30 of the
553 complaints about the 2005 Toyota 4RUNNER are about the
braking system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
79,500 miles.
Upon moving with the flow of traffic at about 30 to 35 mph a car shot from a driveway straight in front of me causing me to hit that driver in the rear quarter panel of the passenger side putting him into a 360 spin not causing my airbags to deploy at that rate of speed in my opinion that is a huge fault of my system from my vehicle at that rate of speed my airbags should have went off to protect me as if I didn't have my seat belt on but thank God I always wear my seatbelt
NHTSA complaint #11482831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gallipolis Ferry, WV
SERVICE BRAKES
The rear control arm broke while I was driving causing me to swerve uncontrollably and almost causing a collision
NHTSA complaint #11457890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gallipolis Ferry, WV
SERVICE BRAKES
The back brake lines rusted out completely crumbling causing me to almost collide head on with oncoming traffic while my kids where in the car. This was a terrifying experience. Upon further inspection the back brakes were so rusted out that they crumbled to dirt.
NHTSA complaint #11457892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,600 milesStewartstown, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
TOYOTA DEALER FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO REAR SUSPENSION ARM RUSTED OFF AND A HOLE RUSTED THROUGH FRAME. ONLY HAS 124,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAID THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND REAR END MAY LIFT DURING A HARD STOP. REAR BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO RUSTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11152906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,680 milesBlairsville, GA
SERVICE BRAKES
MY TOYOTA 2005 4RUNNER UNDERCARRIAGE AND FRAME IS REALLY BADLY RUSTED.THE BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED OUT AND FAILED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONCE (8/2017) ON A 4 LANE I HAD TO CROSS TO SAFETY, AND LAST ON A STEEP HILL WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE BOTTOM OF HILL, THANK GOD I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE. NOW I FIND OUT THAT THE FRAME HAS A CRACK IN IT AND RUSTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IS SPLIT/RUSTED UP FRONT, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS..
NHTSA complaint #11123571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesCalais, VT
SERVICE BRAKES
I PURCHASED THIS BEAUTIFUL USED BLACK 2005 4RUNNER IN OCTOBER OF 2016 AND THE BODY STILL LOOKS BEAUTIFUL - NO VISIBLE RUST ANYWHERE ON DOORS ETC - BUT I TOOK IT IN TO AUTO CRAFTSMEN IN MONTPELIER, VT TO CHECK MY BRAKES AND REPLACE A COUPLE OF BULBS TO GET THE VEHICLE READY FOR VERMONT STATE INSPECTION AS THE CAR IS DUE FOR INSPECTION IN FEB 2018 AND I WANTED TO HEAD UP ANY MAINTENANCE NEEDED. WAS SHOCKED WHEN I WENT BACK AND CRAFTSMEN TOLD ME NOT TO PUT ANY MONEY INTO THE VEHICLE - THAT THE FRAME WAS BROKEN, HAD MAJOR HOLE IN IT AND THAT THE FRAME WAS TOO RUSTY TO PATCH THE HOLE - HOLY UNEXPECTED BATMAN. PARTIAL NOTES FROM CRAFTSMEN AUTO ON 12/28/2017 ARE AS FOLLOWS: "UNDER BODY IS VERY RUSTY & THE FRAME IS BROKEN ...MUFFLER IS BROKEN OFF AND EVERY FLANGE IS RUSTED AND LEAKING ...BRAKES ARE SHAKING WHEN APPLIED...ROTORS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RUST RIDGE...THE BRAKE LINES ARE VERY RUSTY...BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN FRAME AND THE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE UNDERBODY, IT WON'T PASS VT STATE INSPECTION THE END OF FEB." I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN A PRIVATE SALE IN OCTOBER OF 2016 FOR $7,200 BUT HAD TO PAY SALES TAX TO THE VERMONT DMV FOR A VEHICLE PURCHASED FOR $8,000 BECAUSE IT WAS IN GREAT SHAPE, LOOKED TERRIFIC AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY WORTH THAT EXTRA MONEY. I AD SPENT THAT MONEY EXPECTING TO GET A THREE OR FOUR YEARS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL WITH SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGES AND USING EXPENSIVE GAS WHEN IT'S COLD OUT AND SPENT $850 ON NEW TIRES JUST THIS FALL. I LOVE TOYOTA. MY DISABLED HUSBAND AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS ALL DRIVE (USED) TOYOTAS (TWO PRIUSES AND A COROLLA). AM WONDERING IF TOYOTA CAN DO ANYTHING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT HERE? THE ENGINE FEELS STRONG (IT'S A TOYOTA!) AND THE 4RUNNER POWER AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HAS BEEN GREAT HERE IN RURAL VERMONT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. BEST, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #11064169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medford, MA
SERVICE BRAKES
RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING TACOMA AND TUNDRA WAS ISSUED A RECALL. I WONDER WHY 4RUNNER WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL? UPON VISUAL INSPECTION OF BODY FRAME AND COMPARING TO OTHER 4RUNNER, IT DOES HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST ON BODY FRAME. WE TRIED TO BRING IT UP WITH THE DEALER, BUT NO AVAIL. TRADE IN WAS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE. OUR TRUST AND RESPECT TO THE AGENCY AND HOPEFULLY, ITS NOT TOO LATE BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL. MORE POWER TO THE AGENCY AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
NHTSA complaint #10995662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesPalm Beach Gardens, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ABS, AUTO LSD, AND VSC TRAC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10822038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 milesMiami, FLCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
IN MIAMI, FL. AT INTERSECTION OF WATERWAY DRIVE AND SW. 72 AVE. MADE LEFT TURN UNDER RAIN, (ALL DAY RAINING) I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER TURN. CAME TO A STAND STILL AND MOMENTARILY, I ACCELERATED TOWARDS A TREE APROX. 15 FEET AWAY, VEHICLE CRASHED AGAINST TREE SO SEVERELY THAT PASSENGER SIDE OF FRAME BENT BAD (DECLARED TOTAL LOST BY STATE FARM INSURANCE). AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY AGAINST HEAD AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, HIT STEERING WHEEL WITH RIB CAGE, I WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH MIAMI HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. AFTER TWO CAT SCANS AND TWO X-RAYS I WAS SENT HOME TO FOLLOW- UP WITH MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN I AM STILL IN PAIN MAINLY NECK AN SHOULDERS AND LATELY MY LOWER BACK. STILL HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING, ETC. CANNOT DO HOUSE CHORES. PCP FORBIDDEN ANY TYPE OF EXERCISE FOR THE TIME BEING. PLEASE ADVISE. I SURRENDERED THE CAR TO STATE FARM INSURANCE BUT DID NOT SIGN THE TITLE OVER TO THEM YET. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE FOR OVER A MONTH. THANKS IN ADVANCE. PLEASE CONTACT ME...UPDATED 01/14/15
NHTSA complaint #10664288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,000 milesEmlenton, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE FRAME IS RUSTING SO SEVERELY THAT IT MAY NOT PASS INSPECTION NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME. I LIVE IN PA. I HAVE HEARD THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE HAD FRAME ISSUES WITH THE TACOMA (SAME CHASIS), THE EARLY TUNDRAS (I OWN A RECALLED 2000 WITH SAME ISSUE), SEQUOIAS (SAME CHASIS AS TUNDRA...... PLEASE TELL ME THAT THE WILL RECALL MY 4RUNNER. I LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT THE RUST ON THE FRAME WILL KILL IT.
NHTSA complaint #10633496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesWilmington, NC
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE AND MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED! FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR BACK UP TO HELP ME STOP. LUCKILY I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ONLY RAN INTO A NEIGHBORS YARD (AND DID NOT HIT ANY CHILDREN). I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA, THE PARTS DEPT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE, AND THEN ASKED IF I WANTED THE PART (FOR A SMALL FORTUNE). BASICALLY HE SAID EITHER YOU FIX IT, OR DON'T DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. IN ADDITION HE COMPARED THE BRAKE FAILURE TO A TV BREAKING! A TV?! A COMPLETE BREAK FAILURE PUTS NOT ONLY THE DRIVER, BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR TOYOTA CORPORATE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE A RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #10555979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,000 milesKings Park, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
NOTICED AFTER JUST PURCHACING A USED 4RUNNER FRO A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP THAT MY BRAKES SEEM TO BE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR WERE FROZEN DUE TO RUST AND THAT HE HAS NOTICED THIS ISSUE WITH MULTIBLE SEQUOIAS AND 4RUNNERS. HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIRS COSTING ME OVER 1000 DOLLARS.
NHTSA complaint #10512939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesStaten Island, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS HE NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT CALIPERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10477127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesDenver, CO
SERVICE BRAKES
THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER COMPLETELY FAILED THUS RENDERING THE BRAKES COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WAS PLACED IN P AND SHUT DOWN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THIS CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED PER THE MANUFACTURES SCHEDULE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2005. FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, WE HAD HEARD AN OSCILLATING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS, BUT UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE LAST VISIT WAS 4 MONTHS AGO AT WHICH TIME THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM, BUT THE SOUND CONTINUED. HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10471536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walpole, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN I TRIED REPLACING MY BRAKE PAD, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT CALIPER PISTON IS FROZEN AND I COULD NOT RETRACT IT. I ENDED UP REPLACING MY FRONT CALIPER ON BOTH SIDES DUE TO THIS. BOTH FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER IS FROZEN. 1 PISTON ON EACH CALIPER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY TO AVOID FUTURE ACCIDENT. I HAVE MY RECEIPTS WHEN I REPLACED IT IF YOU NEED IT. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10454563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesFairfield, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE FROZEN.
NHTSA complaint #10450708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesDenver, CO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY. OVER TIME, BRAKING DISTANCES HAVE BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER. RECENTLY, I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE MY FRONT BRAKES AND BOTH SIDES' LOWER BRAKE PISTONS WERE FROZEN/SEIZED. THIS SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH MANY OTHER 2003-2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DEFECT CAN BE FOUND ON HTTP://WWW.T4R.ORG.
NHTSA complaint #10432358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesMonmouth Junction, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
HEAVY VIBRATION NOTICED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40MPH. A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FEEL AND POWER WAS ALSO NOTICED. WHEN I WENT TO EXAMINE THE BRAKES, I FOUND THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS HAD FROZEN LOWER PISTONS. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CALIPERS AND ROTORS AS WELL AS BRAKE PADS. FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON 4TH GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNERS. MANY COMPLAINS CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.T4R.COM.
NHTSA complaint #10432208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesHoover, AL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. NO WARNING PRIOR TO EVENT. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. WE HAD TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT AND THEN APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MULTIPLE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT NONE PRIOR TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. THE DEALER SAYS THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, HOWEVER, IF THIS HAD OCCURRED JUST MOMENTS BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 60+ MPH!
NHTSA complaint #10423999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesPittsburgh, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKES PISTONS SEIZED TO ROTORS AND WILL NOT RELEASE. VEHICLE WOULD BARELY SLOW DOWN. CALLED TOYOTA HOTLINE AND THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO HELP FIX THE PROBLEM. CALLED DEALER AND THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY FRONT CALIPERS AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2004 AND 2005 4RUNNERS. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED CAR WHEN THE BRAKE WENT OUT AND TOYOTA CAN'T EVEN HELP FIX THERE FAULTY PRODUCTS. VEHICLE HAS 85K MILES. I COUNTED OVER A DOZEN SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON NHTSA WEBSITE REGARDING 04 AND 05 BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZING. CALIPERS SHOULD BE RECALLED, THIS IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS THE STICKING GAS PEDALS THEY PUT IN THE NEW CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10350368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesMystic, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS HAD ISSUES WITH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZING UP. WITH ROUGHLY 60K MILES ON IT, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CALIPERS BECAUSE THE LOWER INNER PISTONS WERE SEIZED. I REPLACED THE CALIPERS WITH RE-MANUFACTURED CALIPERS. AT 100K MILES, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CALIPERS AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER FORUMS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANYTHING OTHER THAN REPLACING THE CALIPERS AT MY COST. I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TWICE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. THEY BLAME ROAD SALT FOR THE ISSUE. MY OTHER VEHICLES, AS WELL AS THOSE OF MY NEIGHBORS/FRIENDS/COWORKERS, HAVE OPERATED IN THE SAME CONDITIONS, BUT HAVEN'T HAD THIS ISSUE. THUS FAR, I HAVEN'T HAD A COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE OR INCIDENT FROM THE ISSUE. I'VE NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN THE ROTORS WARP FROM THE CONSTANT HEAT AND REPLACED THE CALIPERS. I'M CONCERNED OVER THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10326237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesSaint James, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT PISTONS WERE FROZEN DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $835.00. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO COVER FIFTY PERCENT TOWARDS THE SERVICE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA complaint #10320254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Caguas, PR
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
FREQUENTLY WHEN I DRIVE ON A BUMPY SURFACE OR SLOPED BUMPY SURFACE AND PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT SEEMS TO FAIL MOMENTARILY. I FEEL THAT THE BRAKE IS UNRESPONSIVE AND NEED TO RELEASE AND PUSH THE PEDAL AGAIN. IT CREATE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE TO OF THE ROAD AS SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10307680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesBedford, VA
PARKING BRAKE
THE EMERGENCY BAKE ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER-2005 DO NOT HOLD .THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN FOWARD OR IN REVERSE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ON.MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS 33,000. MILES. THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WAS REQUESTED TO FIX THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT THAT THE WAY THEY ARE & LIVE WITH THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10306892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,000 milesWashington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I AM WRITING TODAY TO ALERT YOU TO A POTENTIAL ACCELERATOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUV. IN MID-DECEMBER, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR INEXPLICABLY ACCELERATED, GOING FROM APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH TO ABOUT 60 MPH WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS. MY HUSBAND, WHO HAS HAD PROFESSIONAL DRIVING INSTRUCTION, PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, AT WHICH POINT THE ACCELERATOR (WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE FLOOR WITHOUT A FOOT ON IT) POPPED BACK UP AND THE BRAKES BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER, WITHIN THIS SAME JOURNEY, THIS SAME ACCELERATOR PROGRAM OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE SUV TO TOYOTA OF ALEXANDRIA IN VIRGINIA AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY NOTIFIED US THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS BUT, BASED ON OUR CONCERNS, AGREED TO EXAMINE THE SUV. TO THEIR CREDIT, THEY DID CALL IN A CORPORATE INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE DISSEMBLED DRIVE TRAIN WHO IN TURN DETERMINED THAT AN ACCUMULATION OF OIL IN THE DIFFERENTIALS CAUSED THE CARS COMPUTER TO MISREAD ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION INFORMATION. DESPITE THIS DIAGNOSIS -- AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVE TRAIN AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS -- TOYOTA MECHANICS WERE NEVER ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT WE EXPERIENCED. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WE WERE ADVISED TO PURSUE ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA AND ARE CURRENTLY ENTRENCHED IN THAT PROCESS. IN THE INTERIM, WE ARE USING THE CAR ONLY FOR LOCAL JOURNEYS OUR OF CONCERN THAT THIS ACCELERATOR PROBLEM COULD REOCCUR. I AM WRITING TODAY TO INFORM YOU OF THE PROBLEM SO THAT YOU HAVE A RECORD THAT TOYOTA'S ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS MAY EXTEND BEYOND THE CARS/SUVS INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10306653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort LEE, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THIS IS REGARDING THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. EVERY TIME I HIT A POT HOLE AS IM PRESSING ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE STOPS BRAKING. EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUES MOVING AS IF NO BRAKING WAS APPLIED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IF I HIT A POT HOLE OR BUMP WHILE IM PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IM REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE I SEE THAT SIMILAR SITUATION IS OCCURRING WITH THE PRIUS VEHICLES. I DID REPORT THIS ISSUE TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OVER A YEAR AGO AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH MY SUV.
NHTSA complaint #10304439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,000 milesMarstons Mills, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT BRAKE CALIPER "FROZEN", BOTH. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT BRAKE SHOPS AND ALL SAID THAT IT IS A "COMMON PROBLEM". TOYOTA DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE AND IN FACT WANTED ABOUT TWICE WHAT THE INDEPENDENT SHOP CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #10293493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,000 milesRockville, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE PROBLEM IS THE SUDDEN REDUCTION OF BRAKING POWER. IT HAPPENED TWICE DURING THE COURSE OF THE OWNER SHIP OF MY SUV. LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 01/31/2009. EARLY IN THE MORNING I WAS BACKING UP FROM MY GARAGE BY USING THE REVERSE GEAR AND THEN I SWITCHED THE GEAR TO D TO MOVE FORWARD. MY DRIVEWAY SLOPES DOWN AWAY FROM MY GARAGE. WHILE MOVING FORWARD AWAY FROM THE GARAGE I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE SUV WAS STILL MOVING. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE FEW TIMES STOP. THE BREAK SYSTEM ACTED LIKE THAT FOR NEXT 2-3 HOURS AND THEN IT WENT BACK TO 'NORMAL'. THE FIST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, TOYOTA LOOKED AT IT BUT APPARENTLY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING. I DON'T KNOW WHEN AND WHERE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. HOPEFULLY NOT ON THE FREEWAY GOING 55 MPH. HONESTLY I DON'T TRUST THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THIS SUV ANY MORE.
NHTSA complaint #10257429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesMableton, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, A SMALL BUMP WAS HIT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF POWER BREAKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SO FAR WITHOUT A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10189626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Dorado Hills, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW. I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE CAR SEEMED TO LURCH FORWARD. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED A MONTH BEFORE AND MY WIFE HAS EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10188064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.