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.
2004 Toyota 4RUNNER driver assistance complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 19 of 19, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Driving vehicle in frigid weather and engine service light went on, followed by vsc trac light and vsc off light going on. Went to service station they checked car and were able to turn off engine light. Took vehicle to empire toyota in oneonta ny 1/18 and was told low battery caused problem. Diagnosis and battery change cost $202.33. I/29 same 3 lights go on. Returned to dealer, told computer sensed a future possible problem with catalytic converter and car designed to disable vehicle stability control system (a personal safety system) because of a possible future exhaust emission problem. Price quoted on catalytic repair was $2,200. Repair offer declined, engine light reset - dealer refused to turn vsc system stating it couldn't be done unless cat. Was replaced; charger another $86.40 for diagnosis of same problem. I have been forced to drive vehicle through ice & snow with this " vsc -safety feature" intentionally shut off. To date engine light has not gone pack on indicating to me there has been no cat problem, yet my safety has been intentionally compromised.
Driving to coral gables at around 20 MPH, all of sudden four lights comes on and loud beeping noise. Vsc, trac off, ABS & brake lights on at the same time, brake peddle is hard and no brakes at all. I had to go into neutral try the emergency brake to try and stop and pull over, I had to tow my truck home, I call the toyota dealer they told me they I need to replace the complete brake master cylinder assembly costing $2600.00.
Driving on the highway going straight at 55 MPH, with my foot on the accelerator only (with no loss of stability or control and no wet conditions), suddenly and simultaneously a beeping noise from the dashboard occurs along with the 4runner pulling real hard to the left. (almost as if I pulled the steering wheel abruptly to make a left turn...). Also feels like brake is applied during all of this to the front left tire causing me to lose acceleration - regardless of having my foot on the accelerator. I took my car to the dealer a year ago when this happened and they said nothing was wrong. It happened again this morning and I took it to the toyota dealer. Both instances nearly caused an accident.
While driving, the cel (check engine light) came on and the vsc trac and vsc off lights came on as well. Apparently toyota disables vsc when the cel is triggered. In my case, the 2 times it has occurred has been due to emissions related failures (1st time the cat failed, 2nd time one of the o2 sensors failed). In the 1st case, I immediately took the vehicle to the dealership as I was approaching the end of the emissions warranty. They made the repairs and cleared all the codes so wasn't aware that the vsc system was actually disabled. The 2nd time (o2 failure) I replaced the failed o2 sensor, the cel has cleared, however the vsc lights are still on and vsc is disabled. I have serious concerns that toyota disables key safety systems due to emissions related failures especially given the inherent stability problems with SUV's. If I'm on a trip with my family and an o2 sensor fails, or a catalytic converter fails, or the gas cap fails, key safety systems that help keep my family and I safe should not be disabled! I think this deserves an investigation.
My 2004 toyota 4 runner skidded in stop light when there was little ice on street. When I tried to accelerate the car after stopping a stop light, the vehicle makes humming noise and skid making it out of control. In winter 2009, similar incident happened on I-69 (20 miles east of flint, mi), when I tried to accelerate the SUV and lost control as the car skidded off the road causing injury. This is a serious problem and I believe is a design defect with the acceleration system. This may be life threatening as I am always worried to drive the car. This serious design problem with 2004 toyota 4 runner should be investigated for safety.
Warning lights began coming on around 60,000 miles or so. Started with the low tire pressure light & now has progressed to the vsc on, vsc off, ABS warning lights being on all the time and the low tire pressure light is still on. I have taken this vehicle into 2 different dealers to be fixed for 40,000 miles or around 3 years which amounts to multiple trips to the dealer, waiting while they work on it or going without a vehicle for days at a time while they try to figure out what is wrong. They have replaced ABS sensors, engine computers, brakes, speed sensor wires, reset computers, ordered new valve stems for the tires. I can get online & find thousands of complaints regarding the same issue in toyotas & lexus vehicles since at least 2001. The dealerships look at me like I am the very first & only person to ever mention these problems. The solutions online have ranged from defective master cylinder/brake booster assembly, faulty ignition coil, o2 sensors, vsc computers, catalytic converters & brake pedal switches. Also problems with the exhaust system & acceleration module under the console was listed as fixing these issues. Why has this issue not been addressed and/or fixed in 8 years ? There have been times when my brakes did not work, times when they barely worked, times when I put the brakes on & it abruptly pulls to the left or right & a couple of times when my vehicle would not accelerate as I was pulling across traffic. As I read of these "freak" accidents lately with toyotas, I have to wonder if they really are "freak accidents". I do not want my family or myself to be one of the toyota fatalities this year or anytime. When is something going to be done ? How many more innocent people have to die ?
Chk engine light,vsctrac light,trac off light all came on while driving down the road. Took to dealer,found gas cap off,chk light then went out but others did not. Dealer said all is ok vsc trac and trac off will go out after a few driving cycles. They have not yet. This is11/19/2008. While lights are on vsc and trac do not work. Had obd scanned shows no code at this time.
While driving, noticed that the vehicle decelerated quickly when letting off the accelerator. Returned home and after exiting the vehicle found flames in the area of the left, front wheel. The brake rotors on both left and right front were glowing red hot. Root cause was found to be a yaw rate sensor failure caused a computer to apply the brakes and leave them applied while driving.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history