49 of the
1,234 complaints filed about the Toyota 4 Runner
are about the fuel system —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THIS SITUATION COULD BE FATAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAULTY RHEOSTAT IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE RHEOSTATE FAILURE CAUSES THE BUTTERFLY VALVE TO CLOSE, THUS NOT LETTING ENOUGH AIR INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. DUE TO THE LACK OF AIR, THE ENGINE "STALLS OUT", CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE VERY QUICKLY. REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, WITH NO FURTHER INCICENTS OCCURING.
NHTSA complaint #10141669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLES FUEL SENDING SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE TO READ INACCURATE FUEL QUANTITIES. THIS HAS LED TO FUEL STARVATION WHICH COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD IT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN AS OF YET. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY TOYOTA AS A KNOWN DEFECT IN TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN EL010-00. SINCE TOYOTA HAS IDENTIFIED THIS AS A KNOWN DEFECT ISSUE; MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ORDERED TO RECALL AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10137216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHICH I HAD JUST PURCHASED WITH 104,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE ON I-695 WHEN THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND SLOWING DOWN VERY FAST. I BARELY CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. THE GAS GUAGE READ JUST UNDER 1/2 FULL, BUT ACCORDING TO A TSB, THE GUAGE AND SENDER UNIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAD NO WARNING FROM THE CAR TO TELL ME MY GAS TANK WAS FULL. RUNNING OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY IS DANGEROUS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL - WHY THIS ISN'T CONSIDERED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX IT, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD IT. I WAS USING MY ODOMETER TO KEEP TRACK, BUT THE OTHER DAY, I RAN OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK WITH THE A/C ON, IT MUST USE MORE GAS. I'M VERY UPSET.
NHTSA complaint #10125720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/3. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN, BUT MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAVE 72545 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. NO ENGINE, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, LOTS OF TRAFFIC. I AM IN THE NAVY AND WILL BE DRIVING FROM FLORIDA TO SAN DIEGO NEXT MONTH ENROUTE TO JAPAN IN OCTOBER. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BUT SINCE IT'S ONLY A TSB AND NOT A RECALL, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAY FOR IT MYSELF. THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS SINCE THE TRUCK GOT OUT OF THE TAHARA PLANT IN JAPAN FOR SALE TO THE U.S.
NHTSA complaint #10121641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VIBRATION IN STEERING. DEALER CANNOT FIX. WENT TO ARBITRATION AND LOST DUE TO BIASED INVESTIGATOR AND POLICY THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW ARBITRATOR TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TWO OTHER DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE VIBRATION BUT SAY IT IS DESIGNED THAT WAY!--ALSO MILEAGE COMPUTER INACCURATE AND EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #10121429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL GAUGE HAND GONE TO FULL AND DROPPED TO EMPTY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10115728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CONSUMER SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM THE VENT AREA. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL RAIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10099176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE GAS GAUGE WOULD READ FULL WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY, AND VISA VERSA. THEN THE SKIN OF THE DASH BOARD BY THE TACHOMETER BUBBLED FROM THE HEAT OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD OVER HEATING. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ALSO DENIED THAT A BULLETIN EXISTED CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO AN AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS WHO RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA REGARDING MY PROBLEM (REF: BULLETIN EL010-00). I CALLED TOYOTA BACK AND THEN WAS TOLD SORRY BUT YOUR OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY TIME LIMIT. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFICATION MADE TO THE CONSUMER BY TOYOTA REGARDING THIS MATTER. MY THE CIRCUIT BOARD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE BUBBLING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE HAD I CHOSE JUST IGNORE THE GAUGE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN THE IGNORE THE PROBLEM IN HOPES THAT IT WILL NOT BE REPORTED AND AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #10096156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN, MY VECHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOY WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. NO ENGINE, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, LOTS OF TRAFFIC...*AK.
NHTSA complaint #10088620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GAS GAUGE GIVES A FALSE READING. I TRAVEL TO IOWA OFTEN AND I KNOW WHEN TO GET GAS SO THAT I CAN MAKE IT HOME. DURING ONE TRIP I STOPPED TO TO GET GAS AND NOTICED THAT THE GAS GAUGE INDICATE MORE GAS THAN I SHOULD HAVE. HAD I TRAVELED A DIFFERENT ROUTE AND RELIED ON THE GAUGE, I WOULD HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS AND GOT STRANDED, OR WORSE. MY CAR MIGHT HAVE DIED ON THE FREEWAY AND MIGHT HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS. SOMETIMES IT TELLS ME I HAVE 3/4 FULL TANK WHEN IT SHOULD BE ONLY 1/4.
NHTSA complaint #10081163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED MY 2003 4 RUNNER LAST JULY AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY NOTICING A SULFUR SMELL. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS THE FUEL. I CONTINUED TO COMPLAIN AND WAS FINALLY ADMITTED TO BY TOYOTA THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR "METAL COMPONENTS" AND THE BLENDING OF THE FUEL. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG IN MY CAR THAT CLIENTS ARE COMPLAINING AND ASKING ABOUT SEPTIC ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10068227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 4 RUNNER..... 12,000 MILES, RUNNING ON AMACO SLIVER GAS, STILL SMELLS AS ROTTEN AS EVER...BEEN THROUGH HELL WITH THE SCOTT CLARK TOYOTA IN CHARLOTTE AND GASTON (NORTH CAROLINA).....THEY ARE ALL LIARS!!!! SAYING IT'S THE FIRST THEY EVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.....FILED REPORTS AND CONTACTED OWNERS..CALLED EVERYONE...EVEN THOSE JERKS COULDN'T MAIL ME LEMON LAW PAPERS ETC. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE...SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, A CLASS LAWSUIT WITH ENOUGH PEOPLE MAY GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED OR AT LEAST MY $39,000 BACK. THE SMELL OF SULPHER STINKS SO BAD THAT IT'S TO HARD TO EVEN SALE THE PIECE OF JUNK.
NHTSA complaint #10063797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 4 RUNNER SR5. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE HARD STARTING, INTERMITTENT (POOR, ROUGH) IDLE AND SOME TIME NOT IDLE. AT HIGH ELEVATION, I HAVE EXTREMELY POOR GAS MILEAGE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DEALER SERVICES INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. DEALERS WERE NOT ABLE TO ISOLATE PROBLEM. HOW I DEALT WITH IT OVER THE YEARS. NEVER USED THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN AT SEA LEVEL AND PUMP THROTTLE WHEN IDLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RETAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10062770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR'S RESTING IDLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE CAUSING MORE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING KICKING ON, BUT THE AC IS NOT ON. THE SURGE IN IDEL SPEED IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD, MAKING FOR MANY CLOSE CALLS.
NHTSA complaint #10062146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPUTTERED AND STALLED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BUT CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SENDING UNIT IN THE FUEL TANK. IT WAS READING FULL WHEN THE TANK WAS EMPTY. *AK THE OLD STYLE SENDING UNIT WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10063109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INCONSISTENT FUEL GUAGE READINGS, CAUSING ME TO RUN OUT OF FUEL WHEN GUAGE READS 1/4 TANK. SINCE IT WASN'T A RECALL, BY THE TIME I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A TECHINICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT, MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAID. I'VE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR THAT I HAVEN'T RUN OUT OF FUEL IN A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I E-MAILED TOYOTA AND THEY STILL WOULDN'T GIVE ANY COMPENSATION, MY VIN WAS ON THE LIST OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, TSB EL010-00 FUEL GAGE INACCURACY ADRESSES. I SINCE FOUND OUT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH THEM ON THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10051130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN THERE ARE 5 GALLONS LEFT IN THE GAS TANK. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 4RUNNER FUEL GAUGES. MY VEHICLE IS A FEW MONTHS AND MILES OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOY WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. SOME ADDRESSED THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2. THIS CAUSE VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK.
NHTSA complaint #10051122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 4 RUNNER V6 HAS LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE CONMPARTMENT. I RAN IT BY THE DEALERSHIP 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE TOO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. APPROXIMATLY 2 MONTHS LATER REAR SEAT WAS SQUEAKING. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER HAD THEM FIX THE SEAT AND DIAGNOSE THE NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AGAIN. THEY FIXED THE SEAT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE INJECTORS MAKING THE NOISE. I TOLD THE SEVICE MANAGER THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY. THE 2002 4 RUNNER IS VERY QUIET. I AM PLANNING A RETURN TRIP TO THE DEALER WHEN I FIND ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10045828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SPORTS EDITION 2003 4 RUNNER IN JULY OF 2003. THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA I WAS TOLD THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS I USE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND TOYOTA JUST WASHES THEIR HANDS OF IT. I WAS GIVEN A PAPER WHICH PURPORTS TO BE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT STATES: FEB 24 2003 - SOME OWNERS OF TOYOTA VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SULFUR LIKE OR ROTTEN EGG ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SULFUR IS A NATURAL COMPONENT OF CRUDE OIL FROM WHICH GASOLINE IS REFINED AND THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR CAN BE DECREASED THROUGH THE REFINING PROCESS. THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR IN FUEL SOLD IN CALIFORNIA IS REGULATED; HOWEVER, GASOLINE SOLD IN OTHER STATES CAN HAVE A HIGHER SULFUR CONTENT. SULFUR CONTENT ALSO VARIES CONSIDERABLY BETWEEN GASOLINE BRANDS AND LOCATIONS. APPLICABLE VEHICLES ALL MODELS REPAIR PROCEDURE : A SULFUR ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLES TAILPIPE DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES RUNNING CONDITION BUT IS MOST LIKELY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FUEL. IF VEHICLES IS EXHIBITING AN EXCESSIVE SULFUR ODOR THE FOLLOWING CHECKS SHOULD BE PERFORMED IF THE MIL LIGHT IS ON CHECK FOR DTC'S AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY INFORMATION TROUBLE IS FOUND AFTER PERFORMING THE ABOVE CHECK RECOMMEND THE CUSTOMER TRY A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF FUEL. REPLACEMENT OF OXYGEN SENSORS, AIR/FUEL RATIO SENSORS OR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WILL NOT REDUCE THE ODOR AND THEREFORE NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR WARRANTY (SOUNDS LIKE A COP-OUT TO ME) TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK FOR A SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #10045668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.