2001 Toyota 4RUNNER

154 complaints on file, page 1 of 8.

1. Filed Feb 19, 2026Failure Dec 17, 2025275,000 milesColorado Springs, COLower ball joint

   The contact owns a 2001 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, there was a thumping and clicking sound coming from the front of the vehicle before the front passenger’s side of the vehicle unintendedly lowered. The vehicle was stopped and inspected, and the ball joint was touching the ground. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the lower ball joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 275,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11719079
2. Filed May 20, 2025Failure Dec 12, 2020Oceanside, CAUnknown or other

   I bought my 4Runner in 2021 and am just now getting ready to sell it. Did a carfax report and it shows a possible odometer rollback that the previous owner did in 2020. When I bought the vehicle it was my understanding that the vehicle had only 160,000 miles on it but it apparently had 236,900 miles. Because of this I’ve had to make countless repairs as I was under the impression that the vehicle had much less wear. Was researching what to do in this scenario and learned that this was the best place to report the incident.

   NHTSA complaint 11662207
3. Filed Oct 9, 2022Failure Apr 24, 2022Detroit, MIUnknown or other

   Rusted Frame Cracked by back driver side tire

   NHTSA complaint 11488509
4. Filed Dec 15, 2021Failure Nov 30, 2015Marshfield, MAStructure, Frame and members

   Frame has rotted out along with a lot more rust problems

   NHTSA complaint 11443914
5. Filed Aug 16, 2021Failure Aug 2, 2021119,000 milesHuntley, ILBody

   The contact owns a 2001 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that he noticed a swaying while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who stated that the sub frame was severely rusted between the sway bar and the differential. The certified mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The dealer was concerned that the job was too extensive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11429329
6. Filed Mar 30, 2021Failure Sep 1, 2019200,000 milesWhite Plains, MDSteering, Body, Unknown or other

   FIRST THERE WERE 3 RECALLS 1. 135468 2. 135469 AND 3. 135469 DATING BACK TO 2005 THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF AND I HAVE A VERY BAD CORRUGATED METAL BUMPERS AND WHEN I DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND I HIT A BUMP OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD IT FEELS LIKE MY CAR IS GOING TO TURN OVER. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED AND IT HASN'T HELPED

   NHTSA complaint 11405640
7. Filed Mar 22, 2021Failure Mar 20, 2021220,000 milesKansas City, KSUnknown or other

   THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND IS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE

   NHTSA complaint 11404208
8. Filed Dec 13, 2020Failure Dec 8, 2020280,001 milesMorrisville, PABody, Suspension

   THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS UNABLE TO BE INSPECTED AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN.

   NHTSA complaint 11383249
9. Filed May 6, 2020Failure May 6, 2020205,000 milesShrewsbury, PABody

   THE FRAME OF MY 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN BREAK SOME OF IT OFF IN OUR HAND. RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THIS REQUIRED WELDING TO SOME SECTIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP DRIVING. THE WELDING WILL ONLY KEEP ME ON THE ROAD FOR NOW BUT THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THE FRAME IS VERY DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 205,000 MILES ON IT BUT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND MAINTAINED TO ALL OTHER STANDARDS. THE AUTO SHOP SAID THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT RUST THIS MUCH. I CALLED TOYOTA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID THAT THE YEAR AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. I NEED THIS CAR SO I HAD THE GARAGE REPAIR THE IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERN. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY THE TECHNICIAN CONDUCTING THE OIL CHANGE. THE IMAGES ATTACHED WERE AFTER THE WORK AS THEY HAD TO GRIND OUT THE RUSTED SECTIONS AND REPLACE WITH WELDED STEEL. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 11323539
10. Filed May 2, 2020Failure Sep 12, 2018179,800 milesSUN City, AZSuspension

    WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH OUR TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SWAY VIOLENTLY AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING APPARENT. WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME IS CORRODED COMPLETELY THRU AND THE REAR TRAILING ARM WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR SINCE THE FRAME WAS SO BADLY RUSTED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOLLOWED RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. THERE IS NO APPARENT RUST ON ANY OF THE BODY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IS IN EXCELLENT OPERATING CONDITION OTHERWISE. WE HAD PLANNED ON KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS BUT NOW LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT APPARENTLY BEING ABLE TO SELL FOR SALVAGE.

    NHTSA complaint 11323041
11. Filed Mar 5, 2020Failure Jan 13, 2020145,000 milesClinton, MABody

    PURCHASED VEHICLE TOOK FOR MASS INSPECTION AND FAILED DUE TO ROTTED FRAME WAS TOLD NOT ROAD WORTHY AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE CALLED TOYOTA THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ON REPAIR VEHICLE HAS 145K MILES ON NOW VEHICLE DOTS ON MY DRIVEWAY OLDER GENTLEMAN I PURCHASED FROM WILL NOT ASSIST EITHER SPENT $4K NEED ASSISTANCE IF POSSIBLE PLEASE AND THANKS

    NHTSA complaint 11316298
12. Filed Dec 31, 2019Failure Dec 31, 2019103,321 milesKunkletown, PABody, Unknown or other

    I JUST PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ALL SEEMED FINE .BUT WHEN I WENT TO GET IT INSPECTED THEY WOULD NOT PASS STARTING IT HAD FRAME RUST THROUGH. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SAID AND I ALSO READ ONLINE THAT THOUSANDS OF TOYOTA TRUCKS HAVE A FRAME RECALL BUT MINE DOES NOT. AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. OTHERS HAD THE FRAME REPLACED, REPAIRED OR BOUGHT BACK. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP ME.

    NHTSA complaint 11292332
13. Filed Nov 19, 2019Failure Oct 23, 201998,005 milesYarmouth Port, MASteering, Suspension, Wheels

    ENTERED HIGHWAY FROM ON RAMP AS PICKED UP SPEED STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND BEGAN TO LOOSE CONTROL OF SUV. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND HAD IT TAKEN TO SHOP TO FIND EXCESSIVE RUST ON BACK FRAME N SHOCK CAUSING WHEEL TO 'BASICALLY BE FREE FLOATING AND UNATTACHED' THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN SHOP AT MOMENT AND I CAN GET PICTURES AND A STATEMENT UPON REQUEST

    NHTSA complaint 11281067
14. Filed Sep 7, 2019Failure Jul 29, 2019156,535 milesKansas City, KSBody

    DEALER DECLINE TO DO A TRANSFER CASE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE TRAILING ARM MOUNT IS ALMOST GONE. DEALER ADVISED ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND THE FRAME WILL BREAK THROUGH. I WILL NEED TO BUY A NEW VEHICLE

    NHTSA complaint 11253813
15. Filed Jun 1, 2019Failure Jan 1, 2016169,000 milesCharlestown, RIBody

    VEHICLE FRAME CORROSION/ROT.. BAD FRAME (JUST LIKE THE TACOMA I HAD RECALLED DUE TO BAD FRAME)

    NHTSA complaint 11217256
16. Filed May 31, 2019Failure May 23, 2019190,000 milesMalta, NYBody

    I NOTICED A PRETTY DISTINCT WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 $RUNNER ON THE HIGHWAY RECENTLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMAED MY THE FRAME HAS A 1 INCH WIDE 18 INCH LONG HOLE FROM RUST. THE MECHANIC SAYS THEY CAN WELD IT TO POSSIBLY GIVE IT SOME MORE TIME TO LIVE BUT THAT IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB. THERE VERY WELL COULD BE RUST ON THE FRAME HIDDEN BEHIND THE GAS TANK, BUT I AM UNABLE TO LOOK BEHIND IT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKE WHEN NOT PROPERLY COATING THESE FRAMES. THEY RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE BUT FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH THE 4RUNNER.

    NHTSA complaint 11217061
17. Filed Apr 10, 2019Failure Apr 8, 2019117,000 milesKutztown, PAUnknown or other

    MY 2001 TACOMA HAD FRAME RUST ISSUES LAST YEAR. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE REPAIR TIME FRAME HAD EXPIRED. THEY WOULD HAVE GLADLY SOLD ME A NEW TRUCK. SORRY, NO CAN DO. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A WELD SHOP AND HAD THE FRAME PATCHED WITH NEW STEEL. PROBLEM FIXED. I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE MECHANIC'S AFTER LEARNING THAT HE CAN'T INSPECT IT BECAUSE OF THE SEVERELY RUSTED FRAME! IT JUST RUSTED AROUND THE PATCHES. JUNK PRICE IS WAY LOW BUT WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?

    NHTSA complaint 11195464
18. Filed Feb 20, 2019Failure Feb 20, 2019248,500 milesJackson, NJBody

    FRAME RUST ON MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. SUSPENSION SHOT RIGHT THROUGH ROTTED FRAME. FRAME HAS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF RUST. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE SUSPENSION PENETRATED RIGHT THROUGH THE ROTTED RUSTED FRAME.

    NHTSA complaint 11181293
19. Filed Jan 17, 2019Failure Dec 21, 2018194,500 milesElgin, ILStructure, Suspension, Unknown or other

    TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED AND SHOULD TAKE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA INDICATED THAT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS YEAR MODEL VEHICLE AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. SO I HAVE A MECHANICALLY GOOD VEHICLE THAT I CAN NOT USE DUE TO RUSTED FRAME.

    NHTSA complaint 11170591
20. Filed Jan 11, 2019Failure Jan 10, 2019Luck, WIBody

    EXTREME FRAME RUST. HUSBAND SAYS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. EVEN THOUGH THE BODY LOOKS GREAT, THE FRAME, WHERE WE CAN SEE IT, IS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION, WITH HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE METAL. NO ACCIDENTS YET, BUT IT'S OMINOUS TO KNOW IN A COLLISION THIS VEHICLE WOULD CRUMPLE LIKE PAPER. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SERIOUS FRAME RUST FOR OTHER YEARS OF TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. PLEASE ADD MY VEHICLE AND SAFETY CONCERN TO THE GROWING LIST OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS FACING THE SAME FRAME DISINTEGRATION.

    NHTSA complaint 11166521