Frame has extreme and rusting and has been reinforced by welding new steel support frames
2003 Toyota 4RUNNER suspension complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 114, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Excessive frame rust. Multiple reports of this.
The control arm separated from the rotted rusted frame while driving. Almost died!
The rear axle assy mount bracket rusted straight through and it does a loud clunky noise while driving. Brought it to a body shop and they said I have to change the whole assy, it cant be fixed. The car was purchased from down south, theres literally no body rust, but the frame is almost all chewed away. I also cant pass ny inspection until I get it fixed, which will cost more than I paid for the car.
Excessive frame rot. 4runner should of been part of the tacoma recall and is absurd it was not in the first place. My whole passenger side frame rail is gone. I have had to constantly fix weld new metal to it.
Frame rot and unable to pass inspection new even though I have kept this truck in pristine condition. It is a real shame the don't use better steel.
Excessive amount of frame rust for a car that has been garage stored in mild vancouver bc climate. Frame is exact same as toyota tacoma which have known frame rust and frame rot, but not covered under the frame recall from toyota
Structural rust to frame. Cracks and holes at welds and attachment points of suspension and steering. Frame is disintegrating under the truck, complete structural failure is imminent.
Vehicle was maintained at a toyota dealership for over a decade before being informed that vehicle is unsafe to drive due to holes forming throughout the entire frame assembly from corrosion. Further research showes the frame of this vehicle resembles that of the toyota tacoma and tundra models which where recalled due to early and unsafe corrosion leading to components to detach from frame while vehicle is in motion which can lead to serious life hazard. Frame and vehicle were also manufactured in ohio dana company which is the supplier of the recalled frames used in the toyota tundras and tacoma's.
Excessive frame rust has resulted in the frame almost completely disappearing, making the vehicle unsafe to drive and forced to be taken off the road. There is less than an inch of frame holding the rear right axle in place
Frame is rotting apart. Several holes and cracks
The back of the truck frame has rusted through. Stationary. Front axle pics included as well. Rust, wear and tear. Not sure when it happened bc the dealership sold the vehicle to me like this. Rusted metal proves it happened awhile ago. Plus someone tried to weld it to cover up the problem. I've also put in a radiator and new muffler was completely rusted through.
The frame is rusted out and the rear suspension mounting brackets are starting to look like potato chips. Also noticed steering components are severally rusted.
I purchased this vehicle a week ago. It appears the dealer themselves never inspected the vehicle prior to my purchase. If they had, they would have know it was an unsafe vehicle to drive due to the amount of rust to the suspension, frame, and everything underneath. Just today, a toyota mechanic had told me that it is unserviceable. If I had owned this vehicle for years, that finding wouldn't be as painful to hear. But having owned the vehicle for a week, this has made me very angry. It only has 88k miles on it. I am now afraid to drive the vehicle.
Frame broken
The frame is completely rusted out making the vehicle unsafe, undriveable and unfixable with only 60,000 miles. We cannot find a frame or anyone to fix it.
I was driving the vehicle and normal highway speed on the interstate. When I let off the accelerator, the vehicle lurched to one side, causing the vehicle to cross into the other lane. When I applied the accelerator again, the vehicle lurched in the other direction, requiring me to apply corrective action to maintain control. Upon inspection, the passenger side rear suspension link support had mostly separated from the frame due to rust. I can bend it back and forth with my hand. I have not driven the vehicle since due to safety concerns. It is difficult to control the vehicle, especially a highway speed.
Extreme rust/rot throughout my 2003 4runner frame. The body, interior, powertrain are 8.5 out of 10 the frame is a 0 I live in new england and recently purchased the 03 4runner sr5 based off it looks. I drove the 4runner of about a month before the incident happened. I was driving on a typical new england road, fairly smooth with pot holes here and there going approximately 45 m.p.h.. Without any warning the 4runner sent the front of the truck hard left and the rear of the truck to the right. The tires were screeching and I was sent sideways into oncoming traffic narrowing missing cars and pedestrians in the area. I got the truck to "crab walk" back across the road into a parking out and called a tow truck. When we got the truck home the tow truck driver and I took a look under the truck to see what went wrong. The right rear control arm mount had completely separated from the frame. With the truck on ththe ground I was able to roll the rear right wheel forward and backwards about 5 inches without the vehicle moving at all. I then got under the truck and saw that the cross member under the transmission had rusted away and and what not in contact with the driver side of the truck. Also I could push holes in the the frame with my fingers around the driver/ front passenger doors. I have not driven the 4runner since and I dont have 8k+ to pay a shop to replace a frame. Toyota needs to step up and take care of its customers before someone gets killed
I purchased my 2003 4runner brand new. The vehicle has 70,000 original miles. Never in an accident. The truck is garaged. Always maintained by toyota. Not a scratch on the truck. Interior looks brand new. However the frame has excessive rust. Found a few spots that will eventually needs to be addressed. Toyota needs to step up and fix the rust problems
Currently the frame rust is very severe and is getting to the point that I am becoming hesisitant to have it out on the road. There are areas around suspension components and axles that are very rusted which could potentially lead to casualties if the mounts were to fail.
I was driving my 2003 toyota 4 runner about 1 mile from my home when all of a sudden there was a loud pop and the 4 runner raised up in the rear like a cat and there was another loud bang and I was stopped dead in my tracks almost getting thrown into the windshield and dash. The 4 runner would not move, and there was a loud popping noise against the floorboard and also on the ground. I got out and looked under the rear and saw all the damage and what caused it. The cause was complete rust, I have never saw a vehicle rust that fast that badly. It was fine in the spring when I washed it and underneath it as I always do after winter. The rear end was rusted so bad it would crumble in your hands the whole underside was in the same shape. The gas tank guard was half rusted away the frame was covered in rust, every piece of metal under the 4 runner was badly rusted. Now back to the damage that was caused, the big bar that connected the rear end to the frame on the passenger side had rusted completely off and the rear end shifted back and down pulling out the drive shaft and it stuck into the pavement making the 4 runner suddenly stop. The big bar on the drivers side bent down from the force bending it and the shocks pulling the rubber brake lines loose and bending the metal brake lines. The front of the rear end was cracked in a long line on the front. This is a lot of damage due to rust from inferior metal which toyota fixed on their trucks which the frame is the same. They need to recall these vehicles before someone gets killed or hurt. This 4 runner only has 102375 miles and should not be in this shape. I have 84, 91, and 94 fords that do not have this rust. I can't help but think what would have happened if I had been doing 55 or more on a four lane road when this broke off. My grand sons or I could have been killed or someone else. Recall
Everything about my toyota 4runner is in great condition except when I brought it in for an inspection I was devastated to find out that my car was no longer safe to drive due to the rust corrosion on the frame. Ever since I purchased this car at the dealership in 2003, I've always taken my car to toyota dealer services for all maintenances and yet they have failed to tell me about this rust corrosion problem until now that due to the rust is eating through the main frame and will not even pass the inspection. For the safety please have it recall and get it done the right way as for tundra and sequoia recall
Frame rusting out. Was told could not drive of dealers lot after being brought in for break job.
Excessive frame rust, especially at rear area of vehicle. Body mounts disintegrating at rear. Other attachment mounts (for example rear anti-sway bar) are rusting severely. Rust noted 11/2/2018 when vehicle was in the air for service.
Frame is completely rusted out. Steel is literally falling off from the rust and my suspensions are completely shot and exposed due to rust.
Frame is showing excessive rust. Remainder of the vehicle is in excellent shape. Engine runs great, but the frame is now in a dangerous state. Gas tank support is completely gone.
My entire vehicle is rusted out completely and is not in driveable condition.
My 4runner frame is showing excessive rust. The rest of the vehicle is in excellent shape and I am diligent in keeping the vehicle in good condition. Please consider my 4runner as a frame replacement candidate.
The frame on my 2003 toyota 4runner has almost rusted completely through the frame. While driving on i40 going around a deep curve I lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road without injury or collision. It was inspected and deemed not safe to drive due to the rusted frame. This vehicle is now immobile until the frame is replaced. I am requesting that this vehicle is included in the recall for the toyota 4 runners. This happened 9/26/2018.
My 2003 4runner frame is rusted out at the rear trailing arm support and half way down the rail. This 4runner is in perfect shape and only has 200k. Toyotas were supposed to lass for a lot longer that's why we bought it. Something has to be done and corrected just like the other frame problems toyota has dealt with in the past!!
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