2003 Toyota 4RUNNER: brake failure

Filed Sep 13, 2021 · Body, Suspension · 185,000 miles · DC

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at limited speeds of 45 mph, the vehicle would wobble and swerve and was very unstable. The vehicle was taken to a Certified Auto Mechanic Shop and an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was caused by severe rusting, perforation and corrosion of the rear subframe and suspension system. The vehicle was also driven to Muffler Shops in Bladensburg, MD on 8-20-2021, and on 10 -22-2021 to Hyattsville Toyota's Certified Toyota Collision Center for Repair Estimates of $4,000.00 and $7,268.00. The vehicle frame manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation which really requires fixing or replacing was not yet repaired. The Toyota manufacturer and local dealer Global Auto Outlet were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1 85,000. The used vehicle was purchased from Global Auto Outlet in Temple Hills, MD for $9,552.24 on 8 -1-2019 with 175,000 miles on the odometer. The windshield had a crack in it, the air conditioning & emergency brake didn't work. The Complainant hadn't noticed the perforated excessive rust corrosion on the undercarriage of the vehicle until numerous months afterwards. Moreover, at the time of the purchase the Owner also didn't notice that the spare tire carrier was rusted, as well as undiscovered that the wrong size 265/65/17 spare tire it was held in was perforated and flat. After the purchase of the vehicle shortly later, the exhaust tailpipe rusted broke first and the muffler had to be replaced which costed $258.79. The Owner was nervously forced to operate a more than unsafe motor vehicle for up to 6 months.

Filed Jul 29, 2021 · Body, Brakes · SC

Due to severe rust underneath the vehicle, there have been a few issues that have made the vehicle very unsafe to drive. Last week, both of my rear brake lines were completely done and leaking brake fluid leaving me with no brakes. This was due to rust and corrosion that had eaten the metal lines away. The radiator mounts are corroding, as well as the skid plate for my fuel tank and a few spots on my frame near the rear. I was not aware of the rust as I just got the vehicle a few weeks ago. I was driving in traffic when my brake light came on and I noticed my brakes didn't seem to be very effective and they eventually got the point where they were not working or slowing the vehicle at all. Once I took it to the shop and they put it on the lift, the mechanics pointed out just how bad the rust was.

Filed Aug 13, 2020 · Brakes · 188,000 miles · WA

Driving on a 3 lane interstate highway, stopped traffic, avs/ABS/brake lights came on with a piercing noise. Traffic began moving approx. 10 MPH, behind semi, brakes went to the floor. No brakes!!!! From center lane was able to go the the left lane into the the shoulder. Stopped next to cement barrier between north bound and south bound traffic (both 3 lanes). Sat there shaking for tow truck driver for an hour and a half with semi trucks flying by! Got it to a mechanic. They called back the next day to say "we are sorry but the component that runs the brake pump is malfunctioning." "we reset it and the brakes are working now, but it will only fail again." it will cost a total of $5,000 to repair!!!! The vehicle is only worth $4,500-$7,000 (at best)!!!! Like others on here, this has happened many, many times!!! No recalls!!! This could have been deadly!!! What happened to prevention of health and safety?! Are they waiting for someone to die before they do something?!!! This vehicle was going to my 16 year old niece for her first vehicle. Thank god that it was not her driving!!! Now she will not have a vehicle because we do not have $5,000 to fix it and a good overall vehicle sitting in our driveway that can't be used. I have had toyota's most of my life, currently drive a tundra as well, this is the first time that I can truly say.....shame on you toyota/manufacturers!!!!

Filed Dec 8, 2019 · Brakes · 220,000 miles · TX

My daughter returned from work two days ago and parked the vehicle, she did not notice anything wrong with its drivability. The next morning she started the vehicle and a loud warning tone was being emitted from the dash. She asked me to look at it and I noticed the brake and ABS warning lights were on. I tried depressing the brake pedal and it went completely to the floor instantly. I tried backing up the vehicle to see if repeated braking in reverse would pump up the brakes as it does on some vehicles I have owned. That did nothing and also unlike other vehicles I have driven, the brake failure was total. There was little to no manual braking. Traveling in reverse at maybe 3 MPH took four to five seconds to come to a stop. Had this occurred at 60 MPH on the rural roads we live on, I don't think we would have been able to safely stop the vehicle. I can't understand why any car would be designed where some kind of electrical/computer failure would render the vehicle undrivable instantly. This could have been a fatal event had it occurred at highway speeds. In searching the internet and your 7 pages of brake related complaints on specifically 2003 4runners, there were overwhelming accounts of the brakes totally failing while driving, and many accidents reported due to this. This vehicle should be removed from the road immediately before further incident and toyota should make owners whole due to this serious design defect.

Filed Jun 13, 2019 · Brakes · 117,766 miles · OH

Extreme frame rust. Car is low mileage, well-kept, and outwardly in excellent condition. Recently suffered near-total brake failure. Towed it to shop for repair. Shop refused to repair brakes. They said frame was severely rusted. The rust had eaten away the point where the brake lines attached to the frame, and brake fuid was leaking from that juncture. They said if they removed the brake lines to replace them, they wouldn't be able to reattach them because there wasn't enough good frame metal to work with. They said the frame rust was so severe that they feared it could break clean through, or steering or suspension parts could break loose. They did not want to take responsibility for putting what they believed to be an unsafe vehicle back on the road. They only reason I discovered this was that the rust caused my brakes to nearly fail. Toyota has had recalls and lawsuits on identical issues involving tacomas and other truck-framed vehicles. The 4-runner is a truck-framed vehicle and should be recalled. I have photos that the repair shop sent me, but I can't send them ffrom this computer.

Filed Dec 20, 2018 · Airbags, Brakes · 100,000 miles · NC

Car was running perfectly. Brakes were services 6 months ago. Traveled from nc to fl for holiday. Started car maintenance light went on showed air bag indicator light with ear piercing buzzer. Went to drive car to toyota service department and had no brakes. They would work slightly but to dangerous to drive. Did not have brakes

Filed May 17, 2017 · Brakes · 162,000 miles · NJ

I am deeply disturbed by the thought itself that my son and I could have died or severely injured while the brakes didn't work last weekend. All of a sudden, bunch of lights on the dashboard came on and continued loud sound started coming from the dashboard when I was reaching my son's school to drop him off for a tennis match. While I feel very fortunate that I was driving very slow and I was able to apply the emergency brake to stop the car before it hit any other vehicle or a tree, I am very concerned for the safety of the other drivers who may face the same issue while driving at a higher speed and/or on a busy road. I would like your immediate attention to this issue and request you to investigate the issue with toyota. There are few others who have reported the same issue. Toyota dismisses the case by saying its 'wear and tear'. How can wear and tear can be a justification when it is a safety hazard and people can lose lives? Please don't wait to warn and investigate until someone loses a loved one's life.

Filed Sep 20, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 167,000 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. While driving 65 MPH, the vsc and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The anti-lock braking system engaged and locked the front brakes. The vehicle violently pulled to the left lane and the steering and brakes failed. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and repair the vehicle. The manufacturer stated that they were unaware of the failure previously occurring. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

Filed Jul 30, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 54,000 miles · HI

I've been doing research online for the non stop vcs trac, vcs off, ABS and brake warning lights and buzzers going off. It has been described as a common issue with toyota and can lead to complete loss of brakes, but no recall. The dealership wants $3200 for the part and $600 to install. I guess toyota needs fatalities to back their product. Shame on toyota.

Filed Jan 7, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 102,000 miles · CA

I was driving normally with no issues on local streets. Suddenly the vsc,trac, and e-brake lights came on the dashboard with a very loud audible alarm. No prior issues with this system. I was able to drive slowly home on side roads (1.5 miles away). I made it to my driveway, pulled in on my upsloping driveway and then I had no brakes. Pedal went all the way to the floor. I was able to get the car into the street and had it towed to the shop. I feel lucky to have had this happen at low speed and in town. There was little to no warning for a critical system failure. Diagnosis by mechanic is brake master cylinder/traction control module, at approximately $3000 to replace. I have found multiple incidents of this failure across multiple vehicle types. The lack of responsiveness upon failure (including the emergency brake) and the short window to react makes me feel lucky that I did not hit or harm myself or anyone else with this failure.

Filed Nov 22, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 160,000 miles · CO

We were driving along normally, the vsc, trac, ABS and e-brake lights came on the dashboard, along with an audible alarm. Then we had no brakes. I had to push with all my strength just to slow down at all. We were lucky we did not crash, we could have been killed. I am finding out it is a common problem on this year and model, as well as other toyota models that use the same brake master cylinder/traction control module.

Filed Apr 12, 2013 · Brakes · 93,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 65 MPH, the brakes failed to respond to deceleration attempts and the contact crashed into another vehicle. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the vehicle was awaiting diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.