1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

WITHIN YEAR ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALERSHIP WAS DUE TO BRAKING EXCESSIVELY DURING RAIN ON LONG DOWNHILL RUN. SUGGESTED TO GEAR DOWN WHICH I NOW DO. SITUATION DID NOT REPEAT EXCEPT THAT I NOW INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE SIMILAR "PULSATING" WHILE BRAKING. WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER REPAIR SERVICE THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO REPLACE ROTORS. *JB

WHILE COMING DOWN A HILL, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT LIKE THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER THINKS THIS MIGHT BE A PROBLEM ALSO WITH OTHER AUTOMOBILES. *AK CONSUMER BELIVED THE FRONT ROTORS ARE THE PROBLEM.*YH

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES THEY TOTALLY FAILED, AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FRONT BRAKE VIBRATION. 2ND FAILURE DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES DUE TO WARPING. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT WAS DUE TO DRIVING HABITS OF HIS WIFE. *AK

BRAKES BECOME SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE HAS INCREASED NUMBER OF CLICKS TO TIGHTEN-THIS HAS OCCURRED AT APPROX 11,000 AND AGAIN AT APPROX 18,000 MILES; TOOK TO DEALER AT APPROX 11,800 INITIALLY WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY ONLY INSPECTED BRAKES (NO ADJUSTMENT)AND SAID BRAKES LOOK ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAD TO RETURN TO DEALER AND HAVE SHOP FOREMAN DRIVE THE TRUCK WHO THEN TOLD MECHANIC TO ADJUST BRAKES. ONCE AGAIN I AM NOTICING BRAKES ARE SOFT AND PARKING BRAKE TAKES MORE CLICKS TO TIGHTEN (APPROX 18,000). I CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS EXPECTED WITH TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES. HE SAID THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND ADJUSTED IF NECESSARY EVERY 5000 MILES (AT AN EXTRA CHARGE OF 30.00 DOLLARS). I EXPLAINED THAT THEY GO OUT OF ADJUSTMENT VERY QUICKLY AND NOT AT EXACTLY EVERY 5000 MILES, THEREFORE THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADJUST THEM UNTIL I HAVE A PROBLEM AGAIN WHICH MEANS I AM SPENDING TIME AND MONEY (BESIDES THE EXPECTED 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE/ROTATE TIRES) WITH A PROBLEM I FEEL MAY NOT BE NORMAL FOR A $32,000 DOLLAR TRUCK AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARANTEE OR AT LEAST DESCRIBED AS A COMMON NECESSITY TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE PURCHASE( NOWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES IT STATE THAT BRAKES WILL NEED ADJUSTMENT FREQUENTLY DUE TO NOT SELF ADJUSTING).

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HAD VEHICLE IN REVERSE & USING BRAKES HEARD LOUD CLICKING/GRINDING NOISES. TOOK TO DEALER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT THE ABS LIGHT KEEP COMING ON, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY DON'T SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN FAST ENOUGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, ALMOST HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE BRAKES MOVING BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT THE ABS LIGHT KEEP COMING ON, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY DON'T SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN FAST ENOUGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, ALMOST HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE BRAKES MOVING BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK