Sent my vehicle for safety inspection and it was failed. Badly rusted frame was sited as one reason.
1998 Toyota 4RUNNER body complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 78, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Taken my 4runner for annual maintenance and my mechanic found extreme rust damage on left rear frame support. Advise me it was unsafe to drive due to a 2 1/2 foot long rust hole in the frame. Pictures attached. Checking to see if toyota has implemented recall on your defective frame material. It looks like the rust issue has been occurring for many years.
Left ball joint broke while driving after it was serviced at a toyota dealership. Then they told me my frame was rusted after they inspected it. I heard there was a recall on rusted frames.
Excessive frame rust open holes and cracks over time.
Was told by local dealer, who has serviced this truck since purchased, in march 2018, that the frame had rust through and was unsafe to drive. This was the first time I had heard of this common problem with our tacoma. The dealer had never presented us with the option of replacing or being bought out or buying an extended warranty on the frame. We understand that this is an old truck, but given the local dealer never told us of any potential problem, we were unaware of any potential safety problems. In fact, just a year earlier the we had the truck in for basic service (oil change), and told the service rep that my wife was planning a 1,000 trip and asked if the truck was okay for the trip, and was told it was fine - how it been fine a year ago, when this year the frame is rusted through. Iplease advise. Thank you for your consideration.
Major issue with frame rust. It now has a 6 inch hole in my frame. Very unsafe to drive. This is a known problem with these vehicles. I have called toyota and they refuse to do anything
I purchased this truck only 20 days ago. I have been loyal to toyota all my life and my family too. The truck appeared to be in immaculate shape. However after its 3rd drive I noticed a sway when letting off the accelerator. I took it toyota and they deemed it unsafe to drive. The entire frame is rotted out. I have read online that this is a common issue and is very dangerous causing the frame to break and people wrecked. Toyota needs to recall these 3rd gen 4runners. Seeing as how they recalled every other model for the same issue except the 4runner.
During a state inspection of the vehicle I was made aware that the vehicle was not safe to be on the road. The entire frame rusted out front to back. You can even stick your hand inside the hollowed out frame.
I own a 1998 toyota 4runner that I bought from a toyota dealer in 2001, after about three to four year later, I started to notice rust showing up on the rear bumper and also under neath the vehicle so I bought a gallon of rust prof paint and started to coat beneath the truck with the hope to stop the rust from taking over the vehicle. Well the long and short story is I have finaly lost the battle after replacing rear bumpers,two rear shocks and a muffuler systems. I was told today that my 4 runner is unsafe to drive. I will include some pics and let you decide what happen.
When to get inspection sticker and fail because frame had holes on undercarriage and also on the chassis
Frame is loaded with holes body panels are perfect. Car is unsafe to drive and will not pass safety inspection. With only 80,000 miles
Badly rusted frame, by mechanic unsafe to drive it. Started making noises under the car reason why I took to the mechanic.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota 4runner. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle shook violently without warning. It was diagnosed that the chassis and control arm were rotted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
After multi-point inspection, dealer informed me that the "frame is very rusted and is rotting out where rear suspension meets frame. Do not recommend to drive."
Frame rusted out and rear axle support detached from frame while driving, causing vehicle to sway uncontrollably almost rolling over. Found that manufacturer has recall on trucks with similar frame for rust issue, but not this vehicle because there are not enough complaints or deaths.
Extensive under body frames scaly rust and with specific serious damage to rear struts base. Whole piece supporting strut base broken completely broken around and sunk in creating loud noise with the list impact. I have several pictures as proof.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the rear passenger side frame was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 161,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle veered to the left and right before wobbling violently. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear passenger side of the frame was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.
The frame or the chassis and all around it are heavily corroded that I was advised by the inspector and the tire place (costco) where I brought the car for tire replacement not to drive it as it is unsafe. I understand that the toyota tacoma of the same year with the same kind oh chassis was recalled by toyota. My question is why not do the same for the 4runner?
I own a wonderful 1998 toyota 4runner ltd sport vehicle. The frame is disappearing due to severe rust. The heat shield has worn away, and now my feet get very hot after just 20 minutes of local driving. Have had it checked by a garage, nothing functionally wrong with my SUV.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have the radiator replaced however, while the vehicle was being hoisted on the lift, the sub frame fractured. The contact stated that there was severe frame rust to the sub frame. The contact was informed that the sub frame was compromised and the vehicle was unsafe to repair while on a lift. The radiator was repaired, however the frame rust failure was not repaired. The contact also stated that the passenger's side rear torsion bar also fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,000.
The vehicle in question has serious signs of frame decay that should not be present on a vehicle of this age and use. There are three areas of frame perforation that suggest a defect in the material and/or design of the frame. This issue seems to be prevalent on 1998 models of this same vehicle as I have found numerous complaints of the same nature within the federal safety agency site as well as other sites around the internet. I have contacted toyota corporate and was met with an unwillingness to properly address this issue. I will follow up with photos of the frame perforation to show the extent of the deterioration.
Like the overwhelming majority of toyota complaints, frame rust. Took the 1998 4runner for new tires and alignment. Alignment could not be done because of massive erosion due to rust on the frame connecting rear control arms. 4runner essentially undriveable at this at this point. Contacted toyota hq and, as everyone else on the federal safety agency complaints site says, they would do nothing although they did take care of the tacoma problem.
Rusted frame on drivers side rear, holes in frame, which holds the sway bar. Mechanic noticed during oil change. Took to dealer and was told nothing they could do. Very dangerous condition.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while changing the oil and fuel filter, it was discovered that the vehicle had severe corrosion to the frame. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
Frame is rotting out by control brackets. I've been told by a mechanic that it will not make it through the winter. Its not safe and will crumple on impact.
Rear frame rusted out where sway bars attach, frame mounts broke while towing a trailer on sr 22 in southern ohio. Lost control of vehicle crossed two lanes of traffic before gaining control and stopping the 4runner.
1998 toyota 4-runner. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle frame rust issues.
Frame rusted through prematurely on my truck. Truck is unsafe to drive and a huge disappointment.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the trailing arm rear axle of the frame was rusted completely and caused the vehicle to shake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000. Ma 10/19/15 updated 11/06/2017
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