Premature frame rust

- Bernville, PA, USA

Excessive rust/corrosion on frame. Have seen stories where frame separates from the truck body. Upon getting my oil change at my reputable ase shop, owner pointed out to me that vehicle is rusting quickly, hole in frame, and will need to be replaced sooner than later... when I had it undercoated, washed it following every snowstorm and roads salted, and had planned since point of sale to have it go over 300,000 miles as sales person stated was possible.

- Minnetonka, MN, USA

Rusty frame

- Montoursville, PA, USA

I purchased my 2005 Toyota 4 runner from the original owner in August. 2018 with 74,000 miles on it. Garage kept and older couple owned it. Inside and outside are near mint condition. Now has 91,000 miles. The front cross member is completely rotted and barely being held together. I can wiggle the whole piece with my hand. The right side center of the frame has a 7 inch hole on he bottom and a 2 inch hole on the side in the same area. The right rear control arm bracket has rotted apart thus throwing the thrust angle off and the steering wheel is crooked when driving. The frame surrounding that area of the right rear bracket is completely rotted and splitting in 2. all got noticed when I hit a pot hole in the road and heard a clunk and the steering wheel went crooked. Vehicle would not drive straight anymore. Good thing I was not going fast and I immediately pulled to the shoulder of the road to investigate.

- Cortlandt Manor, NY, USA

Significant frame rust that has created from rot with rotted out holes. Vehicle is now failing safety inspections. This is identical to the Tacoma/Tundra/sequoia recall but the 4runners were not included in that recall. The 4runners should be included in that recall or a new recall established since this same frame rust issue is significantly compromising the 2005 4runner (4th generation 4runner) vehicle safety putting owners and other drivers at risk.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

The chassis is severely and prematurely rusted and is in need of repair.

- Blue Point, NY, USA

The rear window exploded on it's own with glass shattering everywhere while the defrost function was on. This is a very serious safety issue and design flaw that should be remedied before it happens. Toyota acknowledges the design flaw yet allows this dangerous occurrence to happen with consumers before doing anything about it. They say to bring it in for inspection but nothing that they can see until it has exploded. Toyota customer service representative named ryan informed me today there is nothing Toyota can do for me. They need to reimburse consumers for replacement no matter the time frame because it is a serious safety issue and it is a design flaw!

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

Major rust/corrosion issues with the frame making it unsafe to drive without major work to repair

- Guthrie Center, IA, USA

Brought to mechanic because steering suddenly became a major problem. Frame has deteriorated to the point that truck is un driveable per mechanic. Suspension components are coming detached, main frame has holes and front frame is completely missing. Mechanic says he has never seen a frame rusted out this bad in his 30 years on the job. He said it certainly shouldn't happen to a vehicle 15 years old. After research it is found this is a major problem with these vehicles.

- Lockport, IL, USA

The frame has excessive corrosion. I had some suspension replaced last year and it was fine today my dealer told me there is excessive corrosion and recommends not to put any money into it. Also told me this happened quickly because if it was there last year he would have informed me then not to do the suspension work.

- Manalapan, NJ, USA

Upon recently driving a family member's 2005 Toyota 4runner limited V8, I heard a knocking noise coming from the front of the vehicle over bumps. Upon inspecting the vehicle, I discovered extensive rust on nearly every single part of the structural frame, suspension components and even exhaust system. Some parts are so badly rusted that they can be punctured by simply pushing your finger through them (including the rear frame cross member crash structure behind the rear bumper). These vehicles are rusting so terribly that I'm shocked NHTSA hasn't forced Toyota to recall them. Yes, they're older, but the level of rust and decay is unprecedented for nearly any modern car. Toyota already had to recall all of their other body-on-frame vehicles (Tacoma, Tundra, sequoia, and land cruiser) to replace the frames due to rust. Why have they neglected the 4runner when it's arguably the vehicle that will likely see use off road more than all the others? the NHTSA should force Toyota to recall these cars before someone is killed. Look at any online forum as I did last night and you'll see Toyota is actually being sued in a class action lawsuit for this very issue. Tons of people are sharing photos and stories of their own incidents. Someone is going to be killed when their car disintegrates as they drive down the road and they lose control of their steering, braking or if they're hit in a collision and the structural members of the car crumble like a cracker.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

Swipe Toyota found significant rust of my frame. Car has 142,000 miles, located in Kentucky.

- Leitchfield, KY, USA

I have large holes in the frame of our Toyota 4-runner. It appears that the frame could split or break to possibly cause an accident. The rest of the vehicle is in excellent condition. It seems that substandard materials or coating were used to cause this issue.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

More than once a mechanic working on my truck said there is extensive rusting of my frame. I treated the frame two years ago with rust inhibitor and 3M undercoating. That was the second time I undercoated my truck. I know Toyota had a recall for the for rusted frames, the settlement covered Tacoma trucks from the model years 2005 through 2010, sequoias from 2005 through 2008, and Tundra from the 2007 and 2008 model years but they excluded 4runners. There seems to really be an issue with the materials used. I am worried the frame will break beyond repair since there is no good metal to weld to.

- Cedar Grove, NJ, USA

Frame is rusted thru on both front sides where the control arms attach

- Pleasant Plain, OH, USA

Excessive frame rust and underbody rust. Most weld points and frame assembly is degrading from rust. Transmission coolant lines have cracked and leaked.

- Aldie, VA, USA

Excessive underbody rust, rusting frame joints, and rotting frame members from the inside out.

- Carson City, NV, USA

I I was informed by the tech at checkered flag Toyota in Virginia beach, Virginia that the frame on my 2005 Toyota 4runner sport has a frame that is failing and may present a driving hazard if I continue to drive it. Their # is (757) 716-5502.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

We recently purchased this vehicle from a private sale and when the mechanic looked at it there is a severe amount of rust making it unsafe to drive. This is not "normal" rust and we do not want our 16 yr old driving something that could break at anytime. I believe that this vehicle falls into the lawsuit category, for unreasonable rusting. Toyota should have to fix a frame, regardless of age, if they put bad parts on it and the rusting isn't always detected in the earlier life of the vehicle until it becomes "unsafe".

- Westminster, CO, USA

2005 4runner in really good shape except for frame rust. This car would easily have gone another 100K with a strong drivetrain and interior in great shape. Was brought in to dealer for maintenance and when the tech put it on the lift he saw the rust damage. Called and explained the issue and suggested this was not safe for the road. This could have been a catastrophic accident if by chance it was not at the dealer. Rust is serious enough to have frame break and loss of control of vehicle. So I go from a reliable great vehicle to a piece of junk that can't be driven. This issue should definitely be covered and repair by Toyota, as Toyota is famous for rust issues!!! there's no question the frame was not coated properly. Rust this severe for a 2005 year car is not acceptable. Toyota should stand behind their product and fix this car.

- Williamsburg, MA, USA