28 problems related to frame rust have been reported for the 1998 Toyota 4Runner. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Critical frame rust causing trailing arms to detach under normal use.
The driver's side rear control arm mounting bracket that is welded to the frame has rusted and completely fractured off of the frame. The failure occurred while I began to accelerate from a stop light on a city street at normal speeds. I felt and heard a loud pop, then had severe rear end instability while driving, requiring me to "limp home" to maintain control of the vehicle.
Rusted frame. Hole right through it. Can't sell, register or do anything with it. Car has 188k miles, drives like a tank, and has years left in it, but not with a rusted out frame. No one showed it to me before I tried to sell it. I have owned for 7 years, 2nd owner.
Sent my vehicle for safety inspection and it was failed. Badly rusted frame was sited as one reason.
Taken my 4runner for annual maintenance and my mechanic found extreme rust damage on left rear frame support. Advise me it was unsafe to drive due to a 2 1/2 foot long rust hole in the frame. Pictures attached. Checking to see if Toyota has implemented recall on your defective frame material. It looks like the rust issue has been occurring for many years.
Major issue with frame rust. It now has a 6 inch hole in my frame. Very unsafe to drive. This is a known problem with these vehicles. I have called Toyota and they refuse to do anything.
Was told by local dealer, who has serviced this truck since purchased, in March 2018, that the frame had rust through and was unsafe to drive. This was the first time I had heard of this common problem with our tacoma. The dealer had never presented us with the option of replacing or being bought out or buying an extended warranty on the frame. We understand that this is an old truck, but given the local dealer never told us of any potential problem, we were unaware of any potential safety problems. In fact, just a year earlier the we had the truck in for basic service (oil change), and told the service rep that my wife was planning a 1,000 trip and asked if the truck was okay for the trip, and was told it was fine - how it been fine a year ago, when this year the frame is rusted through. Iplease advise. Thank you for your consideration.
Excessive frame rust open holes and cracks over time.
During a state inspection of the vehicle I was made aware that the vehicle was not safe to be on the road. The entire frame rusted out front to back. You can even stick your hand inside the hollowed out frame.
My 1998 Toyota 4runner frame is comprised and deemed unsafe and undrivable due to severe frame rust. I had to remove it from the road since the body rocks on the frame and is unsafe to drive.
Left ball joint broke while driving after it was serviced at a Toyota dealership. Then they told me my frame was rusted after they inspected it. I heard there was a recall on rusted frames.
Badly rusted frame, by mechanic unsafe to drive it. Started making noises under the car reason why I took to the mechanic.
The frame has rusted out and the swaybar has broke loose from the frame.
After multi-point inspection, dealer informed me that the "frame is very rusted and is rotting out where rear suspension meets frame. Do not recommend to drive. ".
Extensive under body frames scaly rust and with specific serious damage to rear struts base. Whole piece supporting strut base broken completely broken around and sunk in creating loud noise with the list impact. I have several pictures as proof.
Like the overwhelming majority of Toyota complaints, frame rust. Took the 1998 4runner for new tires and alignment. Alignment could not be done because of massive erosion due to rust on the frame connecting rear control arms. 4runner essentially undriveable at this at this point. Contacted Toyota hq and, as everyone else on the NHTSA complaints site says, they would do nothing although they did take care of the tacoma problem.
Rusted frame on drivers side rear, holes in frame, which holds the sway bar. Mechanic noticed during oil change. Took to dealer and was told nothing they could do. Very dangerous condition.
The contact owns a 1998 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have the radiator replaced however, while the vehicle was being hoisted on the lift, the sub frame fractured. The contact stated that there was severe frame rust to the sub frame. The contact was informed that the sub frame was compromised and the vehicle was unsafe to repair while on a lift. The radiator was repaired, however the frame rust failure was not repaired. The contact also stated that the passenger's side rear torsion bar also fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,000.
The contact owns a 1998 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the trailing arm rear axle of the frame was rusted completely and caused the vehicle to shake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000.
The contact owns a 1998 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that there was rust on the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was structural failure of the rear passenger side frame due to rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 213,000.
Can not get inspection because of frame rusted.
Frame rusted through prematurely on my truck. Truck is unsafe to drive and a huge disappointment.
Toyota advises that frame is rusted through. Car is unsafe to drive. Car will not pass inspection. Should not happen to a 14 year old car with 87,000 miles.
I was driving on a back road, hit a pothole and the rear drivers side control arm ripped away from the frame. Found out frame was rusted from the inside out, and should not have been inspected. I had just recently bought the vehicle, and it had gone through PA inspection two months before I bought it. Its a shame, the rest of the truck, motor, interior, body panels, was in perfect condition.
The contact owns a 1998 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the frame was rusted near the driver side rear tire. The rust caused the frame to fracture completely. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the vehicle was unable to be repaired. The contact believed the failure was a manufacturing defect because both the Toyota tacoma and tundra were recalled for the same issue. The failure mileage was 98,000.
Rear frame rusted out where sway bars attach, frame mounts broke while towing a trailer on sr 22 in southern ohio. Lost control of vehicle crossed two lanes of traffic before gaining control and stopping the 4runner.
I own a 1998 Toyota 4 runner with a safety issue. The frame is rusted out where the front portion of the rear leaf spring bracket is welded to the frame. This was pointed out to me by an auto body repair person who's father had a tacoma that rusted out in the same spot. His vehicle was granted 1. 5 times over kelly blue book value and the vehicle was seized from him at the time due to safety. My 4 runner is only 13 years old with a kelly blue book value of 6500. 00. It looks and runs great. But obviously this vehicle is not worth that now and cannot be sold due to the seriousness of the frame. It also cannot be repaired. Eventually this will result in a failure and depending on what speed the vehicle is traveling at the time will tell how serious the accident will be. It appears that Toyota has very little to do with my concerns. I sent three certified letters to Toyota expressing my concerns with safety. The letter sent to the president yoshimi inaba that was not forwarded to him, was returned due to an erroneous address so it appears he is being sheltered. I was offered $500. 00 reimbursement on service, parts or accessories or a 1500. 00 'gift' based on Toyota's 'goodwill offer' towards a new Toyota. This "gift" was offered by an executive analyst with Toyota customer experience whom apparently doesn't want the top executives to receive customer complaints. Based on comparisons that the tacoma and tundra owners received, I don't feel the so-called "goodwill" of being a Toyota customer. It seems there must be litigation to get Toyota's well-bragged-about customer care. Safety is #1 at Toyota if they are going to make a new sale! safety for old customers is out the window if the sale is from the past. Looks like Toyota does not really back their products unless there is a death.
The contact owns a 1998 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility for routine maintenance when he was informed that the frame was severely rusted on the vehicle. The manufacturer advised there was not a recall and the contact would be responsible for any repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 125,000.