2001 Toyota 4Runner Powertrain & Transmission Problems

SINCE I GOT THE CAR, THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT GET IN PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT START THE CAR. THE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL HELPS SOMETIMES. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN LEAKING ENGINE COVERS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STRUCTURE GETS RUSTY AND THERE IS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THERE WAS AN OIL STAIN ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,528.

ECCESIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND BODY MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS INTENDED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING CORRODED AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

THE BACK OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING STARTED LEAKING ABOUT ONE DROP PER SECOND. THE VEHICLE HAS 113,800 MILES. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ABOUT 20,000 MILES. IT HAS RECEIVED THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK IS SEVERE CORROSION THAT HAS REMOVED MUCH OF THE STRUCTURAL METAL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. THE LEAK IS COMING THROUGH SEVERAL CRACKS THAT HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE REMAINING METAL. THE ONLY AVAILABLE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE HOUSING TO THE TUNE OF BETWEEN $2000 AND $3000. THIS TYPE OF CORROSION IS UNUSUAL. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS SORT OF MALFUNCTION IN NEARLY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS HAD NORMAL WEAR UP UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I NOTICED A SECTION OF THE REAR DIFF LEAKING AND ROTTING. THE WAY THE REAR AXLE HOUSING IS BUILD IT DOES NOT HAVE A REAR COVER LIKE MOST. BUT THAT IS THE SECTION THAT HAS FLAKED AND BEGUN TO LEAK. THE FILL PLUG IS IN THE SAME AREA WHICH ALSO IS RUSTED. MAKING IT NOT POSSIBLE TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. IF YOUR IN A SPOT WERE YOU DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM IT LEAVES YOU IN A SPOT OF DRIVE IT TILL THE REAR END DETONATES. BEING AS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA AND IT BEING A ONE PART FIX. I FEEL TOYOTA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY OR AT LEAST GOOD WILLING PARTS PRICES THAN LEAVING MYSELF AND OTHERS IN THE SPOT OF A $3,000.00 BILL DUE A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

ON THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, THE BACK COVER AREA (NON REPLACEABLE) HAS BECOME SO POROUS BECAUSE OF HEAVY RUST SCALING AND FLAKING THAT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID SEEPS FROM IT. THE REST OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS MADE OF THICKER, HEAVIER GAUGE METAL AND SEEMS OK. THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE THE GEAR OIL TO DROP BELOW THE REQUIRED LEVEL CAUSING DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE OR LOCK UP AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD BE DISASTROUS. WHEN I REALIZED I HAD THIS PROBLEM, I SEARCHED THE TOYOTA FORUMS ONLINE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND TOYOTA IS AWARE BUT WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY WILL REPLACE ENTIRE RUSTED OUT FRAMES ON TRUCKS UNDER RECALL, BUT REFUSE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY THEY WANT $3000 TO REPLACE A KNOWN INFERIOR/DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO MAKESHIFT REPAIRS USING BRUSH ON BED LINER TO STEM THE LEAKING AND CHECK THE FLUID TO KEEP IT FULL. BUT WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED OR WHO ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE?

MY VEHICLE HAS VERY LITTLE RUST EXCEPT FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. LARGE FLAKES OF RUST HAVE FORMED. THE DIFFERENTIAL RECENTLY BEGAN LEAKING. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 4RUNNERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A MUFFLER REPLACEMENT, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MUFFLER COULD NOT BE REPLACED AND A LEAK WAS PRESENT. THE DEALER (MCGEE TOYOTA OF HANOVER, 860 WASHINGTON ST, HANOVER, MA 02339, (866) 942-1756) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FRAME WAS NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TOYOTA 2001 4-RUNNER, THE VEHICLE HAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF UNDERBODY,FRAME,DRIVE TRAIN RUST SPECIFICALLY THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING UNIT. THE PROBLEM FIRST ENCOUNTERED WAS THE RR. DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING RUSTED THROUGH AND IS LEAKING OIL FROM IT.SO I CALLED TOYOTA EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND SPOKE WITH AN EXECUTIVE ANALYST, I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS , SHE ARRANGED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND INSPECTED BY THEIR MECHANICS AND THE REPORT READS AS FOLLOWS. INSPECTED REAR DIFFERENTIAL , INSPECTED HOUSING -FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM HOUSING AT YOKE THROUGH REAR COVER ;METAL POROUS AND THIN. RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF HOUSING AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE REPAIR ESTIMATE $1491.28 PLUS TAX. THEY ALSO NOTED SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES THAT I CANNOT BE SURE IF IT WAS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE RUST OR NORMAL WEAR. THEN UNDER MISCELLANEOUS A GENERAL INSPECTION, BY TECHNICIAN READS AS FOLLOWS VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS HEAVY CORROSION - - FOUND PERFORATION AT FRONT SHACKLE ON RIGHT REAR OF FRAME. SECOND PROBLEM, AT THE END OF THE INSPECTION REPORT UNDER THE COMMENTS SECTION THE TECHNICIAN, HAND WRITTEN SAID FRAME IS BAD,RUST PERFORATION (SLOPPY WRITING ) I BELIEVE IT SAID, RIGHT REAR RAIL . SO AFTER THE EXECUTIVE ANALYST READ THE REPORT SHE CALLED ME AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING TOYOTA CAN DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I RESEARCHED ON LINE FOR EXCESSIVE RUST AND RR. DIFF. LEAKING, AND FOUND MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS DEVELOPING. THANK YOU *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING RUSTED THROUGH. THE HOUSING COVER IS A THINNER METAL THAN THE DIFFERNTIAL AXLE AND IS NOT REPLACEABLE. OIL LEAKS OUT THROUGH THE RUSTED COVER UNTIL OIL IS DEPLETED AND COULD CAUSE DRIVETRAIN FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL ON A VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO BODY RUST, YET THIS PART FAILS DUE TO RUST! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND MANY MORE ON THE INTERNET FORUMS. TOYOTA LOSES MUCH RESPECT IF THEY DO NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TT

2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER REAR AXLE HOUSING ROT/LEAK, NO SIGNS OF ABUSE. *TR

LESS THAN 20000 MILES AFTER I HAD A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED, BY TOYOTA, IN MY 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE INPUT. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND LET OFF OF THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL. I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING FURTHER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP LOW AND BEHOLD, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. TODAY, I HAD A SURGE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONTACTED TOYOTA FOR SERVICE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT FEEL THAT THIS ONE POSED A SAFETY HAZARD WORTHY OF REPORTING. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA 2001 4RUNNER WITH 77563 MILES. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED THRU AND LEAKS. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO HELP. *TR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY GRAVEL DRIVEWAY. MY HOME CONTRACTOR SMELLED AN ODOR & DISCOVERED THAT MY REAR WAS LEAKING GEAR OIL. MY HUSBAND, WHO IS SOMEWHAT HANDY WITH CARS, ENDED UP SANDING OFF LOTS OF RUST ON THE PUMPKIN, THEN CLEANED IT & USED JB WELD TO SEAL WHERE HE THOUGHT THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM. (WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WAS ATTACHED.) THIS ACTUALLY HELD FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WELL, NOW AT APPROX. 125,000 MILES, THE LEAK IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE! AND COMING FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE OR PLACES. THE RUST IS BAD. NO ONE CAN BELIEVE IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC IN TOWN TWICE IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS, WHERE HE HAS TRIED TO SEAL IT WHILE IT WAS UP ON A LIFT, BUT IT KEEPS LEAKING BADLY. I DO NOT DRIVE THAT OFTEN BUT DO HAVE TO MAKE A 100 MILE ROUND TRIP AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, & UPON ARRIVING HOME JUST NOW, IT IS A MESS AGAIN. MY HUSBAND JUST PUT IN ABOUT 20 OZ. OF GEAR OIL & WE ARE WONDERING WHAT TO DO NEXT. I HAVE BEEN READING ON 4 RUNNER INTERNET FORUMS ABOUT MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFINITELY NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL CHEAP TO BUY, BUT APPARENTLY THEY ARE CHEAPLY MADE WITH INFERIOR METAL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY 4 RUNNER, & ALSO CANNOT AFFORD AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. IF THIS RUSTING IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHER 4 RUNNER OWNERS, THEN TOYOTA SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I TOOK CARE OF MY VEHICLE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE TAKING CARE OF ME! PLEASE HELP! *TR

MY 4RUNNER'S REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS PINHOLE LEAKS DUE TO RUST. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF INCLUDING CHASSIS WASHES AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK IN THE WINTER. *TR

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS RUSTING THROUGH TO THE POINT OF LEAKING OIL. I SUSPECT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IS MECHANICALLY UNSOUND AND COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF HIT BY A RIGID OBSTACLE IN THE ROADWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DIFFERENTIAL WAS CORRODED AND DEVELOPED A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

MY 2001 4 RUNNER WITH ONLY 125,000MILES HAS A RUSTED OUT REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS WAS SHOCKING TO ME BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RUST ON THE BODY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA WHO SAID THEY CAN REPLACE IT FOR $2200 PLUS TAX. I TOOK IT TO MY HUSBAND'S MECHANIC TO REPAIR/PATCH IT IF POSSIBLE. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY VEHICLES WITH MORE MILES THAN MINE IN MUCH WORSE CONDITION THAT HAVE NO RUSTED OUT REAR DIFFERENTIALS. HE FOUND IT VERY UNUSUAL. HE SAID THE METAL HOUSING IS VERY THIN (FROM THE FACTORY THAT WAY) WHICH IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC WELDED A PATCH OVER THE HOLE; HOWEVER THIS IS NOT A GOOD PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO MAKES MY 4 RUNNER HAVE NEXT TO NOTHING FOR TRADE IN VALUE FOR A TRUCK THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE A NICE TRADE IN VALUE. THIS MAKES IT A DOUBLE INSULT. AFTER TALKING TO MANY PEOPLE AND VISITING THE WWW.4RUNNERFORUM.COM WEB SITE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 4RUNNERS YEARS 1999 TO 2002. I WOULD IMAGINE MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE PROBLEM THAN HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE WEBSITE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING TOYOTA CAN/WILL DO TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AS IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM, MY 4 RUNNER HAS BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS A HISTORY OF GREAT VEHICLES. I KNOW THEY RECALLED THE TACOMA TRUCKS FROM THE LATE ' 90'S FOR FRAME RUSTOUT AND GAVE THE OWNERS 2 X THE TRADE IN VALUE TOWARDS A NEW TOYOTA. BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL, I KNOW TOYOTA IS WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. TOYOTA OFFERING A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PART OR "TRADE IN VALUE" TOWARDS A NEW TOYOTA WOULD BE A GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS KEEPING LOYAL CUSTOMERS. IF THEY DO NOTHING, IT MAKES ME HESITANT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA NOT KNOWING IF THE METAL HOUSINGS ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIALS ARE MANUFACTURED ANY BETTER IN 2010.. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING RUSTED THROUGH. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF LUBRICATION OIL, REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. THIN METAL AND LACK OF RUST PREVENTION ARE THE CAUSE. *TR