2004 Toyota 4RUNNER driver assistance problems

Filed Dec 13, 2023 · Body, Brakes · WA · crash

Unknown: we were on [XXX] when the car went out of control. It first spun one way and then the other way and then we hit the concrete abutment where the guardrail connects to it. We hit it head on. It was as if we were on ice or oil, unable to gain control or brake. We checked the road and it was dry. Other cars were going by with no problem. The airbags didn’t deploy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 17, 2023 · Body, Driver assistance · 160,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH over a bump in the road, she heard an abnormally loud sound and the windshield shattered without impact and the sunroof panel loosened. The contact also stated that the vehicle was shaking uncontrollably. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the subframe was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Jun 25, 2019 · Body, Driver assistance · 190,000 miles · IN

Takata recall, the radiator mount and frame supports are rusted out, also the rear shock and air suspension mounts are rusted out. Vehicle was in motion when shock mount broke.

Filed Jun 15, 2019 · Driver assistance · 150,000 miles · TN

The vsc and trac off warning lights stay on al the time the engine is on. The vsc button does nothing.

Filed May 29, 2018 · Driver assistance · 179,500 miles · CO

On february 10, 2018, I was driving my 2004 4runner in a snowstorm in 4wd high when the check engine light suddenly came on and the stability control and traction control systems immediately shut down, causing the rear of the vehicle to start sliding and putting me on a collision course with oncoming traffic. I don't understand why toyota designed its vehicles to shut off these critical safety features when the check engine light comes on. I suggest that toyota be required to develop a software upgrade and voluntarily recall the affected vehicles to install the appropriate software fix. I wrote to toyota on february 13, 2018 (see attachment) expressing my concern. Three and a half months later, I have yet to receive even a cursory response from toyota. Therefore, I feel I must now notify the federal safety agency of my concerns.

Filed Oct 20, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 158,000 miles · VA

Abs, vsb trac on/off, and brake lights come on suddenly along with continuous high-pitched alert. Brakes eventually become difficult to work. Had towed to dealer, by the time dealer looked at, it wasn't happening and they could find nothing wrong. Picked up car, happened again on way home (both times making right hand turns). I am told this may be an electronic problem but regardless, to fix it, it will cost thousands of dollars ($4500 first quote) and requiring replacement of a number of parts/an entire assembly: brake booster/accumulator/master cylinder assembly. Besides the dangerous condition, don't understand why is built such that so much would have to be replaced and cost so much. Prior to this, seemed to have had more than usual problem with brakes, with multiple frozen calipers for example.

Filed Mar 10, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NC

Loss of coolant with no visible signs of leaking. Replaced so many things and keep getting misfires and vsc lights on constantly. Rough start up for about 30 seconds every time started. Slight over heating if idling ... All points now lead to blown head gasket in which I read more and more and common with 04 v6s.

Filed Feb 23, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 79,000 miles · MD

I have an ongoing problem with our 2004 toyota 4runner. It started about 4 years ago when the maryland state emmission test facility plugged into my odbi2 port. All the dash lights were on and I went in to the office and complained. I filed a form with emissions. I work out of town, my wife is a teacher and we have two small kids. Going to the dealer was not an option until school was our. In the mean time the truck drove fine other than no four wheel drive and the tires spinning if you hit the peddle to hard (no traction control or stability control. Took the truck to the dealer over the summer and they had to reset the values for $110.00 the four wheel drive would no longer engage. Toyota dealer said all the values being erased was a common problem with that year and mva cheep scanners. Maryland said they called toyota and no one had ever had that problem. Have had this happen again last emission test. Biggest problem is that the 4 wheel drive no longer functions. The actuator doesn't engage the 4 wheel drive. This was apparent when my wife lost control and nearly flipped the trick over after picking up the kids in a snow storm. I climbed under the truck in the snow and pulled the cover off the actuator, pulled out the plastic gears and manually shifted it into 4 wheel drive to get it home. The four wheel drive system was always used at least every month until the emission test problems just to keep it lubericated. The 4 wheel drive or lack there of, could have caused death or serious injury to my wife and kids. This actuator is a serious problem, if they can't design a actuator that operates when you need four wheel drive, especially in an emergency than go back to the old stick and linkage. 55 people died in the blizzard of 2016 and there could have been 3 more just because of a design flaw! P.s. My wife and I bought it new, never off road!

Filed Jul 14, 2015 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 60,285 miles · HI

I was driving home at around 50 MPH and had to brake and suddenly the vsc/ABS brake dash indicator lights came on and a loud alarm started to sound. I did not hit anything, I just pressed the brake pedal and whole system went off. I was very close to the exit to a toyota service center, a couple blocks away, so I drove very carefully to it and parked the car. When the service representative started the car again, the vsc, ABS, brake dash indicator lights illuminated with the audible alarm once again. She also said the brakes were hard and that I should not drive it anywhere. Replacement of the system cost me around $3700, out of pocket. Since there was no accident or collision, my insurance company said they don't cover maintenance repairs. After checking if there had been a recall on this issue, which there wasn't and reading about other toyota owners experiencing the same problems with the vsc/ABS brake dash electronic system, I truly believe there should be a recall on the toyota vehicles using this vsc/ABS brake system. A faulty brake system is a very dangerous issue that needs to be addressed. My car has only around 60k miles on it and I am the original owner of this toyota 4runner.

Filed Aug 13, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 187,529 miles · SC

Driving on the interstate in north carolina vsc light turned on, tsc light turned on, ABS light turned on, brake light turned on. Car was drivable for a short period of time then braking became extremely difficult. Limped home with my 3 year old in her car seat and luckily was able to do so without incident as given time of day and location from home, very light traffic made travel possible. Several times though I contemplated stopping and calling a tow service. Took the car to the dealer, it's a $3000 part the ABS module and $700 installation price.