2005 Toyota 4Runner Complaint Log

DEFECT OCCURS DURING WINTER CONDITIONS ONLY. WHILE STOPPED & ICY CONDITIONS EXIST, THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE HESITATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE COMPUTER CONTROL ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD VERY SLOWLY FOR AT LEAST 5 TO 10 SECONDS AFTER THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, THIS CONDITION HAS LEAD TO CLOSE CALLS WHILE I HAVE INCHED INTO THE INTERSECTION. NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID ONCOMING VEHICLES HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC. THE DEALER NOTED THE VEHICLE IS WORKING PROPERLY. THE MECHANICS NOTED ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THEIR VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE & TOLD HIM THE SAME THING. NOTE THAT THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED EACH WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE APPEARED TO BE LITTLE THAT THE DEALER WOULD "FIX" SINCE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE ASSUMED THE ROOT PROBLEM IS WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM, BUT I AM NOT A MECHANIC. *TR

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.

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. *TR

2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS HAVE A VERY FREQUENTLY REPORTED VIBRATION ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS REPORTED ALL OVER THE WEB AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEALERS NATIONWIDE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, 2004 TO 2007 4RUNNERS ARE ALL IMPACTED. CUSTOMER SPEND 1000S OF DOLLARS REPLACING TIRES, BALANCING WHEELS, REPLACING STEERING WHEELS, ETC AND THE CAR STILL VIBRATES AND IS SUSPECT TO BE UNSAFE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THIS IS THE DESIGN OF THE CALL. STEERING WHEEL CAN SHAKE BADLY. I HAVE HAD MY 4RUNNER IN MANY TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE TO MULTIPLE DEALERS. ALL SAY IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT ALL 4RUNNERS OF SAME VINTAGE HAVE SAME ISSUE, SO NOTHING THAT TOYOTA WILL DO ABOUT IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND IT HAS A LOUD CLUNK IN THE DRIVETRAIN EVERY TIME I STOP.WHEN IT CLUNKS IT ALSO LUNGES FORWARD CAUSING A FEW CLOSE CALLS I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY SAY IT IS A NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC. THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN THE 03-06 4RUNNERS,TACOMAS AND LEXUS GX470 TOYOTA HAS A T.S.B ON THE LEXUS MODEL ONLY NOT THE TOYOTA 4RUNNERS OR TACOMAS WHICH MEANS AT LEAST TO ME THAT IT IS A DEFECT!!! I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THEIR IS NO TSB SO THEY CANT DO ANYTHING I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND GOT NO RESPONSE. IF THEY WILL FIX THE LEXUS VERSION WHY NOT THE TOYOTA VERSION??? *TR

THE VEHICLE RPMS WOULD GO UP BUT THE CAR WOULD BARLEY MOVE, OR WHILE DRIVING GOING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER TO ENGAGE IN TRAFFIC, CORROSION OF PINS IN THE TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THIS HARNESS IS ALSO TIED TO THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL. IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING AS IF IT ACTS UP YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AND SORT OF CHUGS ALONG. DANGEROUS IN ON RAMP AND TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION TO SHORT OUT AS IT WAS HANGING UP ON THE SHIFT WHICH CAUSED A CLUNKING SOUND. THE TRANSMISSION WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED WHICH SHOWED 3 CORRODED PINS. THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REPLACED. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HAD 6 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENTS SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN NOVEMBER 2005. I HAVE MAINTAINED A LOG. THE INTENSITY OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION VARIED, THE TACHOMETER REACHING 4000 AND ABOVE. DURATION WAS ESTIMATED FROM 3 SECONDS TO OVER 5 SECONDS. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE VARIED FROM ABOUT 73OF TO 34OF. ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED BETWEEN EARLY JULY TO EARLY DECEMBER, AND NONE DURING VERY HIGH OR VERY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. IN ONE CASE THERE WERE SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE ACCELERATION SURGES. ALL INSTANCES WERE WITHIN 5 MILES OF MY HOME. OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN SPORADIC, INFREQUENT, AND UNEXPECTED, AND AT LOW SPEED, MOSTLY IN CLOSE QUARTER PARKING SITUATIONS AND AT ALL TIMES WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2008, I NOTIFIED TOYOTA COMPANY BY TELEPHONE OF THE INCIDENT HISTORY; I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I COMPLIED WITH A DIRECTIVE TO REMOVE AFTER MARKET FLOOR MATS THAT COVERED THE FACTORY MATS. FYI, THE AFTER MARKET NON-FACTORY FLOOR MATS WERE NOT INTERFERING WITH OR NEAR THE ACCELERATOR, AND I HAVE HAD FURTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SUBSEQUENT TO MAT REMOVAL. LIKEWISE, MY FOOT WAS NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. IN DECEMBER 2009 THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE MANAGER DROVE MY VEHICLE 144 MILES OVER A WEEK'S PERIOD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT EVIDENCE DOES NOT POINT TOWARDS A STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE IN ALL INSTANCES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE THE ENGINE ACCELERATION SURGED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW RELEVANT CODES. MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT THERE IS PROBABLY A MECHANICAL, ELECTRONIC, OR SOFTWARE DEFECT IN THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY. THERE IS NO PLAN. I HAVE SUGGESTIONS: 1) TOYOTA DEALER/COMPANY DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL AN INCIDENT OCCURS; 2) TOYOTA ENGINEERS TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM; THIS IS BEYOND DEALER EXPERTISE; 3) TOYOTA TEMPORARILY INSTALL MONITORING EQUIPMENT THAT CAN DOCUMENT FUTURE INCIDENTS. *TW

I WAS IN A 4 CAR PILE UP AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT AND WAS ALSO REARENDED. MYHOOD WENTUP FROMTHE IMPACT AND MY HEAD HIT THE DASH OR STEERINGWHEEL. THE DOORS WERE JAMMED SHUT AND I HAD TO BE PRIED OUT BY THE FIRE DEPT. *TR

THE FRAME IS ROTTED OUT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THERE HAS BEEN PIECES OF IT FALLING OFF. THE WHOLE FRAME IS RUSTY AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I SENT TOYOTA A MESSAGE AND NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. ANY HELP WOULD ? THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER DEACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FLOOR-MAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, SHE BELIEVED THAT THE TECHNICIANS HAVE INCORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,675.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. SHE STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, LEAPED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. TWO IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY; HOWEVER,THEY DIDN'T RESULT IN A CRASH. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 35,000. UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ALWAYS TURNED TO THE LEFT. HE THEN HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE STABILIZER BAR SNAPPED AND THE METAL APPEARED TO BE CRYSTALLIZED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR AND THE RACK AND PINION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT SERVICED AT A DEALER. THE CONTACT BELIEVES A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN I COME TO A STOP IN MY 2005 4RUNNER I HEAR A CLUNK AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS JUST REAR ENDED ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND IS GETTING WORSE. LEXUS HAS A TSB FOR THIS EXACT SAME COMPLAINT YET TOYOTA PRODUCTS DO NOT. WHY IS THAT? TSB#DL002-07. *TR

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. *CN

MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER , 2005 WAS SPEEDING AND I COULDN'T CONTROL TO STOP IT. FINALLY I MANAGED TO STEER AND HIT THE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY AND IT STOPPED. THERE WAS A DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND INJURY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE ACCIDENT BUT THEY ARE NOT FULLY COOPERATING TO INSPECT AND FIX MY CAR. *TR

DASHBOARD CRACKED MOSTLY IN THE AREA ABOVE DE PASSANGER AIR BAG. *TR

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,856.

TIRE STEM VALVE CAPS ARE UNABLE TO BE REMOVED DUE TO A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING (ALL 4 TIRES PLUS THE SPARE). I AM UNABLE TO ADD OR REMOVE AIR FROM THE TIRES CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. THE ONLY OPTION OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER IS THEY HAVE OFFERED TO BREAK THE PART OFF AND CHARGE US TO REPLACE IT (>$500 REPAIR). NO ACCIDENT HAS YET BEEN CAUSED. *TR

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A CONTROLLED (LIGHT) INTERSECTION, MY REAR WHEEL SKIDDED SLIGHTLY ON THE WET PAVEMENT. AT THAT POINT THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN AND TOTALLY LOCKED UP THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN 180 DEGREES AND TEARING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY OFF THE WHEEL. DURING THIS SPIN I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE WHICH ENDED UP CROSSING THE HIGHWAY DIVIDER BEFORE COMING TO REST IN THE LANE OF THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES HAPPENED TO BE IN THAT LANE AT THE TIME OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER WHO CLAIMED THAT A CHECK OF THE COMPUTER REVEALED NO ERRONEOUS MESSAGE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM, LEADING THEM TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE WAS NO EQUIPMENT FAILURE DESPITE THE OBVIOUS EVIDENCE OF THE TIRE HAVING BEEN TORN OFF THE WHEEL. I FEEL THAT IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT EVEN A MODERATELY HIGHER SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE OVERTURNED, AND IF IT HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WOULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES. ONCE I DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT AS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THE DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR CLAIMING LEGAL LIABILITY CONCERNS. *TR

OIL LEAK CAUSED FIRE MELTING SERPENTINE BELT. *TR

WHEN MY TOYOTA HAD REACHED APPROX. 31,000 MILES, THE SUNROOF JAMMED WHILE AWAY FROM HOME DURING A RAIN STORM. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS STILL IN WARRANTY, SO THE REPAIR WAS COVERED. NOTE: I RARELY USED THE SUNROOF EXCEPT FOR VISIBILITY OR FOR VENTILATION IF PARKED OUTSIDE WITHOUT SHELTER FROM THE SUN, I USED THE TILT MODE ONLY, PROBABLY A MAX 50 TIMES.WIND NOISE WAS OBJECTIONABLE WHILE DRIVING SO THE ONLY TIME IT WAS SLID WAS TESTING AT NEW AND AFTER REPLACEMENT. I LIKE THE SUNROOF AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT, IF IT WORKS? AT APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES (EQUIVALENT MILES FROM NEW VERSUS FROM THE FIRST REPAIR TO NOW.) THE SUNROOF AGAIN FAILED, SAME CONDITION. USE HAD BEEN MINIMAL, LIVING IN COLD MOUNTAIN STATE, AGAIN, USE SINCE REPAIR APPROX.25-30 TIMES, CONDITION OF RAILS WOULD INDICATE ANY WEAR. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST APPROX $700 FOR PARTS, $2,000 FOR LABOR. UPON CONTACTING TOYOTA, THEY SAID THEY WOULD PAY $700 ON PARTS BUT NO LABOR ($2,000.). THEY WOULDN'T DISCLOSE IF THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IS IT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA SUN ROOFS? THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ACTIVATED AT 65 MPH SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST THE INTENDED SPEED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION SHE NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NOT A FLOOR-MAT INTERFERENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS DID NOT PROVIDE HER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48675.

DRIVESHAFT CLUNKS AFTER COMING TO A STOP ALSO ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. *TR

IF THE BACK WINDOW IS OPEN AND THE AIR HANDLER IS ON RECURCULATE EXHAUST GETS PULLED INTO THE CAR. *TR

DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY FOLLOWING A DIRECT FRONT COLLISION HAVING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BUMPER AND MOTOR ON A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *TR

THE TPMS SENSORS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FAILED WHEN THE METAL VALVE STEM CAPS PROVIDED WITH THE CAR CORRODED TO THE VALVE STEM THREADS. THE VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 60K MILES ON IT WHEN THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR. I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY ROAD SALT AND THE METAL CAPS ON METAL VALVE STEM THREADS (DISSIMILAR METALS). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE AS THE METAL CAPS AND REPLACED THEM WITH PLASTIC CAPS ON NEWER 4RUNNERS. THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO REPLACE THE TPMS SENSORS ON MY VEHICLE HOWEVER WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR (~ $500 JOB). THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE TOLD ME THE SAME STORY ON TWO OCCASIONS. AFTER SEARCHING ON A TOYOTA 4RUNNER FORUM, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY 4RUNNERS. MY TPMS SENSORS WERE REPLACED WITH REGULAR VALVE STEMS BY A LOCAL TIRE SHOP, WHICH IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY ON MY VEHICLE. TO DATE, I HAVEN'T HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES AS I REGULAR MONITOR THE PRESSURE MANUALLY. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO RECONCILE THE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 8 AT APPX 77 MPH; 60 MILES EAST OF YUMA WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. VEHICLE SWERVED SEVERELY BUT WAS MANAGEABLE. ROADWAY WAS DRY, 90 DEGREES F, NO DEBRIS, TIRE STILL IN OWNERS POSSESSION. *TR

IN GENERAL, WHEN I PULL UP TO A STOP I SOMETIMES FEEL A CLUNK. THEN, WHEN I START AGAIN, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE RELEASE IS DELAYED WITH ANOTHER CLUNK. THERE'S A FEW LEXUS GX470 OWNERS (SAME ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN AS 4RUNNER) THAT ARE COMPLAINING AT OTHER SITES. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE TWO PIECE DRIVESHAFT GETS AIR COMPRESSED INSIDE, AND WHEN THE COMPRESSION LEAKS OUT, YOU GET THE CLUNK. LEXUS IS APPARENTLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. *JB

SEVERE UNDER CARRIAGE RUST,EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF ALLOY RIMS ,ALL 5 WHEELS. *TR

MY 05 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS PRESSURE MONITORS AND THE VALVE CORES CONTINUE TO LEAK AIR, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SINCE THE TIRES ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOSING AIR AND GOING FLAT. HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE STOPPING AND PUTTING MORE AIR IN THEM. TIRE SHOP SAYS THE STEMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED THROUGH TOYOTA, SINCE THEY ARE PART OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SAFETY SYSTEM. TOYOTA JUST PUTS AIR IN THEM AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 07. EVEN WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE STEMS. I JUST DO NOT DRIVE THE TOYOTA MUCH ANYMORE, SINCE I DO NOT THINK IT IS SAFE. I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES TO DRIVE. BUT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFER ME BACK TO THE DEALER.. I DO NOT LIVE CLOSE TO THE DEALER, SEVERAL HOURS DRIVE TO GET THERE. *TR

DETAILS: VEHICLE 2005 4 RUNNER LIMITED 4WD. THE FOLLOWING OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, LOUD CLUNK SOUND AND VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD RIGHT AFTER A FULL STOP. INFREQUENTLY THE CLUCK AND JOLT WILL OCCUR ONCE STOPPED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED TO OCCUR AFTER ABOUT TWENTY THOUSAND MILES. AT ABOUT 3600 MILES THE TOYOTA WAS ASKED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO NOTE ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO ASSUME THAT TOYOTA IS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE GIVEN THE NUMBER OF UNITS ON THE ROAD. *TR

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. *JB

WE HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT DID $12,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I BASICALLY FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL DRIFTED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK OUT 7 METAL GUARD RAIL POLES WITH WIRES IN BETWEEN AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

V8, 4WD. IDLE RPM IS WAY TOO HIGH. WHEN A/C COMPRESSOR KICKS IN IDLE CAN BE AS HIGH AS 1500 RPM. HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL PULLING INTO GARAGE, AS THE BRAKE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MODULATE AT THAT RPM. TWICE INTO DEALER FOR THIS AND TOLD "...IT IS NORMAL". WIFE AFRAID TO DRIVE INTO THE GARAGE AND I HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE WHEN A/C IS ON. HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE IDLE AT THIS HIGH AN RPM. DIFFICULT TO HOLD AT STOP SIGN AND WILL IDLE AWAY AT A GOOD PACE WITH NO ACCELERATOR APPLIED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT LANES AT 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE WAS ABLE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF HER COMPLAINT. UPDATED 02/01/2010.*JB

1. HAPPENED SINCE ABOUT 15-20K MILES ON MY 2005 4RUNNER (I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER). 2. OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, LARGE CLUNK SOUND AND VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD RIGHT AFTER A FULL STOP. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. EACH TIME THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE TECH TAKES IT FOR A RIDE THEY CANNOT REPLICATE IT, I WENT ONCE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE IT AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ISSUE (SEE THIS ONE: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/4RUNNER/53302-4RUNNER-V8-CLUNK-IN-DRIVETRAIN/). APPARENTLY A RECALL FIX FOR THE LEXUS 470 (SAME AS A TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIKE MINE) HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR LEXUS OWNERS BUT NOT FOR TOYOTA OWNERS. THE PARTS TO SOLVE THE ISSUE ARE IDENTICAL. TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED UNLESS TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. ACTUALLY ISSUES A RECALL AND PROVIDES DETAILS ON A FIX, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING SINCE WE CANNOT REPLICATE IT WHEN THEY ARE SERVICING MY 4RUNNER. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 30 MPH DUE TO THE WOBBLING OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE STABILIZER BAR WAS CUT IN HALF BY A HACKSAW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR, AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.*AK

REAR ELECTRONIC HEIGHT CONTROL GOES TO THE HIGHEST POSITION AND STAY THERE. TAKEN TO THE DEALER X3. THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO FAILSAFE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STAYING IN THE HIGH POSITION AND BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE AND A ROLLOVER RISK. *NM

DT*: UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT HOLD SPEED ON UPHILL GRADES. THE VEHICLE SPEED WOULD DROP 2-3 MPH BELOW THE CRUISE CONTROL SET SPEED THEN THE PASSING GEAR ENGAGES ABRUPTLY UNTIL SPEED IS 3-5 MPH ABOVE THE SET SPEED. . THE PASSING GEAR THEN DECREASES AND THE SPEED IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO DETERIORATE. *NM

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GLASS "EXPLODED" WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN MONTANA. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA OF OUR TOYOTA WHEN THE GLASS BROKE. NOTHING SUCH AS A BIRD OR ROCK STRUCK THE GLASS IT SIMPLY SHATTERED! DRIVER AND PASSENGER CUT BY FLYING GLASS, BUT NOT BADLY INJURED. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP IT RANDOMLY LURCHES FORWARD AS IF A VEHICLE IS REAR-ENDING MINE. THE FREQUENCY IS 3-5 TIMES IN A 10 DAY PERIOD. *NM

2005 4 RUNNER V8 HAD COMPLETE BREAK FAILURE AT ABOUT 23000 MILES. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT INTERSECTION. PULLED VEHICLE INTO PARKING LOT AND THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT STOP. EMERGENCY BREAK HAD TO BE APPLIED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND TESTS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN MASTER CYLINDER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DISASTROUS EVENT. THERE IS NOT WARNING ON THE VEHICLE WHEN SUCH A FAILURE OCCURS. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, THE LIGHT DISABLED THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOCAL DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER ONE YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,310. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AFTER THE FIRST DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL VISITS. THE SECOND DEALER INSTALLED A NEW SENSOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 03/26/10

I HAD JUST BEGUN ACCELERATION FROM A STOP SIGN WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND THE 4RUNNER BECAME LOOSE ON THE BACK LEFT. IT WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER ABOUT 100 YARDS. ON INSPECTION, THE SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN IN A STRAIGHT LINE FROM ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE RIM TOWARD THE TREAD CREATING A NEARLY STRAIGHT GASH THAT I COULD STICK MY ENTIRE HAND INTO. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GOSCH TOYOTA (THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE VEHICLE 8 MONTHS AGO). THEY SAID THEY DO NOT TAKE CARE OF WARRANTY ISSUES WITH TIRES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AMERICA'S TIRE AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT BRIDEGESTONE FOR WARRANTY AUTHORIZATION. BRIDGESTONE WAS NOT OPEN. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED TO TRY TO CALL THEM ON WEDNESDAY. *JB

DRIVER'S SEAT ON NEW 2005 TOYOTA SR5 4RUNNER ROCKS AND SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS ALREADY REPLACED SEAT LINKAGE AND FRAME ASSEMBLY AND SEAT MOVEMENT HAS GRADUALLY RETURNED IN A VERY SHORT TIME PERIOD. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO CALL IT A NORMAL CONDITION PRIOR TO REPLACING SAYING THAT ALL SEATS IN 4RUNNER'S ON THE LOT WERE LOOSE FROM THE FACTORY. AS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND WEIGHT OF DRIVER SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH FROM STOPS AND STARTS, LINKAGE IN SEAT WEAKENS AND WORKS LOOSE. VERY POOR DESIGN. CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SAFETY SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S #1 CONCERN BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT YET. *JB

THERE IS AN AWFUL ROTTEN EGG SULFUR SMELL BEING EMITTED FROM MY 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN DRIVING WITH BACK WINDOW OPEN. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH, I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TSB'S ISSUED FOR 4 RUNNERS DATING BACK TO 2003 AND UP TO THE 2006 MODELS. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALER, BUT THEY TELL ME MY ENGINE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TSB'S ISSUED. I FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. *JB

STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED ,AT RANDOM TIMES( A FEW TIMES IT HAS DONE SAME TO THE LEFT) THIS DOSE NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME,BUT NEVER GIVES YOU WARNING(ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR LAST WEEK IT PULLED SO HARD) THIS VERY SELDOM HAPPENS TWICE IN A ROW ,I KNOW THIS IS A VERY HARD PROBLEM TO FIND BUT I'M AFRAID THIS WILL CAUSE A ACCIDENT SOONER OR LATER ??? THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM OR CAN FIND A ANSWER ????*JB

04-06/MY AUTOMATIC OPENER ON MY MOONROOF WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD I WAS NOT OPERATING THE BUTTON CORRECTLY. 11-06/I OPENED MY MOONROOF AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE ONCE IT WAS FULLY OPENED. IT THEN WOULDN'T CLOSE. THE CABLE THAT PULLS THE MOONROOF SNAPPED AND DESTROYED THE HOUSING UNIT. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD BUT WAS 2000 MILES OVER MY WARRANTY MILEAGE. THE PART WAS $2100 AND LABOR WAS $850. TOYOTA PAID FOR THE PARTS DUE TO MY REQUEST FOR 'OUT OF WARRANTY ASSISTANCE', BUT STILL WAS THE PART DEFECTIVE? SHOULD I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TOO FOR A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD?

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL. HEAVY PRESSURE HAS TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE WHEN STOPPING IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM CONTINUING TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON.. THE RPMS INCREASE UP TO 200 - 300 WHEN THE AIR CONDITION TURNS ON. THE SURGING IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TYPE. UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB