HE ASKED ME TO REVERSE, PULL FORWARD, AND SEE WHAT ELSE I HEARD/SAW, SO I DID SO DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (ABOUT 5 PARKING SPACES AWAY) ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE 4TH LEVEL OF THE PARKING GARAGE I WAS IN. I STARTED TO BRAKE TO TURN LEFT AND NO BRAKES. I PUSHED THE BRAKE PETAL AS HARD AS I COULD WITH BOTH FEET AND NOTHING, SO I PUSHED THE PARKING BREAK AND AS IT CAME TO A STOP, I PANICKED AND THREW IT INTO PARK. I WAS WITHIN 1 FOOT OF THE CONCRETE WALL 4 STORIES OFF THE GROUND. GOT IT TO A LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD THEM I JUST GOT NEW BRAKES 6 WEEKS AGO, COULD THEY HAVE POSSIBLY GONE BAD? THEY CALLED AND SAID IT WAS THE ABS MODULE THAT NEEDED REPLACED AND THE USED PART AND LABOR IS $3000 AND THE NEW PART AND LABOR IS $5500.00. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND ARE BEING TOLD "RARE DEFECT". THIS "RARE DEFECT" COULD HAVE BARRELED ME THROUGH A CONCRETE WALL OR WORSE. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN THE PARKING GARAGE WITH ME AT THE TIME AND I WAS AT A MINIMAL SPEED. I WAS LEAVING DURING A LUNCH BREAK. HAD I BEEN LEAVING AND THIS OCCURRED AFTER WORK, I WOULD HAVE HIT SOMEONE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET TOYOTA TO FIX THIS "RARE DEFECT"? I HAVE A CALL INTO THEM AND OF COURSE, NO CALL BACK YET. SO, I'M CURRENTLY STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAD A RECALL FOR AN ACCELERATION ISSUE AND A "RARE DEFECT" FOR A BRAKE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10620809

Incident

Aug 6, 2014

Mileage

121,000 mi

SUFFERED SUDDEN, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF VSC/ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. VSC, ABS, BRAKE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITH AN AUDIBLE ALARM. VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 1 MILE, THEN LOST MOST BRAKING CONTROL. NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO HAVING MINIMAL BRAKE SYSTEM. HAD TO USE EVASIVE STEERING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE MANEUVERS TO SLOW AND STOP VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON AUTO REPAIR BLOGS THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE VSC/ABS SYSTEM IN MOST TOYOTA VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY CAMRY'S. REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PART COSTS $3200 AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED BY ANY MANUFACTURER. PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE A RECALL IS NEEDED ON ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES USING THE VSC/ABS SYSTEMS BEFORE MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607748

Incident

Jun 30, 2014

Mileage

99,000 mi

WHILE APPROACHING A RED STOP LIGHT, THE ABS, BRAKE! VSC OFF, VSC TRAC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON ALONG WITH A LOUD BUZZER. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. 1 BLOCK LATER I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THAT WAS LUCKILY EMPTY, BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK, I HAD NO BRAKES...ZERO!!! I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT, THAT IT'S THE ABS MODULE AND UNATTAINABLE WITH TOYOTA AT $2500 PLUS THE INSTALLATION. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A USED ONE, BUT APPARENTLY THEY ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AND VERY HARD TO FIND. THIS SENDS OFF A FEW RED FLAGS IN ITSELF. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION, SOME HAVE NOT HAD AN OUTCOME AS MINE, AND HAVE HAD CRASHES AND INJURIES AND I WONDER HOW MANY DEATHS HAVE RESULTED FROM THIS. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT TOYOTA HAS TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THIS PROBLEM, DOING NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMER, NO RECALLS, NO WARNINGS AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY. I FIND THIS FRIGHTENING AND WONDER HOW MANY INJURIES AND DEATHS IT WILL TAKE BEFORE TOYOTA OPENS THEIR EYES AND STEPS UP TO REMEDY THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. MY TRUCK IS NOW WORTHLESS AND UNDRIVABLE UNTIL WE CAN HOPEFULLY FIND A PART, AND AM FORCED TO RENT A VEHICLE UNTIL THE SITUATION IS RESOLVED. I'M HARDLY IN A POSITION TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR WHEN IT REALLY IS A FAULTY ITEM ON THE VEHICLE AND THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S REVOLTING THAT TOYOTA ISSUES A RECALL FOR FRONT FLOOR MATS, BUT NOTHING FOR A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. HOW MANY INJURIES/DEATHS DOES IT TAKE BEFORE TOYOTA TAKES ACCOUNTABILITY AND DOES SOMETHING FOR THE CONSUMER ASIDE FROM CHARGING A SMALL FORTUNE FOR A PART THAT IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE? I AM THANKING GOD DAILY THAT I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY...I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS, HAD I BEEN. I'M DONE WITH TOYOTA AND WILL TAKE THIS TO ANY LEVEL NEEDED FOR RESOLUTION BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE IS INJURED OR DIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595268

Incident

May 26, 2014

Mileage

111,000 mi

DRIVING VEHICLE IN FRIGID WEATHER AND ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WENT ON, FOLLOWED BY VSC TRAC LIGHT AND VSC OFF LIGHT GOING ON. WENT TO SERVICE STATION THEY CHECKED CAR AND WERE ABLE TO TURN OFF ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO EMPIRE TOYOTA IN ONEONTA NY 1/18 AND WAS TOLD LOW BATTERY CAUSED PROBLEM. DIAGNOSIS AND BATTERY CHANGE COST $202.33. I/29 SAME 3 LIGHTS GO ON. RETURNED TO DEALER, TOLD COMPUTER SENSED A FUTURE POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAR DESIGNED TO DISABLE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM (A PERSONAL SAFETY SYSTEM) BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE FUTURE EXHAUST EMISSION PROBLEM. PRICE QUOTED ON CATALYTIC REPAIR WAS $2,200. REPAIR OFFER DECLINED, ENGINE LIGHT RESET - DEALER REFUSED TO TURN VSC SYSTEM STATING IT COULDN'T BE DONE UNLESS CAT. WAS REPLACED; CHARGER ANOTHER $86.40 FOR DIAGNOSIS OF SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE VEHICLE THROUGH ICE & SNOW WITH THIS " VSC -SAFETY FEATURE" INTENTIONALLY SHUT OFF. TO DATE ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT GONE PACK ON INDICATING TO ME THERE HAS BEEN NO CAT PROBLEM, YET MY SAFETY HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY COMPROMISED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566183

Incident

Jan 7, 2014

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 25 MPH AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

NHTSA ID

10560790

Incident

Jan 21, 2013

Mileage

164,000 mi

ROUGH IDLE AT MORNING START UP. VSC, TRAC OFF INDICATORS ILLUMINATE. OBD II CODE OF P0306, MISFIRE CYLINDER #6. HAVING TO REFILL ENGINE COOLANT ON A WEEKLY BASIS. PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. TOYOTA SUPER LONG LIFE ENGINE COOLANT IS SLOWLY LEAKING INTO CYLINDER #6. ROUGH IDLE NOTICEABLE AT MORNING START UP BECAUSE THE FLUID BUILDS UP TO A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OVERNIGHT. ESTIMATED COST TO FIX IS $3000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543810

Incident

Feb 14, 2013

Mileage

89,000 mi

DRIVING TO CORAL GABLES AT AROUND 20 MPH, ALL OF SUDDEN FOUR LIGHTS COMES ON AND LOUD BEEPING NOISE. VSC, TRAC OFF, ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS ON AT THE SAME TIME, BRAKE PEDDLE IS HARD AND NO BRAKES AT ALL. I HAD TO GO INTO NEUTRAL TRY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO TRY AND STOP AND PULL OVER, I HAD TO TOW MY TRUCK HOME, I CALL THE TOYOTA DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY I NEED TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY COSTING $2600.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543755

Incident

Aug 22, 2013

Mileage

144,094 mi

I WAS BACKING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I THEN SHIFTED INTO FORWARD FOR ABOUT 1 FOOT AND THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE (I WAS MANEUVERING MY CAR). WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE WENT TO MAXIMUM POWER (INSTANTLY). I JAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND THE REAR TIRES STARTED TO SPIN AND THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS BOUNCING UP AND DOWN AS THE TIRES WERE SPINNING. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM.. MY CAR HAS TO REMAIN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS BECAUSE A TOYOTA FACTORY REP HAS TO VISIT THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505272

Incident

Mar 30, 2013

Mileage

47,000 mi

I EXPERIENCED A TERRIFYING "ACCELERATION PROBLEM" THIS PAST WEEK AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR AT A LOCAL STORE. I'D ALREADY SLOWED DOWN TO ALMOST A HALT, BUT AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD WITH SHOCKING SPEED. I INSTINCTIVELY THREW THE GEAR INTO PARK; IT STOPPED AS IT CRASHED INTO THE STEPS LEADING TO THE STORE ENTRANCE. THE CAUSE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH A FLOOR MAT (I DON'T HAVE ANY) NOR "STICKING" GAS PEDAL (THE CAR HAD ALREADY COME ALMOST TO A HALT BEFORE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED). THE BRAKES WERE USELESS AND FELT LIKE THEY WERE DISENGAGED; ACCELERATION MAY HAVE OCCURRED AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL (THIS IS STILL CLOUDY IN MY MIND). I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IN 2004. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD ANY PROBLEM. I WONDERED WHAT I MIGHT HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM AFTER SO MANY YEARS WITHOUT ANY. I REALIZED I'D NEVER USED THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE, UNTIL RECENTLY, ONLY IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I WAS NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THE SUDDEN FORWARD SURGE FELT EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS ON CRUISE CONTROL AND DROPS BENEATH THE SPEED AT WHICH IT'S SET; IT SURGES FORWARD, ON "ITS OWN." I BELIEVE THERE'S A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP. MY CONCERN IS TWO-FOLD: FIXING A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM IN MY OWN TOYOTA, AND HELPING IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM SO IT CAN BE FIXED BY TOYOTA BEFORE ANOTHER TRAGEDY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504751

Incident

Mar 23, 2013

Mileage

50,850 mi

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT AT 55 MPH, WITH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR ONLY (WITH NO LOSS OF STABILITY OR CONTROL AND NO WET CONDITIONS), SUDDENLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY A BEEPING NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD OCCURS ALONG WITH THE 4RUNNER PULLING REAL HARD TO THE LEFT. (ALMOST AS IF I PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN...). ALSO FEELS LIKE BRAKE IS APPLIED DURING ALL OF THIS TO THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAUSING ME TO LOSE ACCELERATION - REGARDLESS OF HAVING MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER A YEAR AGO WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING AND I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. BOTH INSTANCES NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479870

Incident

Oct 11, 2012

Mileage

105,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CEL (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) CAME ON AND THE VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL. APPARENTLY TOYOTA DISABLES VSC WHEN THE CEL IS TRIGGERED. IN MY CASE, THE 2 TIMES IT HAS OCCURRED HAS BEEN DUE TO EMISSIONS RELATED FAILURES (1ST TIME THE CAT FAILED, 2ND TIME ONE OF THE O2 SENSORS FAILED). IN THE 1ST CASE, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I WAS APPROACHING THE END OF THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THEY MADE THE REPAIRS AND CLEARED ALL THE CODES SO WASN'T AWARE THAT THE VSC SYSTEM WAS ACTUALLY DISABLED. THE 2ND TIME (O2 FAILURE) I REPLACED THE FAILED O2 SENSOR, THE CEL HAS CLEARED, HOWEVER THE VSC LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND VSC IS DISABLED. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT TOYOTA DISABLES KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS DUE TO EMISSIONS RELATED FAILURES ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INHERENT STABILITY PROBLEMS WITH SUV'S. IF I'M ON A TRIP WITH MY FAMILY AND AN O2 SENSOR FAILS, OR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILS, OR THE GAS CAP FAILS, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT HELP KEEP MY FAMILY AND I SAFE SHOULD NOT BE DISABLED! I THINK THIS DESERVES AN INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456633

Incident

Apr 6, 2011

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME JAMMED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 65 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AS THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO HER HAVING AFTERMARKET FLOOR MATS, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,200.

NHTSA ID

10437703

Incident

Oct 22, 2011

Mileage

67,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT BECAME TRAPPED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE THE CONTACT WANTED THE VEHICLE FLOOR MAT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT ONLY THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT WAS REPLACED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10433736

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND REMAINED STUCK. SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. SHE ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD LOCKED AND FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,262.

NHTSA ID

10428019

Incident

Sep 25, 2011

Mileage

67,262 mi