2004 Toyota 4RUNNER: brake failure

Filed Aug 30, 2021 · Suspension · NY

Frame started excessive rusting before 2011 when the vehicle had very low miles on it. I reported it to Toyota National headquarters in 2016. They knew about it but since they didn't have to replace the frames they didn't care. They offered me $1000 towards a new car. I could not afford a new car. I have been battling the rust ever since. I spent $4000 in the past 2 years. I was driving with a broken front axle!! Recently the rust corroded my brake fluid lines causing the lines to fail all at once. Luckily I was leaving my driveway. I had no brakes and was headed for the road. I hit the emergency brake and stopped at the road. Brake fluid fell out all over my driveway. I had to spend $400 getting my driveway resealed and $300 for the new brake lines which was really cheap. I took the truck to Toyota to trade it in and they would only give me $1500 for the beautifully, well cared for truck with only 135000 miles on it because the frame was rusted. They replaced the frames on the Tundra and Tacoma, which were the same frames. They need to replace the frames on the 4Runners or compensate the owners like me. I am the original owner. I bought the dealers demo in 2005. I want the $10,000 they owe me. I am moving and I have to sell this truck, instead of waiting for Toyota to replace the frame, because it is unsafe to drive from NY to NC. I am very sad. Other than the rust this truck is fantastic. I feel like a good friend died! It hurts to let it go. I will have to sell it privately. I think $1500 from the dealer is criminal.

Filed Sep 17, 2019 · Body, Brakes · 180,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota 4runner. The contact discovered that the entire undercarriage of the vehicle was rusted. Due to the rust, the brake lines started to rust and caused the vehicle to have complete brake failure. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the entire undercarriage had accumulated rust, which LED to the brake failure. The mechanic recommended that the contact get rid of the vehicle. The contact had the brake lines repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure via email, but the contact had not received a response. The contact spoke with koons westminster toyota (375 baltimore blvd, westminster, md 21157, 410‑876‑6400), but they did not assist. The brake lines were repaired; however, the rust still remained. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Apr 19, 2019 · Body · 142,679 miles · NC

I started hearing a noise like friction coming from under the car and feeling it through the steering while driving. It would come and go and within a week the car was undrivable. Just after exiting the interstate and on a side road, my brakes went out and there was an incredibly loud metal on metal grinding noise. I pulled over immediately and had the car taken on a rollback to my mechanic. When he put it on the lift he said that the frame was so rusted that it was undriveable. Most everything that was atteched to the frame was coming loose, like the brake calipers, cover over the gas tank, axles, etc. The frame is so rusted that he could literally put his hand through it. This could have been a very bad outcome if I had still been on the highway when it all broke loose.

Filed Jan 19, 2017 · Brakes · 82,000 miles · IN

Brakes failed while driving with 3 year old in back seat. Had to have vehicle towed to dealer to replace faulty ABS actuator pump. Luckily not on the highway when brakes went out. Over $2,000 to replace part.

Filed Aug 9, 2016 · Brakes · 146,000 miles · OK

Driving (slowly), every light on the console lit up dealing with, ABS, traction etc...accompanied with a high pitch warning tone, depressed on the brakes to stop...only no brakes, used the emergency brake to successfully stop, no incident. Called a tow truck to take to dealership.toyota dealer said codes c1223 (ABS control malfunction), c1252 (hydro-booster pump motor) and c1256 (accumulator low pressure) appeared. When he checking the codes, there was already a service bulletin showing previous (known) issues with this. I call this a serious design flaw, no component should render the braking system useless and not be a recall. Researched online and many complaints about the same thing happening on automotive forums and such. We were quoted $3000.00(ish) to repair. We were very lucky to not be traveling at high speeds in traffic. Reported this to toyota corporate/regional support.

Filed Dec 13, 2014 · Brakes · 198,000 miles · CA

Driving home and my brakes stopped working. I had my mechanic look at it and he said the ABS module had failed. He said that only my front brakes are working. I feel very unsafe driving my car.

Filed Oct 2, 2014 · Brakes · 235,000 miles · KY

I started my vehicle @ 3pm when I got off work as soon as it started the vsc, ABS and brake light came on as well as a alarm in the dash. I also noticed the clock in the dash said 1:00 instead of 3:00. When I depressed the brake I had virtually no brakes. I have read up on this and found that a bad ground cable on the battery can send a low voltage signal to the cars computer and shut down the brake system. I think this needs recall!

Filed Aug 14, 2014 · Brakes · 40,000 miles · MA

While I was driving my toyota 4runnerand I stepped on the brakesand let off of the brakes I kept on making a thud sound as the faster I drive the louder it would make that sound and it had a burning smell to it so when I took it to the repair shop they told me that my brake pads where completely gone I had to get the rotors replaced the mechanic said the pistons in the caliber froze in the open position so that is why my brakes failed me.

Filed Aug 8, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 121,000 miles · MO

8/6/14-started my 2004 4-runner to leave work and a high-pitched alarm sound started and the vsc, ABS, and other dash light symbols came on. I reversed out of my parking spot, and brake, and nothing other than those things was out of the ordinary. I pulled forward and pulled into another spot and called my husband to let him hear what was going on to see if he knew what it may be. He asked me to reverse, pull forward, and see what else I heard/saw, so I did so driving a short distance (about 5 parking spaces away) attempting to exit the 4th level of the parking garage I was in. I started to brake to turn left and no brakes. I pushed the brake petal as hard as I could with both feet and nothing, so I pushed the parking break and as it came to a stop, I panicked and threw it into park. I was within 1 foot of the concrete wall 4 stories off the ground. Got it to a local dealer and told them I just got new brakes 6 weeks ago, could they have possibly gone bad? They called and said it was the ABS module that needed replaced and the used part and labor is $3000 and the new part and labor is $5500.00. This is not normal wear and tear. Others have had this issue and are being told "rare defect". This "rare defect" could have barreled me through a concrete wall or worse. Thankfully no one was in the parking garage with me at the time and I was at a minimal speed. I was leaving during a lunch break. Had I been leaving and this occurred after work, I would have hit someone. What will it take to get toyota to fix this "rare defect"? I have a call into them and of course, no call back yet. So, I'm currently stuck with a vehicle that had a recall for an acceleration issue and a "rare defect" for a brake issue.

Filed Jul 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 99,000 miles · FL

Suffered sudden, catastrophic failure of vsc/ABS brake system while driving. Vsc, ABS, brake dash indicator lights illuminated with an audible alarm. Vehicle operated normally for about 1 mile, then lost most braking control. Narrowly avoided collision with another vehicle due to having minimal brake system. Had to use evasive steering and emergency brake maneuvers to slow and stop vehicle. After researching this issue on auto repair blogs there seems to be a common issue with the vsc/ABS system in most toyota vehicles, especially camry's. Replacement of the defective part costs $3200 and toyota refuses to acknowledge the problem or help pay for the repair since my vehicle is out of warranty. Catastrophic brake failure should not be tolerated by any manufacturer. Personally, I believe a recall is needed on all toyota vehicles using the vsc/ABS systems before more serious accidents, injuries or deaths occur.

Filed May 31, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 111,000 miles · FL

While approaching a red stop light, the ABS, brake! Vsc off, vsc trac lights all came on along with a loud buzzer. I had no idea what was happening. 1 block later I pulled into a parking lot that was luckily empty, because when I went to brake to stop the truck, I had no brakes...zero!!! I had the truck towed to my mechanic. I have come to find out, that it's the ABS module and unattainable with toyota at $2500 plus the installation. We are trying to find a used one, but apparently they are in high demand and very hard to find. This sends off a few red flags in itself. I have read countless stories about people in the same situation, some have not had an outcome as mine, and have had crashes and injuries and I wonder how many deaths have resulted from this. I have also read that toyota has turned their backs on this problem, doing nothing for the consumer, no recalls, no warnings and no accountability. I find this frightening and wonder how many injuries and deaths it will take before toyota opens their eyes and steps up to remedy this very dangerous problem. My truck is now worthless and undrivable until we can hopefully find a part, and am forced to rent a vehicle until the situation is resolved. I'm hardly in a position to pay for this very expensive repair when it really is a faulty item on the vehicle and there are countless others who are dealing with the same issue. It's revolting that toyota issues a recall for front floor mats, but nothing for a faulty brake system. How many injuries/deaths does it take before toyota takes accountability and does something for the consumer aside from charging a small fortune for a part that is not readily available? I am thanking god daily that I wasn't on the highway...I wouldn't be writing this, had I been. I'm done with toyota and will take this to any level needed for resolution before someone else is injured or dies.

Filed May 23, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 123,000 miles · FL · crash

1.) 4runner sat for 10-15 minutes with radio on (not running) (battery tested good/700, 701, 691 our of 75 ca) 2.) 4runner would not start, battery issue, and was subsequently jumped. 3.) drove 4runner 10 minutes, parked, tuned off and started back up just fine. 4.) 4runner sat for 3 hours, started 4runner, buzzer/warning sound emitted and brake and ABS light were on. 5.) tried disconnecting battery to see if system would reset after speaking to toyota dealer to no avail. 6.) backed 4runner out of parking spot, lights and buzzer still in effect, and 4runner had no breaks. 7.) took 4runner to dealer, dealer cleared codes, battery test, reset brake system, test drove, all worked. 8.) drove 4runner approximately 10-11 miles, hit brakes, brakes failed, ABS and brake light on, warning/buzzer sound, crash - no fatalities. 9.) codes from dealer c1223, c1251, c1256; brake fluid level good. 10.) dealer replaced ABS and master cylinder. $3,356 repair cost. 11.) dealer (from multiple dealers in the orlando, fl msa) indicated this is a common occurrence and only by unacceptable odds do you avoid crash, death or serious injury. 12.) toyota has no safeguards for early indication problem could or may occur. 13.) toyota has no maintenance specifications for preventing or recognizing a possible fatal malfunction in the braking system. 14.) toyota has no economical solution to resolve/replace the ABS pump/master cylinder and is in the top 5 most expensive parts of the vehicle. 15.) toyota has received multiple reports from orlando, fl msa dealers from what I am told and has disregarded, neglected, refused, declined to address.