Body problems of the 2003 Toyota 4Runner - part 2

I have a 2003 Toyota 4runner that has 165k miles and I was told it is unsafe to drive due to the frame having crack due to rust.

I was ready to give 4runner to my daughter and ask Toyota dealer to inspect and give me run down of what needs to be replaced after 150000 miles. One of the line item says frame need patches. Upon a closer look, there is a rust on specific sides of the frame. The rust is located very specific in the joint. The rust has penetrated deep into the steel around half inch and needs to be replaced. I believe this is manufacturing defect which if not repaired will cause severe damage even in non collision accident because just the weight of the car and driving in rough terrain will cut the body in the middle into 2 sections.

Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle frame was corroded trough and both rear control arm detached while driving. The contact mention that when he check under the vehicle he noticed lots of spot was cover with a black tape and was painted over to hide the rust and with holes. The contact stated that the rear tire move forward and backward causing the tires to eat up the bumper and rip in pieces the plastic trim panel. The vehicle was towed to the contact residence. The contact called aaa and informed them of the failure and was informed to contact NHTSA. The dealer nor manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. Aw.

The vehicle frame has multiple perforations greater than 10mm. One such perforation has created a crack on the frame just in front of the right rear lower control arm mount. If this vehicle were to hit a bad enough bump or pot hole, there exists a possibility the frame could snap and allow the control arm to become free and the vehicle would lose control.

Extreme corrosion of frame and brackets.

My 2003 Toyota 4runner's frame has outrageous rust issues. I have as big as quarter size holes that have rusted through in the middle of the frame on the passenger side and driver side. This is my family car transporting my kids and is unacceptable for Toyota to have known about this for years and refuse to resolve it.

Vehicle is currently stationary at dealer getting scheduled maintenance. The technician called me back to the shop to show me what he found with the vehicle on the lift. Excessive rust & corrosion on the frame rails to the point where the vehicle will soon be unsafe to drive. He also informed me that if the vehicle experienced a side impact, the damage & possible injuries to occupants would be much worse due to the diminished integrity of the frame. I am currently looking into my options such as welding frame reinforcement but I believe that Toyota should replace the frames on these models as they did with the tacomas, sequoias, & tundras which have the exact same frames & experience the exact same rust & corrosion problem.

The frame is rotting and cracking. It was bought brand new and has been used for short commutes. It is now unsafe for me and my kids.

While my 2003 Toyota 4runner was in a service appointment, I was notified that the frame has severely deteriorated due to corrosion and rust. I was able to inspect and document the corrosion with photographs. The vehicle will soon become unsafe to operate or drive.

The frame of the 2003 Toyota 4runner became so rusted that when trying to put the car on the lift at a mechanic shop, the frame began to crumble and fall apart at the point where the lift contacted the frame. The entire frame has multiple points where the metal has rusted away and become very weak, compromising the structural integrity of the frame and potentially weakening areas where steering and suspension components attach to the frame.

Excessive corrosion on frame. The skid plate has fallen off the vehicle due to rotten contact points on the frame. Secondary frame elements have fallen off the vehicle in transit dues to corroded welds. Multiple mechanics have told me this is a well known and common problem with these vehicles.

Frame is completely corroded. We live in the midwest (cincinnati area) so nowhere near the ocean. The 4runner has been maticulously maintained. We have researched this issue and found these models' frames were not properly coated before sold. . . Hence the rust. Our local Toyota dealership deemed it unsafe to drive. The video speaks for itself. . . . We are hoping there is a recall on this as this is extremely dangerous. . Read more...

Tl the contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the vehicle would not pass inspection because the frame was corroded. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to a local machaninc for the routine maintenance the contact was advised that vehicle the front bumper and the frame was severely corroded with holes and the corrosion penetrated the radiator support, the right rear trailing arm and the passenger front door inside frame was corroded. The mechanic advised the contact that the vehicle was undrivable. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The filure mileage was 165,232.

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who discovered that the sub frame had experienced severe rusting. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer r & h Toyota(9801 reitstertown rd. Owings mills) and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 153,000 . Jft.

Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that when performing routine maintenace on the vehicle himself. The contact found the vehicle frame corroded with holes, the corrosion extended to the exaust system heathers that connects to the muffler, also the fuel tank cover was corrected. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage 100,000. Li.

Tl the contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact took the vehicle to Toyota wallingford (859 n colony rd, wallingford, CT 06492) where it was diagnosed that the frame was severely corroded and the vehicle was not safe to be driven. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 134,363.

Rear axle badly rotted. Car has 66,000 miles on it. Requires replacement which is apparently an extremely expensive and sensitive process. The corrosion seems to be extraordinarily premature and due to substandard frame materials and treatment of same. Acton Toyota had already welded in a frame bar 2-3 years ago. Called (800)331-4331 (Toyota motor manufacturing)spoke with a customer service rep (angie) and her supervisor (maria) who stated that the warranty on the frame expired in 2006, they were clear about Toyota's position that they will do nothing w/o a factory recall. This is, apparently, not an isolated issue. Https://static. Nhtsa. Gov/odi/inv/2018/inbc-dp18002-73038. . Read more...

Excessive and premature corrosion has developed at various locations on the vehicle frame such that I am concerned about the structural integrity of the vehicle frame and it's impact on the operational safety when I'm driving this vehicle. It appears that the corrosion has originated on both the external frame surface welded seams and also from internal frame surfaces. I took proactive measures to have my frame treated for corrosion resistance by an after market vendor in an attempt to abate early signs of corrosion but the corrosion from internal surfaces has now worked it's way thru showing clear holes/gaps/separation in the frame structural components. Rusting from the inside out adds to my concern about the vehicle operational safety. My vehicle has had all regular, scheduled maintenance performed by a Toyota dealer whom has also pointed out the structural issues resulting from corrosion. I learned about and was shown the corrosion problems directly from the dealer service department while my vehicle was elevated on a lift in a service bay. Attached are pictures taken recently (5/17/19) while at the dealer of the more obvious problems at various locations on the frame.

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The VIN was not provided. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to repair the rear bearing. The technician diagnosed that the rear frame was rotted and had holes. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000. Fe.

Excessive frame rot. 4runner should of been part of the tacoma recall and is absurd it was not in the first place. My whole passenger side frame rail is gone. I have had to constantly fix weld new metal to it.

Our 2003 Toyota 4runner has an unsafe frame from completely rusting through. The rear end of the vehicle, after being involved in a minor accident completely collapsed in on itself, bending the 1/4 inch steel support bracket. The frame shows the same type of rust throughout.

My 2003 Toyota 4runner will no longer pass inspection and is no longer safe to drive as the frame is rotted beyond repair on the driver's side rear. While attempting to have new tires put on and am inspection done we noticed the severe rust/ holes and also a crack in the weld. The rest of the frame is pretty ugly as well, I did not look over the entire frame but I'm sure there are probably other areas that are very bad. I've read about catastrophic failure due to frame rot in these models. Toyota has to do something about this. I'm supposed to get a phone call from Toyota tomorrow and if they continue to do nothing about it then I'll start calling all the news stations and start spreading the word. I have 45 thousand dollars invested in the company thus far and will never spend another cent on them if this issue isn't resolved.

I took my 4runner to the dealership that is was purchased and was informed that it needs a new frame due to excessive rust/rot. I am being told that it is beyond repair and is a safety issue at this point.

I had some issues with my car and the mechanic put the car up on the lift and saw some holes created by corrosion into the frame of the truck. I understand that the Toyota tacoma has the same frame and was recalled. Why is it that the same frame on a different vehicle and from the same manufacturer, Toyota, isn't being recalled on teh 4runner? I insist that there be a recall and will hold all accountable.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that there was frame corrosion on the underside of the radiator. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that there were no open recalls for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

I purchased this vehicle a week ago. It appears the dealer themselves never inspected the vehicle prior to my purchase. If they had, they would have know it was an unsafe vehicle to drive due to the amount of rust to the suspension, frame, and everything underneath. Just today, a Toyota mechanic had told me that it is unserviceable. If I had owned this vehicle for years, that finding wouldn't be as painful to hear. But having owned the vehicle for a week, this has made me very angry. It only has 88k miles on it. I am now afraid to drive the vehicle.

Frame broken.

Excessive frame corrosion.

Extreme rust on the undercarriage eating completely through the frame.

Excessive frame dusting causing driving problems.

Frame is rotting apart. Several holes and cracks.

Frame holding/securing radiator, skid plate is rotting away. Took too dealer/service dept. ( kool Toyota) and they took several pictures to add to the hundreds theyve already taken and submitted.

The frame on my SUV is very rusted and causing continuous problems. I've had to replace numerous parts underneath my car (sway bars, tie rods). Just the other night while driving home in a snow storm, I completely lost my brakes. Two of the main brake lines were completely corroded. A new frame would solve a lot of my problems. They've recalled tacomas and sequoias, wondering what the hold up is on the 4runner recall?.

I was driving my 4runner at about 20 miles per hour when it suddenly jerked to the right. I stopped and got out to see the frame had rotted apart and one of the suspension bar mounts had dropped. Luckily no one was hurt. I contacted Toyota and they said there was nothing they could do for me.