FaultScore

1996 Toyota 4 Runner brake problems

20 of the 111 complaints about the 1996 Toyota 4 Runner are about the braking system — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 84,500 miles.

F

20

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 8 40.0%
Foundation Components 3 15.0%
Disc 2 10.0%
Rotor 2 10.0%
Pads 2 10.0%
Master Cylinder 1 5.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 5.0%
Rotor 1 5.0%

Brakes across every Toyota 4 Runner year

1996 20 19.4%
1997 27 26.2%
1998 11 10.7%
1999 18 17.5%
2000 27 26.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

SAN Mateo, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

CONSISTENT BRAKE PAD CRACKING ON TOYOTA HIGH PERFORMANCE, TRD, BRAKES. THE TRD SEMI-METALLIC BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST 6 WEEKS AFTER HEARING AND FEELING GRINDING NOISES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. INSPECTION WITH THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE CONTACT PORTION OF THE BRAKE PADS EXHIBITED HAIRLINE CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE PADS. THIS OCCURRED BOTH TIMES. TRD WARRANTED THEM AND REPLACED THEM BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEY ARE ONLY PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PADS AND NOT THE LABOR INVOLVED. ALEX BOLDMAN, A CALIFORNIA TRD REP HAVE DENIED HEARING REPORTS REGARDING ISSUES WITH THESE PADS. IN CONTRAST, A MATT FLORES, WITH DALY CITY TOYOTA, HAS HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS SO FAR. TRD DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKE PADS.

NHTSA complaint #10046865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,500 miles SAN Jose, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

I HAVE A 1996 4RUNNER AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT VIBRATES WHEN I BRAKE HARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN I GO DOWNHILL. I CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES MY TRUCK STARTED SHAKING LIKE A EARTHQUAKE. IT WAS VERY SERIOUS. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND I COULD HAVE DIED. IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT. BRAKE PADS ARE OK. PLEASE CHECK THIS WEBSITE TO SEE SIMILAR PROBLEM. HTTP://TOYOTAOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?ACT=ST&F=5&T=1147&

NHTSA complaint #10038752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Louis, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED, DEALER LUBRICATED CALIPERS, REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. DEALER ALSO REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES, AND BRAKE FLUID. ABS RETAINER RINGS WERE REPLACED ALSO.

NHTSA complaint #565288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

E.stroudsburg, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #725900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Poolesville, MD Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH & WAS TURNING INTO CURB, ROAD WAS WET, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED THE ABS AND RPMS REVVED UP. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & SPUN AROUND, AND HIT A UTILITY POLE WITH REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED DEALER FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #858855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

KAN Kakee, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE PAVEMENT IS WET AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEVICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPIING DISTANCE. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PORBLEM . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON.

NHTSA complaint #855403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkton, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

REAR BRAKES BIND TO WHEEL EVEN AFTER RELEASE OF BRAKE PEDAL. MUST PUT INTO DRIVE AND PRESS ON ACCLERATOR TO RELEASE. WHEN ACCLERATOR IS DEPRESSED THE BRAKES RELEASES WITH A SUDDEN JOLT WHICH CAUSES RAPID ACCLERATION AND A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #716554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake, UT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER'S TWICE FOR BRAKE REPAIRS, BUT DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #841992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elmwood Drive, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED TWO MASTER CYLINDERS AND LEAKING CALIPER, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #835634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elmwood Drive, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED TWO MASTER CYLINDERS AND LEAKING CALIPER, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #835634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palo Alto, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ON A STRAIGHT DECENT ROAD I APPLIED A BRAKE. SUDDENLY MY TIRE IS LOCKED W/ NO STEERING. THE ROAD WAS PARTLY COVERED BY SLUSHY SNOW AND WET. SINCE THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS, I DID NOT TRY TO PUMP. AS THE RESULT MY CAR HIT A SNOW BANK AND ROLLED OVER. THE USER'S MANUAL DOES NOT INDICATE ABS MAY NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #702351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Islip, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY,AND WILL NOT WORK AT ALL IN WET WEATHER. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND REPAIRED ON ONE OCCASION ( REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS), PROBLEM STILL OCCURING. HELP IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #833194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Islip, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY,AND WILL NOT WORK AT ALL IN WET WEATHER. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND REPAIRED ON ONE OCCASION ( REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS), PROBLEM STILL OCCURING. HELP IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #833194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anchorage, AK

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

GOING DOWN HILL, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS IF ABS IS TRYING TO OPERATE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGINS TO PULSATE AND ROTORS ARE THEN FOUND TO BE WARPED.

NHTSA complaint #780443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #605193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

VEHICLE SHIMMIES WHEN STOPPING DUE TO WARPED ROTORS.

NHTSA complaint #517064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

BRAKE PADS FAILED DUE TO WEAR.

NHTSA complaint #517064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rocky Mount, NC Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 30 MPH,BEGAN APPLYING PRESSURE TO BRAKE, HEARD LOUD GRINDING NOISE, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSED ACCIDENT, ROD THAT HOLDS TIRE AND AXLE CAME OFF. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #814006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newbury PA, CA 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE TRYING TO AVOID ACCIDENT BRAKES FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER.

NHTSA complaint #602609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermosa Bch., CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED ABS BRAKE WARMUP AND VIOLENT VIBRATION THROUGHOUT VEHICLE UPON BRAKING.

NHTSA complaint #802804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Toyota 4 Runner problems

← Full 1996 Toyota 4 Runner report