34 of the
1,234 complaints filed about the Toyota 4 Runner
are about the throttle and cruise control —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
34
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA RUNNER SR5. HE ALMOST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, AND HE WENT ON TO THE WEBSITE TO OBTAIN A CAR FAX REPORT. THE REPORT WAS SHOWING AN ODOMETER READING OF 147124 ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2004. NOW THE CAR IS SHOWING AN ODOMETER READING OF A LITTLE MORE THAN 98,000. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE BECAUSE THAT UNIT WAS OUT AT THE TIME. HE DID LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THEM TO CONTACT HIM BACK, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO AS OF YET.
NHTSA complaint #10129392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT, MY FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SURGES FROM A NORMAL IDLE SPEED OF 500 RPM UP TO 750-800RPM WITH NO WARNING. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BUT AT RANDOM TIMES. (REMEMBER THE AUDI 500) DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10127376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR( 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER) STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WITHIN A MINUTE. SINCE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE AND IT WAS RUSH HOUR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, PLUS I HAD NO POWER. FINALLY A POLICE CAR PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND HAD ME TURN OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTART. I WAS ABLE THEN TO PULL OVER WITH THE OFFICER'S HELP TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE "TRANSMISSION INPUT SPEED SENSOR(P0717)" HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT A CAR WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING (ESPECAILLY ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). I WOULD FAR RATHER TO HAVE DAMAGE TO A TRANSMISSION THAN TO BE HIT IN THE REAR AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE I HAVE NO POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10108286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE RPM JUMPED FROM 700 RPM TO 1500 RPM FOR NO DISCERNIBLE REASON. IF MY FOOT HAD NOT ALREADY BEEN ON THE BRAKE I WOULD HAVE RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #10090518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 1998 TOYOTA SURGES AT STOP LIGHTS. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME. I WILL START TO KEEP A RECORD OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. AND IF I HAVE THE A/C ON. I TRY TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY SO FAR. TOYOTA DOES NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. THE DATE IS A GUESS.
NHTSA complaint #10082889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEATS MOVING AROUND AS IF NOT IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 5 MPH ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. AT TIMES WHILE SHIFTING FORM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE, THE ENGINE COULD BE HEARD REVVING UP THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10079871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED A MINOR COLLISION WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND BUMPED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CONSUMER THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD TAKEN OFF BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10081596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER SEAT WOULD SHIFT AROUND WHILE DRIVING AND ONCE IN GEAR VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS WON WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL. *PH MECHANIC TEST DROVE VEHICLE, BUT FAILED TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10071422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VIBRATION (FROM DRIVETRAIN) THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE GAS PEDAL ACCOMPANIED BY A LOW-PITCH HUMMING/DRONING NOISE. THIS PHENOMENON IS MOST OBVIOUS/NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 1500 TO 2000 RPM AT ALL SPEEDS AND LESS NOTICEABLE ABOVE 2000 RPMS.
NHTSA complaint #10068177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REGARDING MY 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, LIMITED, 4-WHEEL DRIVE WITH A V-8 ENGINE AND 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE (SEPTEMBER 28, 2003) THE ENGINE HAS PERIODICALLY ACCELERATED SUDDENLY BY ITSELF, WHILE AT A STOP, SUCH AS AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH THE AC ON AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. SOMETIMES THIS RESULTS IN AN ABRUPT ACCELERATION SIMILAR TO BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR. IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE IN THESE INSTANCES, I WOULD HAVE SHOT INTO THE INTERSECTION. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT HAS TO BE DOING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND AS PREDICTABLE THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. ALL THEY DID WAS CONFIRM ITS IDLE, THEY DID NOT DRIVE IT IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INCIDENT. I'VE NOTED OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO NHTSA ON THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES ARE INCURRED BY SOMEONE.
NHTSA complaint #10062625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVELINE VIBRATION CENTERD AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 RPMS. IS WORST IN 5TH GEAR. PROBLEM BEGAN AT ABOUT 400 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN SLIGHTLY WORSE WITH ADDITONAL MILEAGE. DEALER RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT WAS "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE - NO POBLEM FOUND AT THIS TIME."
NHTSA complaint #10061980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING UPHILL WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WENT INTO SECOND GEAR AND BEGAN TO SWERVE. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED.
NHTSA complaint #10038313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION GAS PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, FORCING CONSUMER INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE BRAKES WERE STILL DEPRESSING. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10037615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10031644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE GAS PEDAL ON MY WIFE'S 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD STUCK, AND ALMOST CAUSED HER TO CRASH. SHE WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 40MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL, INSTEAD IT SPED UP AFTER LETTING OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. SHE TRIED THE BRAKES, THEY GRABBED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. SHE THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AGAIN, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. FINALLY SHE PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE UNTIL SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL LIKE THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO SOMEONE, TO MAKE MY WIFE AND MYSELF FEEL THAT WE DID OUR PART BY REPORTING SUCH AN UNACCEPTABLE OCCURANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10003284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OPERATING VEHICLE IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 55 MPH. TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE TACHOMETER WENT FROM 2,200 RPM TO EXCESS OF 5,000 RPM. VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH AND WAS CONTINUING ACCELERATION WHEN OPERATOR DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND STOPPED ACCELERATION. ONLY ONE OCCURANCE AND NO RECURRENCE ON REMAINING 6 MILES TO HOME. VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT COMMAND FROM OPERATOR. MR
NHTSA complaint #768473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER STATES ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. WHEN CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING A COLLISION. CONSUMER ADVISED ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT FUNCTION. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8019572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.