There are 50 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2005 Toyota 4Runnerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ENTIRE body frame has excessive rust, holes, and cracks. It is available for inspection. Toyota dealership says it is safe to drive for now but it is failing. I feel any cracks, rust, holes, separation of frame components places all occupants and anyone near the vehicle at risk for when anything fails - this could be when the vehicle is on the expressway in motion (such as when the GM ignition switch failures happened), causing catastrophic loss of life, injuries, and damage to all. It's not a matter of "if" it happens, it's "when" it will happen. There are no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem. The exterior, interior, braking, engine of the vehicle are in remarkable shape so it's very misleading. There are also 4runners on dealership lots that have significant rust, holes, and cracks in the frames that the dealership does not warn about, rather, they still have high for-sale values because the vehicle looks good otherwise.
Excessive frame rusting. There are holes in the frame from rusting. At this point in time there isn’t anything I can do about the issues. Frame is unrepairable.
Frame of the vehicle is showing rust corrosion. The frame are the same as the tacomas that were released the same year. The tacomas were granted frame replacement by Toyota but 4Runners weren’t. Noticed a lot of other 4th generation 4Runners are having the same issues.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for servicing, and he was informed that the sub frame was severely corroded. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.
My frame has rotted through, causing the rear bump stops to fall off, putting excessive wear on both frame and suspension components. In parts of the frame, it has rotted all the way around and caused a loss in structural integrity. Worst of all, there is a hole near the rear most strap holding the gas tank to the chassis, which is a risk to not only me and my pregnant wife but others driving on the road around me if it where to fall off. Looking at the body, there is no rust or corrosion. The same goes for the engine bay, the rust is entirely located on the frame. Mechanically, the vehicle is in excellent shape. It has now got to the point it will no longer pass a NYS inspection.
The frame on both sides of the vehicle in the front, where it connects under the radiator crossbar has rusted through.Not feeling to safe about this. also the transmission cooling lines are also looking thin. The dealership I have maint. done at informed me of this condition. Can send pictures if needed.
Vehicle’s frame and suspension is showing major rust prematurely forming from the inside-out of the frame causing visible weakness in the structure of the frame that could cause engine or other suspension parts to fall off the frame of the car due to improper treatment of the frame. If I were to get in a car accident I don’t see the frame holding it’s structure. I would I highly suggest to have a safety recall done with frames with such damage.
Brought the car in for an alignment and I was told they couldn’t do it because of all the damage to the frame from rust, parts of the frame are not even there anymore, the front row hooks are gone, they said that all this damage ca impact the handle of the car and that it can’t be properly aligned and possibly won’t pass inspection.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while the vehicle was receiving maintenance work from an independent mechanic, the mechanic informed the contact that the sub frame was very rusted. The mechanic was unable to complete the maintenance work. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they provided the contact an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,500.
Extensive, rapidly spreading rust throughout the vehicle's frame and fuel tank supports leaving little or nothing holding the fuel tank or areas of the suspension together. Vehicle cannot be safely placed on a lift for service because of thin metal in the bottom of the frame. .
FRAME IS RUSTED THRU ON BOTH FRONT SIDES WHERE THE CONTROL ARMS ATTACH
FRONT FRAME RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR.
THE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY
NOTHING HAPPENED YET BUT FOUND UPON CHECKING THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UPPER CONTROL ARM THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. I AM AFRAID IT WILL DETACH WHILE DRIVING AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REMOVED THE FLAKY METAL MYSELF IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 AND PAINTED IT TO AVOID FURTHER RUSTING. THE CROSSBAR IN THE FRONT THAT IS SUPPORTING THE RADIATOR IS RUSTED THROUGH AS WELL. THE METAL THAT IS HOLDING THE TANK IS GONE TOO.
EXCESS FRAME RUST. MECHANIC STATES FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST ALL OVER THE ENTIRE FRAME AND IS IN EMINENT DANGER OF COMPLETELY RUSTING THROUGH. MAJOR FRAME REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED.
THE FRAME IS VERY RUSTY AND LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BREAK SOON. THIS IS THE SAME FRAME AS A TACOMA PICKUP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND TPMS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
MY VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A HOLE IN THE FRAME. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FRAME AS THE TACOMA TRUCKS THAT HAVE FRAME ROT AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING METAL NOISE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER FRAME RUSTED OUT AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND DETACHED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS HEAVILY CORRODED, BUT WAS OK FOR THE TIME BEING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
FRAME BROKE LOWER CONTROL ARM CROSS MEMBER LEFT SIDE NO STEERING HALF PULLED OUT OF TRANSMISSION.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026