38 of the
1,234 complaints filed about the Toyota 4 Runner
are about the steering —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE SSC 50N STEERING RELAY ROD REPLACEMENT FOR MY 1995 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. AS OF THIS DATE, THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS, TO MAKE THE REPAIR. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PART DEFECT, MY 2 FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING BADLY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, JUST COST MORE MONEY WHEN THOSE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF A RECALL IF THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO SUPPLY PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS GIVEN ME NO TIMELINE WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10159116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE MAKING A LANE CHANGE(FROM LANE 3 TO LANE 4), I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF MY 2001 4RUNNER ON THE FREEWAY, AND ENDED UP HYDROPLANING ACROSS THE FREEWAY TOWARDS THE CENTER DIVIDER. I WAS SOME HOW ABLE TO STOP MY CAR MOSTLY IN LANE 1 AND PARTIALLY IN LANE 2 BUT BEFORE I COULD ATTEMPT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT MY CAR I WAS THEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DUE TO THIS IMPACT, MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ROADS WERE WET DUE TO RAIN AND VISIBILITY WAS LOW DUE TO EVENING. I FEEL THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO A BALL JOINT/STEERING FAILURE BECAUSE 1. I WAS MOVING RIGHT BUT SOMEHOW ENDED UP HYDROPLANING LEFT 2. MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE FELL OFF(BUT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO IMPACT OF THE OTHER CAR HITTING MY FRONT END-BUT SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT A FATAL ACCIDENT 03/21/2006-2000 4RUNNER WHERE THE DRIVER VEERED RIGHT, ROLLED OVER, DRIVER DIED AND HER LEFT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF.). MY CAR VEERED LEFT AND MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF, HER CAR VEERED RIGHT AND HER LEFT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF. 3. I HAVE 25+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING WITH NO MAJOR ACCIDENTS AND I WAS SIMPLY MAKING A LANE CHANGE. I DID NOT MAKE ANY SUDDEN TURNS ( I THINK MY SUV WOULD HAVE SURELY ROLLED OVER) ,DID NOT BRAKE SUDDENLY(NO ONE WAS IN LANE 4 WHEN I MADE THE LANE CHANGE) AND WAS NOT ON MY CELL PHONE. I LATER FOUND OUT(VIA INTERNET) THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2001-2002 4RUNNER FOR BALL JOINT FAILURE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE THE CRASH AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FOR 60 DAYS AND THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK IN 3 DAYS TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, BUT THEY NEVER CALLED BACK TO SET UP THE APPOINTMENT. SINCE I WORK FULL TIME AND HAVE A SMALL CHILD, I AM NOT ABLE TO GIVE UP MY CAR FOR 60 DAYS, SO I SETTLED WITH MY CAR INSURANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10156330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON MARCH 6, 2004 AS THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH SOME PINE TREES AND LANDED UPON A POWER LINE POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER MARCH 18, 2006 REGARDING THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL # IS: 05V389000; STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RELAY ROD. UPDATED 5/10/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10155372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS SOLD PRE-OWNED TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITHOUT ITS BEING INSPECTED AND THEN I FELT ILL TREATED TO BE RECALLED TO SIGN A NEW PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH AN INCREASED INTEREST PERCENTAGE, JUST BECAUSE I AM BLACK!
NHTSA complaint #10152081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE 1994 4-RUNNER STEERING ROD. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 05V389000 REFERENCING A STEERING ROD. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THE RECALL ESPECIALLY SINCE HIS FATHER, WHO ALSO OWNED A TOYOTA 4RUNNER, WAS KILLED FOUR YEAR AGO WHEN HIS VEHICLE VEERED OFF A FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10149743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A RECALL, #05V389000 CONCERNING THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO VERIFY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10148777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE PULLS/DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. STEERING FLUTTER CONDITIONS EXIST. CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENT WEAR AND TEAR. VEHICLE UNDER WENT TWO WHEEL BALANCES, TWO WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, A TIRE ROTATION, AND INSPECTION BY A FIELD SPECIALIST ON 6 SEPARATE REPAIR ATTEMPTS. AS OF TODAY, CONDITION STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. A TSB BULLETIN EXISTS FOR THE MODEL YEAR BUT MANUFACTURER HAS SAID THE FIX/CONDITION DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10146594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STRERRING BECAME UNSTABLE (HARD TO TURN - THEN LOSE) CAUSING THE SUV TO HIT A POLE, DAMAGING THE CORNER RIGHT BUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #10125578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STRERRING BECAME UNSTABLE (HARD TO TURN - THEN LOSE) CAUSING THE SUV TO HIT A POLE, DAMAGING THE CORNER RIGHT BUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #10125577 — 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.
THIS IS AN E-MAIL I SENT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS: I HAVE HAD MY NEW 2004 4RUNNER LIMITED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (RON CARTER, ALVIN, TX.) 4 TIMES BEFORE I EVEN HAD 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE REASON IS BECAUSE OF STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VEHICLE VIBRATIONS BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP RE-BALANCED THE WHEELS AND TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE (DUNLAP GRANDTREK AT20) TWICE WITHOUT ANY LUCK. I THEN HAD THEM UPGRADE THE TIRES (FOR AND ADDITIONAL $420) TO MICHELIN TIRES. THIS DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM EITHER. I THEN BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK IN ONE MORE TIME THE FOLLOWING MONDAY FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO LUCK AGAIN. ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE WITHIN 7 DAYS OF ME TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THIS INVESTIGATION, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED (ALL 4 TIMES). IT WAS NOT FIXED! I HAD THE TECHNICIAN WHO BALANCED THE TIRES (HIS NAME WAS TRACY) DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HE TOO NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/SHIMMY. ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS (HER NAME WAS KIM) ALSO DROVE THE VEHICLE AFTER A DIFFERENT ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND NOTICED THE SAME CONCERN. 9/8/04 I'M STILL WAITING ON THE TOYOTA REGIONAL OFFICE TO CONTACT ME BACK LIKE THEY PROMISED TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. I REALLY LIKE THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT (LEMON LAW?). I AM WRITING TOYOTA TO SEE WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT. FYI - THE MORE I DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION, THE MORE DAMAGE IT'S DOING TO MY "NEW" TIRES AS WELL AS PREMATURE WEAR TO THE STEERING/SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. FYI-STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO CONTACT ME BACK FOR RESOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #10090632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AFTER GOING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER IN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE MEDIAN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. EVOQ FILED BY: EVELYN PRITCHETT 540-286-7169. *AK RECALL # COULD NOT BE FOUND BUT THE CONSUMER SENT IN A COPY OF A SAMPLE RECALL NOTICE FOR 1996-1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING OR RUFF ROAD CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10087996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLAINT INVOLVES TOYOTA , 2004 4RUNNER. NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT 62-64 MPH. HAD WHEELS AND TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 6000 MILES. PROBLEM CONTINUED. HAD TIRES BALANCED AGAIN BUT NO SUCCESS. NEW SET OF MICHELIN TIRES ORDERED BUT HAVE NOT BEEN PUT ON. ALSO, AM RADIO STATIONS EXPERIENCING EXTREME STATIC WHEN DRIVING OVER BLACKTOP ROADS. DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON CONCRETE ROADS. IS NOT AFFECTED ON FM STATIONS. SERVICE MANAGER WILL EXPLORE WHEN TIRES ARE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10082348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. AUTO DOOR DOWN & UP WILL NOT WORK. NOTICED PROBLEMS AFTER PURCHASED (4 MILES ON VEHICLE) DEALER BALANCED TIRES AND STILL HAD VIBRATION. WILL REPLACE TIRES TO SEE IF THIS FIXES PROBLEM. REPLACE WINDOW MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10030514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED OUT OF MY HANDS TO THE RIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT. THE ROADS WERE WET FROM AN EARLIER RAIN; THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER, NO POT HOLES, OR OTHER VISIBLE DEFECTS IN THE ROAD. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH. THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL - DOING 2 COMPLETE SPINS ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN INTO THE DITCH ON THE RIGHT; HITTING TREES, FLIPPING, HITTING MORE TREES, AND FINALLY COMING TO A HALT STRADDLING THE DITCH PERPENDICULAR TO THE HIGHWAY. SINCE THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DEFECTS IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE STEERING TO ACT LIKE THAT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JERK SO HARD TO THE RIGHT AND KEEP ME FROM BEING ABLE TO CORRECT IT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT PERHAPS THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LOCKED UP, THE TIE ROD BROKE, OR SOME KIND OF STEERING DEFECT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD LOOK FOR.
NHTSA complaint #10005490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CONSUMER NOTICED FROM THE WHEN THEY FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT IT VIBRATES (AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCED THE FOUR TIRES AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. (THE STEERING WHEEL(S) WERE NOT STRAIGHT AND PULLING FROM SIDE TO SIDE) THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND ON ONE OCCASION WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND ON THE SECOND THE REP NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTERED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR A LAST TIME (AFTER HAVING LEGAL ASSISTANCE) AND WAS TOLD THAT A STEERING CONCERN EXISTS, AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE PROBLEM REOCCURED-WHICH WAS THE LAST STRAW. AT THIS POOINT THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING A NEW VEHICLE OR THEIR MONEY BACK. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE TAUGHT THAT WE BOUGHT THE SAFEST CAR. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR VIBRATES WHILE DRIIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THAT IT IS PULLING SIDE TO SIDE. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON MAY 20, 2002, JUNE01 AND 08, 2002, JULY 01, 2002, AND LAST TIME ON AUGUST 13, 2002. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. WE WANT TO HAVE IT RETURNED OR GET OUR MONEY BACK DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX IT AFTER VISITING THE SERVICE FIVE TIMES. WE HAVE ALL WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT CAN VERIFY EVERY FACT WE STATED. IF YOU NEED IT WE WILL SEND IT TO YOU. SINCERELY, [XXX] & [XXX] MR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #767955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.