27 of the 1,234 complaints filed about the Toyota 4 Runner are about the seat belts — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
27
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT,AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD RESULTING IN HITTING STEARING WHEEL AND FRACTURING MY STEARNUM. COLLISION REPAIR CENTER REPLACED COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS AIR BAG AND SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #10126646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE SHOULDER BELT ON. WE PARKED AND SOME HOW SHE GOT TANGLED UP IN THE BELT. WHEN I PUSHED THE SEATBELT RELEASE BUTTON IT LOCKED UP AROUND HER WAIST AND WOULD NOT LOOSEN TO GET HER OUT. EVERY TIME I MOVED HER TO GET HER OUT IT WOULD LOCK UP MORE UNTIL SHE WAS STANDING IN THE BACK SEAT WITH THE BELT SO TIGHT AROUND HER WAIST THAT IT WAS LEAVING MARKS AND I HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HER OUT. THIS CONCERNS ME AS A PARENT THAT THE BELT LOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY ARE GOING TO ORDER ME THE SEAT BELT WE WILL BE NEGOTIATING WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10120541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT CATCH. DRIVER AIRBAY DID NOT BEPLOY. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN WE CRASHED AND MY FACE WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. MY FACE IS CUT UP AND MY NOSE IS BROKE IN THREE PLACES.
NHTSA complaint #10064267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND COMPLETELY UNRAVELED FROM ITS RETRACTION COMPONENT (MOUNTED ON THE PILLAR) WHILE IN USE. SEAT BELT NOW REMAINS EXTENDED, AND WILL NOT RETRACT, EVEN WITH ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10062703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR LEFT SEAT BELT DOES NOT UNLOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10029394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WITH A 1997 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. SHE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE POLICE HAVE EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO TOYOTA TWICE TO REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION FOR A TOYOTA RECALL. BOTH BEFORE THE RECALL AND AFTER THE RECALL THE REAR END WAS SAGGING AND WAS NOT STABLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS DEFECTIVE. BOTH CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO HER DEATH. *NLM IN SPEAKING WITH INVESTIGATIVE SHERIFF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 38-51 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE ROLLED 2-3 TIMES DOWN A 50-70 FOOT DROP. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS DAMAGED REARWARD AND THE DRIVER SLID OUT OF THE SEAT BECAUSE OF THIS DAMAGE. UPON INSPECTION THE SEAT BELT WAS STILL FASTENED. THE INVESTIGATIVE OFFICER STATED THAT DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH AND DAMAGE TO THE SEAT THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A VEHICLE DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT OR SEAT. CW
NHTSA complaint #10023416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR CENTER SEAT BELT CROSSES OVER BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WHEN ALL BELTS ARE BUCKLED. THIS MAKES BUCKLING LEFT AND RIGHT SEAT BELTS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WHEN CENTER BELT IS BUCKLED, ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILD SEAT IS INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10010447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
NHTSA complaint #10006028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
IN OCTOBER '02 I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TURNING FROM SOUTH TO WEST AS I WAS TRAVELLING NORTH. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AT ITS PASSENGER FRONT AXLE AND MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. AS CONTACT OCCURRED, I HAD MY WHEELS TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT THUSLY CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY WHIP THE BACK END AROUND CAUSING A SIDE IMPACT AS WELL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED NORTHWARD APPROX. 15-25 FEET BEFORE THE COLLISION CAME TO AN END. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED IN THIS OCCURRENCE WITH DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE. AND, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BOTH SIDES, LEFT REAR WHEEL, AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THE OPPOSING VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED OUT AND MY VEHICLE HAS INITIAL ESTIMATES IN THE $16,000-$17,000 PRICE RANGE. TO MY COMPLAINT, THREE THINGS HAPPENED THAT BROUGHT ME GREAT CONCERN. FIRST, AS I WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE BY APPLYING MY BRAKES AND TURNING MY WHEELS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SLIPPED OFF OF THE FRAME OF THE WHEEL INSTANTLY DEFLATING LEAVING ME WITH ONLY ONE GOOD TIRE TO BRAKE ON. SECOND, UPON CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK OUT CAUSING ME TO BE JETTISONED UP OUT OF MY SEAT AND FORWARD INTO THE FRAMEWORK WHERE THE ROOF, FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COME TOGETHER. HEAD, NECK, AND HIGH SPINAL INJURIES OCCURRED. THIRDLY, THE AIR BAGS AT NO TIME DEPLOYED. SPEED ESTIMATES UPON IMPACT WERE APPROX. 30MPH. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE COME TO FIND THAT MOST AIR BAGS ARE SET TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENTS WHERE MORE THAN 50% OF THE FRONT END HAS DAMAGE AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12-18MPH. I THOUGHT GOING INTO THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE I WAS MAKING A WISE DECISION BOTH IN TERMS OF VALUE AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE. I THOUGHT WRONG!
NHTSA complaint #10003054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEATBELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. HAD TO CUT BELT TO RELEASE 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN PAIN DUE TO EXTREME TIGHTNESS OF BELT.
NHTSA complaint #763890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONSUMERS CHILD WAS PLAYING IN VEHICLE WHEN THE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK, WHEN HE TRIED TO REMOVE IT, IT WOULD NOT RELEASE AND JUST KEPT RETRACTING, CONSUMER STATES THAT HER SON TURNED PURPLE AND COULD NOT CATCH HIS BREATH BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8004030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
WE HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO SEE ANY OF THESE THINGS AS SAFETY HAZARDS. ESPECIALLY DOOR LOCKS, TIRES, SEATBELTS. AND WE WERE NEVER TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT "BRAND NEW" IN 1997. WE FOUND THAT OUT IN ERROR AT THE DEALERSHIP (AL HENDRICKSON TOYOTA) WHEN THEY ACCUSED US OF NOT SERVICING OUR VEHICLE. THE SUV WAS CLEARLY A LEMON ALL ALONG. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED BUT THE DEALERSHIP CONVENIENTLY HAS NO RECORDS OF US, EVEN WHEN PROVIDED WITH DOCUMENTED PROOF (RECEIPTS). THERE COMPUTER SAYS "WE DID NOT COME INTO SERVICE OUR VEHICLE." THE 1997 4-RUNNER IS A SAFETY HAZARD. (DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRESIZE: P265/70R16)
NHTSA complaint #751297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT CONSUMER'S OFF AND STOPPED/ DRIVER DODGED VEHICLE/ WENT OVER A DIVIDER/ VEHICLE WAS AIRBORNE, AND FLIPPED TWO AND HALF TIMES, LANDING ON ROOF ON OTHER SIDE OF FREEWAY. SEATBELT WAS WORN,BUT SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING CONSUMER'S HEAD TO GO THROUGH WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER WAS AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL, AND HAD MAJOR HEAD AND FACE TRAUMA. CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA, AND WILL SEND SOMEONE OUT TO DETERMINE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #892713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACTORS ARE NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY, BELTS WOULD GET CAUGHT IN THE DOORS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN BELT BUCKLE IS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR, THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN AGAIN SUDDENLY AND MAY BE STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, ARBITRATION WAS REQUESTED, HOWEVER WAS REFUSED DUE TO THE ITEM NO LONGER BEING IN WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS UNDER TWO YEARS OLD AND WARRANTY IS THREE YEARS OVERALL AND SEAT BELT WARRANTY IS FIVE YEARS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT COMES UP THROUGH SEAT AND UNDERNEATH CONSUMER. SEAT BELT WILL NOT ATTACH WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM A PASSENGER, IF AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #887127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE SEAT BELT RELEASE MECHANISM FAILS TO RETAIN CHILD PROPERLY, IT ONLY TAKES A VERY LIGHT TOUCH TO RELEASE THE LATCH AND REMOVE THE SEAT BELT, THE 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD CAN AND DOES UNDO THE BELT THAT HOLDS THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #744212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN DRIVING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHICH CAUSED OVER $5,300 WORTH OF DAMAGE, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE, FORCING DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #868659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER. AIRBAG DEPLOYED TO SOON. SHE WENT FACE FIRST INTO THE DASH & WINDSHIELD WAS KNOCKED UNCONSIOUS. SHE HAS NECK & BACK INJURIES STILL TODAY. THE SEATBELT IS STILL LAYING ON THE SEAT. LAP PART HELD HER NOT THE SHOULDER STRAPE HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD & BROKE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFOMATION.
NHTSA complaint #725803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE SOME PEDESTTRIANS ON SIDE ON THE SHOULDERS . THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN-FRONT OF CONSUMER, AND NO LIGHTS ON AT ALL. CONSUMER HIT VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. DUAL AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF, AND SEAT BELTS DIDN'T RETRACT. HER DAUGHTER WENT THROUGH WINDSHIELD AND INTO STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE 2 INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #866406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.