I have a 1999 toyota 4runner sr5, with an immaculate body, however the frame rails have rotted out so badly that you can put your finger through the rail in some places. The frame is unsafe and a failure could result in serious personal injury or death. The most severe location of the rot in just in front of the rear leaf springs on the inside of the frame. Took it for inspection and it failed as it was unsafe to drive. Now have to take it to a welder to see if it can even be repaired. Thinking of filing a claim with the attorney general of ny state. The thing is it passed inspection at the small car business I bought it from( d and d autosales in binghamton ny-don't go there!!!!!!) and there is no way it rotted like this in less than a yr so I'm thinking they passed it just to get the sale. Haven't contacted toyota but they most likely wont do a thing for me.
1999 Toyota 4RUNNER steering complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 16 of 16, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Full blown frame rust mechanic states is 100% invasive affecting steering, alignment, braking, and checking of differential and rear-end fluids due to seized components. Frame is totally compromised, needs to be recalled and rectified.
The trailing arms in the rear have broken. First the right and I had it repaired and now the left and it cannot be repaired due to the metal being spongy. It is also called the sway bar link. The steering had become erratic and I took it in to be looked at and received the bad news. Toyota has no response. The 4runner has the same body as the tacoma but there is not recall on this lemon.
-started the vehicle. -moved forward a few feet -started to turn steering wheel left, noticed steering was heavier than normal as well as unusual noise -car jerked and shot left... Tried to steer to avoid hitting obstacles but was unable to due to the extreme heaviness of the steering wheel. Due to this incident the vehicle was towed directly to the shop for repairs -mechanic immediately notice unusual separation of the rack and pinion.
As I was driving down a 4 lane highway, the steering wheel suddenly jerked out of my hands to the right. I was unable to turn the steering wheel back to the left to correct. The roads were wet from an earlier rain; there was no standing water, no pot holes, or other visible defects in the road. I was in the left lane, traveling about 60mph. The car spun out of control - doing 2 complete spins on the highway, then into the ditch on the right; hitting trees, flipping, hitting more trees, and finally coming to a halt straddling the ditch perpendicular to the highway. Since there was no visible defects in the road that would have caused the steering to act like that, I'd like to know if there is any mechanical problem which would have caused the steering wheel to jerk so hard to the right and keep me from being able to correct it. I've been told that perhaps the front right brake locked up, the tie rod broke, or some kind of steering defect. Please let me know what I should look for.
While driving at about 15 MPH on a straight road vehcile spun out out of control.
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