2006 Toyota 4Runner Other / unspecified Problems

UNKNOWN, found excessive rust on undercarriage

NHTSA ID

11587743

Incident

May 8, 2024

While towing a 16' utility trailer using the 2" ball on a Switch Ball #42178, the ball separated from the shank. I was driving my 2007 Toyota 4Runner traveling on the highway at about 60mph at the time. Fortunately the safety chains did their job and prevented the trailer from completely disconnecting from the vehicle. Upon stopping my vehicle several hundred feet after separation, I found the 2" ball still locked and secured inside of the trailer's coupler, and the shank still securely attached to my vehicle. As a result my rear bumper is now heavily damaged from the trailer contacting it after uncoupling from the vehicle. I'm glad nobody was hurt or killed as a result of this incident. If the safety chains had not done their job, the unattached trailer could have caused serious damage, injury, and/or death. This incident could have also resulted in losing control of my vehicle, which thankfully I did not. This Switch Ball #42178 was purchased in September of 2022 and this was the first time I've used it. At the time of the incident I had towed the trailer approximately 75 miles. I have a background in selling and installing utility trailers and towing accessories. I'm confident the product was installed and used as directed. I contacted Curt Manufacturing with the above concerns. At their request I shipped the trailer ball to them for inspection. They have denied any responsibility stating their product did not fail. They have blamed the incident on "user error". I'm happy to share all communication with the NHTSA. I am including pictures of the damage to my bumper which was caused by the trailer after the Curt ball became disconnected from it's mating shank. I can share more about my assessment of why this failure occurred upon request.

NHTSA ID

11553861

Incident

Sep 19, 2023

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY BACK LEFT TIRE FRAME BROKE APART. THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED SEVERE RUST ON MY FRAME. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND I COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY CRASH. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND FILED CASE #2006012210 AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE FRAME TO BE REPLACED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT THE 2005-2011 4RUNNERS THAT SUFFER FROM CORROSION SO SEVERE THE WEAKENED FRAMES MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO RIDE IN THE SUVS. I AM LUCK TO BE ALIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. DO THEY NEED SOMEONE TO DIE TO TAKE ACTION.

NHTSA ID

11360891

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

217,000 mi

CORROSION AND ROTTING OF THE FRAME. SIGNIFICANT AREAS ROTTING IN RIGHT FRONT FRAME TOWARDS FRONT BUMPER MOUNTING AREAS AND RIGHT REAR FRAME ON FRONT SIDE OF RIGHT REAR TIRE. RIGHT FRONT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE IN A FRONT END COLLISION. FRONT END VIBRATIONS

NHTSA ID

11309590

Incident

Dec 19, 2019

Mileage

116,400 mi

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WOULD MOVE ONLY SLOWLY. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES, TRIED ENGAGING 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND OTHER DRIVE FUNCTIONS, TRIED ACCELERATING, BUT VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE SLOWLY. AFTER TURNING OFF AND ON ONE MORE TIME THE VEHICLE DROVE AS NORMAL BUT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT WHILE GOING SLOWLY. MECHANIC HAS INDICATED THAT THIS RESULTED FROM A FAILURE OF THE AIR INJECTION PUMP AND AIR VALVE, WHICH APPARENTLY FOR SOME REASON TURNS OFF TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM ON TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIAS THAT THERE IS AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" OFFERED ON THESE VEHICLES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIR INJECTION PUMP AND AIR VALVES ON 4 RUNNERS ARE THE SAME DESIGN OR SAME MODEL, BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 4 RUNNERS AS FOR TUNDRAS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706163

Incident

Apr 10, 2015

Mileage

118,000 mi

EXTREME WHEEL SHIMMY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. 3 DEALERSHIPS CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM THOUGHT THEY ALL FEEL THE VIBRATION AND SHAKE. TIRES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. FRONT END COMPONENTS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471916

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi

2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISABLES TRACTION CONTROL AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WHEN ON. FOR INSTANCE THE CAR NEEDED A GAS CAP. SO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE TRACTION CONTROL AND VSC LIGHT. ICY CONDITIONS AND HAVING SOMETHING SUCH AS THIS FAIL BECAUSE OF POOR WIRING COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397927

Incident

Dec 27, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STUD SEPARATED AT 70 FT. LBS. OF TORQUE DURING TIRE ROTATION. THE PORTION OF THE STUD THAT BROKE OFF IN THE LUG NUT HAD STRETCHED APPROXIMATELY 1/8" BEFORE SEPARATING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171006

Incident

Oct 15, 2006

Mileage

9,501 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SURF BOARD STRAPPED TO THE LUGGAGE RACK FLEW OFF. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR CROSS BAR DETACHED FROM THE RACK SIDE RAILS. NO WARNING SIGNALS WERE OBSERVED. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE FRONT CROSS BAR MOVED TOWARDS THE REAR HITTING THE REAR CROSS BAR FORCING ITS DETACHMENT. THE CROSS BARS WERE ADJUSTED TO THE SIDE BARS BY THUMB SCREWS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE BOARD COULD HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH FATAL CONSEQUENCES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONVINCED THE THUMB SCREWS WERE NOT SAFE TO STRAP ANY LOAD ON THE LUGGAGE RACK.

NHTSA ID

10171003

Incident

Jul 19, 2006

Mileage

3,500 mi