2005 Toyota 4RUNNER: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Mar 22, 2022 · Body, Brakes · WV

The rear control arm broke while I was driving causing me to swerve uncontrollably and almost causing a collision

Filed Jul 29, 2021 · NC

Frame is suffering From excessive rust inside of frame. The body and other components of vehicle have minimal/average surface rust. Interior of frame near front control arms, rear bumper crossmember, and rear-mid crossmember are rusting from the inside out.

Filed Feb 14, 2021 · Body · 91,000 miles · NY

I purchased my 2005 toyota 4 runner from the original owner in august. 2018 with 74,000 miles on it. Garage kept and older couple owned it. Inside and outside are near mint condition. Now has 91,000 miles. The front cross member is completely rotted and barely being held together. I can wiggle the whole piece with my hand. The right side center of the frame has a 7 inch hole on he bottom and a 2 inch hole on the side in the same area. The right rear control arm bracket has rotted apart thus throwing the thrust angle off and the steering wheel is crooked when driving. The frame surrounding that area of the right rear bracket is completely rotted and splitting in 2. All got noticed when I hit a pot hole in the road and heard a clunk and the steering wheel went crooked. Vehicle would not drive straight anymore. Good thing I was not going fast and I immediately pulled to the shoulder of the road to investigate.

Filed Nov 25, 2020 · Suspension · 150,000 miles · MA

Nothing happened yet but found upon checking that the rear differential upper control arm that is attached to the frame is rusted through. I am afraid it will detach while driving and can cause an accident. I have removed the flaky metal myself in the summer of 2020 and painted it to avoid further rusting. The crossbar in the front that is supporting the radiator is rusted through as well. The metal that is holding the tank is gone too.

Filed Oct 6, 2020 · Body, Suspension · 230,000 miles · OH

Frame is rusted thru on both front sides where the control arms attach

Filed Aug 8, 2019 · Suspension · 130,000 miles · CA

Frame broke lower control arm cross member left side no steering half pulled out of transmission.

Filed Nov 20, 2018 · Body, Suspension · OH · crash · 1 injury

My rear frame rotted out causing my control arm to break off. The vehicle was extremely hard to control causing a rollover accident.

Filed Aug 21, 2018 · 142,000 miles · NY

Purchased vehicle used. Found holes rotted through the frame of vehicle near driver's side wheel well and where lower control arm attaches to the frame. Heavy rust on entire frame of vehicle.

Filed Dec 12, 2017 · Body, Suspension · 102,516 miles · NJ

2005 toyota 4runner structural frame rapid oxidation to structure causing left front control arm to frame (as well as frame itself) to break while in motion at slow speed leaving driveway. I have contacted toyota case# 1712112893 to ask why there is no buyback program on frames that they produced in 2004 that were found defective in tacoma's/4runners that were also used for their 2005 model production 4runners. Toyota rep told myself that no campaigns would exist unless otherwise told so (or perhaps investigated for their prior acknowledged defective frames used in previous model years). Though I am lucky that this occurred at slow speed I don't know how many other americans may face my situation while at 60-70mph on the highway with their families whom trust toyota for their safety and product reliability that end in ultimate tragedy. I've included photos as well as a clean carfax report to show no prior incidents. Thank you.

Filed Oct 26, 2017 · Body · 106,000 miles · OR

My 2005 is severely rusted to the point that it is probably unsafe to drive. It has only 106k miles. I've taken it to two frame repair/swap shops. Both confirmed that the rust has eaten holes through the frame and that the structural integrity of the vehicle is likely very compromised. They'd said the extent of the rust was the worst they'd ever seen,and that a collision could crumple the weakened frame, putting the passengers and greater risk of injury/death. I even had one of those shops start a frame swap, but they said that every bolt and part would snap and break when they tried to remove it and told me that the labor could exceed the value of the vehicle, if they were even able to finish the job. Even without collision I'm worried an axle or tie rod or something will break at high speed and cause a terrible accident. I've submitted a claim to toyota customer service to ask if there was anything they would do (fix, or buy back the vehicle). They said they could not do anything because there is no recall for toyota 4runner frames, but there is an active recall for frame rust on the tacoma, which I believe is the same frame. After looking around online at 4runner forums, I've seen the rust complaint again and again, and in the wake of the kobe metals scandal, I thought it was important to raise my concern with the federal safety agency. I'm attaching pictures of the rust and a carfax report showing there has never been an accident on the vehicle.

Filed Jul 20, 2017 · Body · 130,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota 4runner. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the front passenger side of the subframe separated and caused the front axle to fracture and damaged the front control arm. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who indicated that the subframe failure was due to severe rusting and corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Dec 21, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 45,000 miles · NJ

Vehicle is vibrating when braking,unstable at speed of 50mph ,toyota dealer diagnosed the problem as bad left & right ball joint/lower control arm ,and needs to be replaced at a cost of $2300 vehicle only have 55000 miles no accidents..I searched online and found out that almost every 4runner owners are having this problem.